Jonas, when Björn at Based On People conducted the latest leadership program with you at Kvdbil, he experienced your great passion for software development. Many may perceive such a project as difficult and complex, but tell us what it is that makes you so committed?
Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by technology and the creative joy that comes with all forms of product development. We live in an age where almost anything is possible and you can't even toast a slice of bread without software. Despite the fact that we have software in almost everything we see, many people still find the software development process difficult. I think the inherent challenge in this contradiction makes it extremely interesting and fun to work with!
So what are the typical success factors for a successful IT project?
At a high level, an IT project is not that different from any other project, you need to have a good vision of what you want to accomplish. The hard, and fun, part comes when you start the actual development. Imagine that every day you go to work you can build virtually anything - without limitations - in software development it's almost like that. What's more, you have access to the very latest technology from the biggest vendors on the planet in everything from artificial intelligence to payment streams. The world is literally in front of the developer at the keyboard. This is where it gets a little tricky. There are so many options that are technically only comprehensible to those who work with this every day, and in this reality, we as managers and project managers must control with processes, KPIs and create relevant time and investment plans. In this intersection between IT development's infinite degree of freedom and we managers' quest for efficiency, goal management and predictability, it becomes difficult.
So how do you do it?
You have to stifle your instincts to produce the processes and metrics, focus on what's important - building teams and getting the people in the roles to want to take responsibility for what they do best. By giving their development teams freedom, they will grow and take responsibility. Because just as the developers are the only ones who can decide what technology is right, they are also the only ones who can maintain and keep the systems working and reliable over time. So the next time an IT project is in trouble, my advice is to stop and talk to the developers directly under the motto "You know what the goal is, how do we get there in the best way together?"