What I Do Now

In my current work I find that the most important skills that I've acquired and developed over the last 20 years are focused around the following areas:

People

Throughout my career I have seen the ability to work effectively with people as the critical factor in the success or failure of nearly any effort. Even with 'pure technology' you are dealing with people to get things done, and if you can't manage those people well then all the technology in the world will not bring you long-term success. I believe that my skills in working with all sorts of people in all sorts of situations are my greatest professional asset.

Processes

I define process as how people work together to get something done. Sometimes automations can be part of that, but it's generally the human factor on which success rests. While a little process can bring great value, 'too much of a good thing' can quickly inhibit performance. I believe that intelligent process is applying enough to guide the activity in the right direction, but not so much that the skills and contributions of the people involved are inhibited. Exactly how much is enough depends on people and the situation.

Systems

I often describe software systems as "solidifications of business processes". Something which is being done manually again and again is automated so that it will be more efficient and reliable, and so that the people involved can focus their attention on other things. We quickly become dependent on those systems always being there performing their duty, and we also expect that those systems can be quickly evolved to keep up with the evolution of what the humans they work with are doing. That type of resiliency and flexibility have to be built in from the start and actively managed if they are to live up to their expectations. This task has been the core of my job for the past decade.

Products & Services

Ultimately, the reason that people maintain processes and systems are to provide products and/or services. Doing this well requires a clear understanding of the customer/user, their needs and goals, and the ability to translate those needs and goals into a solution that will meet them effectively. This is a simple statement to make, but we are surrounded by a host of mediocre solutions, and a precious few that work very well. The difference between them is often small, but the impact of that difference is what drives success or failure.