Top Product Leaders at the Product Management Festival

We are proud that our principal product owner, Olgica Strezoska, was recognised as one of the Top 30 Women in Product 2024 at the Product Management Festival in Zurich. This event brings together over 1,000 leaders in product management to share ideas, learn, and shape the future of their organisations. Olgica’s achievement reflects our commitment to excellence and innovation in product development.

Gaining Insights at Automation Star Berlin

Our Quality Assurance team attended Automation Star Berlin to dive into the latest trends in automation. They had the chance to meet industry experts, learn about new tools and technologies, and bring fresh ideas back to the team. This experience helps us stay at the forefront of automation practices, ensuring we continue to deliver the best solutions to our clients.

Connecting at the Bett EdTech Event

Our product owners took part in Bett, the largest education technology event in the world. Together with our client ParentPay, they visited schools and met with education leaders to understand the latest trends and challenges in EdTech. This helps us keep our finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the education sector and ensure our solutions meet the needs of schools and students.

Learning at Expo QA Madrid

The Quality Assurance team also participated in Expo QA Madrid to explore the latest developments in software testing and quality assurance. They attended workshops, listened to talks from top experts, and connected with professionals from around the world. This event was a great opportunity to bring back new knowledge and skills that will help us enhance our quality practices.

Engaging at the AI Tech Summit

We also made our mark at the AI Tech Summit, where our team engaged with the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. This event helped us explore new ideas, connect with other tech enthusiasts, and understand how AI is shaping the future of technology. We are committed to staying at the center of these conversations and being part of the change.

Exploring Trends at The Product Discovery Conference

Our Product Owners attended The Product Discovery Conference in Amsterdam, where they joined industry leaders to discuss the latest trends in product development and innovation. Events like these ensure our team stays ahead of the curve, continually learning new ways to bring value to our clients.

Diving into Tech at WeAreDevelopers World Congress

Our team also took part in the WeAreDevelopers World Congress in Berlin, an important event for the tech community. Here, our team members learned about the newest trends in software development and connected with experts from around the globe. This experience helps us stay on top of industry trends and maintain a culture of continuous growth.

Committed to Continuous Learning

Participating in these important industry events shows our dedication to continuous learning and growth. By staying connected with what’s happening in the tech world, we ensure our team is always equipped with the latest knowledge and insights. This commitment allows us to keep delivering innovative solutions and remain at the forefront of our industry.

Why soft skills matter

Soft skills are the non-technical abilities that define how we interact, communicate, and solve problems. These skills are crucial for creating a positive and productive work environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to contribute. The soft skills training program is designed to enhance communication, foster teamwork, and promote continuous learning and growth for all employees.

A multi-faceted approach to soft skills

Different roles require different skills, so the training program is structured to meet a wide range of needs. The approach is multi-layered, including in-house workshops, offsite sessions, and ongoing learning opportunities through the Learning Management System (LMS).

Presentation skills for new starters

Every new employee starts their journey with a Presentation Skills Training workshop. This session is more than just public speaking; it’s about breaking down barriers and building connections right from the start.

In this interactive workshop, new team members engage in practical exercises to get to know each other while learning to present their ideas clearly and effectively. The focus is on storytelling, crafting compelling messages, and using body language to enhance delivery. Personalized feedback helps everyone improve their style and adapt to different audiences, whether speaking in small meetings or larger settings.

By the end of the session, each new starter feels more confident sharing ideas, contributing to discussions, and presenting their work.

Regular Soft Skills Workshops: Building better team players

The Regular Soft Skills Training Program covers essential skills needed for everyday success at work. These workshops are hands-on, engaging, and designed to encourage learning by doing. Here’s a closer look at what’s included:

• Feedback & Coaching: Learn how to give and receive constructive feedback that is specific, actionable, and supportive. This workshop helps people understand feedback as a tool for growth and how to deliver it in a way that builds relationships.
• Time Management & Meeting Skills: Learn strategies for managing time effectively and contributing productively in meetings. This module covers practical techniques like prioritizing tasks, setting clear objectives, and ensuring meetings are efficient and respectful of everyone’s time.
• Mentorship & Guidance: Understand how to be an effective mentor or mentee. This workshop explores the dynamics of mentorship and how these relationships can drive growth and development for both parties.
• Conflict Resolution & Problem Solving: Learn tools and strategies for handling conflicts constructively, focusing on communication, empathy, and finding win-win solutions. This training involves real-life scenarios, group discussions, and role-playing exercises.
• Emotional Intelligence & Self-Awareness: Develop self-awareness and learn how to manage emotions effectively. This module includes exercises like mindfulness meditation, reflective journaling, and empathy mapping to build stronger relationships and create a more inclusive workplace.

These workshops use a blended learning approach: theoretical content is delivered through the LMS before the sessions, so workshop time can be dedicated to dynamic, interactive activities like role-playing and group discussions.

Offsite Workshops: Deeper learning and connection

In addition to in-house sessions, offsite workshops are organized to dive deeper into complex topics like leadership, communication, and team dynamics. These sessions bring together Development Managers (DMs) and Team Leaders (TLs) to encourage creative thinking, collaboration, and deeper understanding.

Offsite workshops cover areas such as:

• Leadership and Team Collaboration: Explore different leadership styles and learn how to build trust and foster collaboration across teams. Exercises help participants practice communication skills and develop strategies to enhance teamwork.
• Problem Solving and Stakeholder Management: Learn how to navigate complex problems and manage relationships with various stakeholders. This session focuses on identifying root causes, generating creative solutions, and communicating effectively to achieve goals.

These offsite sessions provide a change of scenery that encourages fresh thinking and engagement. By stepping away from daily routines, participants can immerse themselves in learning and return with new insights and skills.

Leaders as Coaches: Coaching skills for all levels

Every leader is also seen as a coach. The Leaders as a Coach series helps leaders at all levels—from DMs to Team Leaders and Product Owners (POs)—develop coaching skills to support their teams.

This series includes three levels:

• For Delivery Managers: Focuses on building psychological safety and trust within teams, and effective communication with stakeholders.
• For Team Leads and Product Owners: Provides middle managers with tools to manage team dynamics, resolve conflicts, and foster a culture of collaboration.
• Advanced Level: Uses advanced coaching techniques like Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to enhance leadership skills and effectiveness.

These workshops cover key areas like situational leadership, trust-building, and group coaching, ensuring that leaders are well-equipped to support their teams.

Benefits of soft skills training

The soft skills training program has brought significant benefits. Employees feel more confident in their communication, better equipped to handle conflict, and more engaged in their work. Teams collaborate more effectively, and managers are better able to lead with empathy and clarity.

For example, after the conflict resolution workshop, a team was able to navigate a challenging project where differing opinions could have caused a standstill. Instead, they used the skills learned to facilitate open dialogue and reach a consensus that satisfied everyone.

Continuous learning and growth

Soft skills development is an ongoing journey. The training programs are regularly updated to meet the evolving needs of employees and the challenges of the modern workplace. New modules are being developed to cover emerging topics like remote team management, cross-cultural communication, and digital collaboration.

Our soft skills training is just one of the many ways we invest in our people, ensuring that every day is an opportunity to grow and succeed.

Fun at the pool tournament

Our pool tournament was a hit. After work, the team gathered for some casual games, a lot of fun, and just the right amount of friendly rivalry. It was a great way to show off some hidden skills, and enjoy time together outside of our usual work setting.

These kinds of events aren’t just about winning or losing; they’re about getting to know each other better, breaking the routine, and having a bit of fun. Plus, it’s always good to see who’s got the best pool skills in the office!

Staying active with summer challenges

Alongside the pool fun, we’ve also had our summer challenges to keep everyone moving. Whether it’s teaming up for a group challenge or competing individually, these challenges are all about staying active and enjoying some friendly competition.

It’s not so much about who comes out on top, but more about getting involved, staying healthy, and maybe pushing ourselves a little more than usual. It’s a simple way to stay motivated and connect with colleagues in a different way.

Keeping things light and fun

Events like these are great because they break up the routine, give us a chance to relax, and add a bit of fun to the workday. They’re about the small moments that make our work life better—whether it’s a laugh over a game of pool or a bit of friendly rivalry in a summer challenge. It’s these little things that help us stay connected and make work a bit more enjoyable.

Promoting our Graduate Programme

At the job fair, we showcased our structured four-month Graduate Programme, which focusses on mentorship, continuous learning, and hands-on experience. The programme is designed to provide recent graduates with the skills and support they need to start their careers with confidence. Graduates have the chance to work closely with experienced mentors, participate in training sessions, and gain practical experience on real projects.

This approach reflects our commitment to helping new talent grow and thrive. We believe in investing in people from the beginning, providing a clear path to rewarding careers in the tech industry, and building a strong foundation for future success.

Sharing our culture and values

The job fair also gave us the opportunity to share insights into our company culture and values. We emphasized our focus on teamwork, innovation, and personal growth, as well as our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can succeed. It was inspiring to meet so many enthusiastic students eager to learn more about what we do and how they can be a part of our team.

Open Day for Students: Welcoming future tech leaders

We also held an Open Day at our offices, where we welcomed groups of students interested in our Graduate Program. During these days, students got a firsthand look at our work environment, met team members, and learned about the opportunities available to them.

We were thrilled to see so many young talents come through our doors, full of curiosity and excitement about their future careers. The Open Day was an excellent opportunity to show our dedication to nurturing future tech leaders and to answer any questions students had about starting their journeys with us.

Looking forward to the future

We are excited to welcome the next generation of graduates who will contribute to our company’s success and drive innovation forward. Our participation in events like the Kontakt Job Fair and our Open Day reflects our ongoing efforts to connect with emerging talent, share our passion for technology, and provide opportunities for growth and learning.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made these events so special. We look forward to seeing new faces and building the future together!

Crossing the finish line at the Wizz Air Skopje Marathon

Crossing the finish line is an incredible feeling, filling everyone with pride and a sense of achievement. Every step during the race is a testament to pushing limits and striving for our best.

Participating in the marathon is more than individual accomplishments; it’s about coming together as a team. There’s constant support, encouragement, and celebration of every small victory along the way. We challenge ourselves, set new goals, and find joy in running side by side.

The excitement of running together keeps us motivated to stay active, healthy, and connected. We’re already looking forward to more running events and challenges in the future!

Celebrating women’s strength at the Avicena Women’s Race

The team also proudly joins the Avicena Women’s Race each year, an inspiring event that celebrates the strength, resilience, and spirit of women in sports. The atmosphere is always buzzing with energy as women of all ages come together to run and support each other.

It’s inspiring to see so many strong, determined women on the track, each running for her own reasons. This race is about more than just running; it’s about supporting women, building confidence, and enjoying the camaraderie of a healthy and positive activity.

We cheer on all the incredible women who run with passion and purpose. Their spirit reminds us how important it is to support each other, set goals, and have fun along the way.

Committed to staying active and healthy

Taking part in events like the Wizz Air Skopje Marathon and the Avicena Women’s Race is not just about running; it’s about fostering a healthier lifestyle. By encouraging running and fitness, we aim to inspire everyone to stay active and make positive choices.

These events reflect our commitment to promoting well-being, teamwork, and a positive mindset. They remind us that every step brings us closer to our goals—both on the track and in life.

Let’s keep running, smiling, and chasing our dreams together. Stay tuned for more adventures and challenges as we continue to enjoy running and staying fit as a team!

Pink October: Coming together for breast cancer awareness

During Pink October, which focuses on breast cancer awareness, we organized an educational session to talk about the importance of early detection in fighting this serious health issue. The session shared important information about breast cancer, how it affects women around the world, and why early detection is so crucial.

The goal of the event was to give team members practical advice on how to recognize early signs, understand risk factors, and take steps toward regular screening and prevention. It was a powerful reminder that by being proactive and aware, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones.

We were glad to see so many team members participate, ask questions, and share their own experiences. It showed how committed we all are to promoting health awareness and supporting each other in staying healthy.

Movember: Focussing on men’s health

While Pink October raises awareness about breast cancer, Movember shines a light on men’s health, covering issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. These topics often do not get enough attention, and Movember is all about changing that.

Informative sessions on men’s health are organised to discuss the importance of preventive care, healthy living, and mental wellness. The aim is to reduce the stigma around men’s health issues and encourage open conversations about concerns and experiences.

Talking about men’s health

These sessions create a safe space for discussions about men’s health, which can often be challenging to address. Topics include the importance of regular check-ups, recognizing signs and symptoms of common men’s health problems, and understanding how lifestyle choices affect overall well-being.

Mental health is also a focus, emphasizing that it is just as important as physical health. Many men face mental health challenges, but these are often overlooked due to social pressures to “stay strong” or “tough it out.” Creating an environment where talking about mental health is normal helps encourage seeking help and support when needed.

Simple tips for a healthier life

The sessions go beyond raising awareness, also offering practical advice for everyday life. Tips are shared on healthy eating, regular exercise, managing stress, and getting enough sleep—all crucial for maintaining good health.

Team members leave with a clearer understanding of the importance of regular health check-ups, self-exams, and knowing when to consult a doctor. The hope is that this knowledge will inspire everyone to take charge of their health and act early, which can greatly impact outcomes.

A Commitment to health and well-being

Our involvement in Pink October and Movember is just one way we work to create a healthier, more informed community. By raising awareness and providing education on important health topics, we empower everyone to make informed decisions and prioritise their well-being.

Building Connections and Having Fun

Set against the stunning backdrop of Greece’s beaches and clear blue waters, our teambuilding events are filled with fun activities and moments to connect. From friendly beach games that bring out our competitive sides to exploring the beautiful local surroundings, there is always plenty of excitement and enjoyment. These events allow us to relax and enjoy each other’s company outside of the usual work environment.

Each activity, whether it’s a game on the beach or a shared meal overlooking the sea, helps build deeper relationships and fosters open communication. It’s these shared experiences that help strengthen the sense of belonging and teamwork among all members, making us feel more connected and united.

Why Teambuilding Matters

Teambuilding events like our summer gatherings in Greece are an essential part of our company culture. They provide a much-needed break from daily routines and allow us to focus on what really makes us strong: trust, camaraderie, and collaboration. Spending time together in a relaxed environment boosts morale and reminds us of the value of working together.

These events also break down barriers and allow us to appreciate each other’s unique strengths. Through fun challenges, group activities, or simple conversations by the water, we learn more about one another and build a supportive, productive environment where everyone feels valued.

Looking Forward to More Adventures

We are grateful for the incredible experiences we share each year in Greece and for the opportunity to grow closer as a team. These teambuilding events are essential for nurturing a strong, connected, and motivated workforce. They remind us that by supporting each other, celebrating our successes, and enjoying time together, we can achieve great things.

Here’s to many more unforgettable moments, shared laughter, and continued success together in the years to come!

Delivering great software on time for our customers comes down to effectively managing four key elements: scope, risk, quality, and talented people. In this series of articles, which accompany our Tech Talks video, we take a closer look at each one individually.

Here, we tackle the important matter of managing people…

If you’re a follower of English football, depending on your allegiance, you’ll have either been enjoying or lamenting Manchester United’s recent failure to live up to their previous high standards.

There are many possible reasons for the club’s relative lack of success, and we wouldn’t claim to be soccer experts who can fully explain its problems. However, one thing is clear: there has been no lack of talent when it comes to players on the pitch, with world-class footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez in the squad, either now or recently. But individual talent is one thing, and team performance is another.

United’s troubles go to show that success relies not solely on hiring talented people. It’s also necessary to manage and motivate them in the right ways, so they perform as a team with a shared goal, constantly improving, and always working hard for each other.

The same is true when it comes to software development. You can’t produce great software without great people. But you also need to ensure you create the right conditions for those people to succeed.

We therefore believe it’s always worth the time, effort and expenditure of investing in all our people. By showing we care, and helping them to reach their potential, they will always go the extra mile and produce better quality work for our customers. So here are some of the ways we enable this at Damilah:

Maintaining a positive culture

We strive to create a culture that is open and supportive, where everyone is clear on what success looks like and how they can find the right path towards it.

Our line managers are ultimately responsible for an employee’s growth and development, but it’s not limited to them. For example, someone might need support for a particular skill that is not within the line manager’s competence – in which case, we’ll ensure they are connected to the right person in the business to help them develop in the desired way.

In other words, we’re constantly supporting each other and growing together.

What’s more, it’s important to us that our people are prepared to take risks in order to develop and innovate. If they are afraid to, they will usually struggle to advance. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’ll take silly or unnecessary risks – but, rather, in a measured way with the right support.

Software and technology are always changing and we constantly need to try new things to stay ahead of the game. We’ll usually do that in close consultation with clients, and often ‘spike’ technology – that is, test something in a controlled environment. If it works, then great: we can roll it out. And if it doesn’t, we’ll learn from this and move on.

We’re currently doing exactly that with one of our clients. This approach allows the client to be reassured that what we’re suggesting will work, while also allowing everyone to feel in control. What’s more, we all learn together in an environment built on mutual trust.

Investing in training and development

I’ve worked in businesses as a CTO where the first thing to go when budgets are tight is training. But that’s always a false economy that ultimately impacts on the quality of the work delivered and the success of the business. So we will always continue to invest in training, because we know we’ll get a return on it, tenfold or more.

Therefore, every employee has a development plan, and that can include both technical skills and the ‘softer’ skills, such as communication or presentation. Doing this, we believe, delivers the obvious short-term benefit of upskilling our team – but also the long-term benefit of an increasingly knowledgeable, committed workforce that chooses to stay with us.

Committing to innovation

With the rapid pace of change in technology, it’s important for us to stay abreast of new innovations. We do this by providing opportunities to all our people to initiate or join specific innovation projects, which allow them to invest time in trying out new technologies that enhance our capabilities and ensure their skills remain at the forefront of the industry.

Celebrating success

There is no greater motivator than success – and it can be addictive. We therefore ensure we celebrate those successes at every opportunity, for example by having annual awards for both individuals and teams.

It’s important that these are not subjective. Instead, they’re based on performance and also the way in which our people uphold and emphasise the values of our business. We find that’s a really powerful way of encouraging further success, which of course will always lead to additional benefits for our clients.

Working as one team with our customers

We believe strongly in the value of teamwork, and our commitment to this extends to our customers. We aim to avoid the traditional customer-supplier relationship, opting for collaborative, transparent partnerships from the outset.

We encourage customers to feel as if we’re all part of the same organisation, working towards the same goals. Quite simply, that’s our culture – and the culture we encourage from everyone we work with, both internally and externally.

If you’d like to find out more about any of the points raised in this article, and how we can deliver great software for your business, get in touch now.

Iain Bishop, founder and CEO, Damilah

Delivering great software on time for our customers comes down to effectively managing four key elements: scope, risk, quality, and talented people. In this series of articles, which accompany our Tech Talks video, we take a closer look at each one individually.

Here, we tackle the essential topic of ensuring quality…

It’s easy to fall into a trap when it comes to managing the quality of software: an over-reliance on quality assurance (QA) at the end of the process.

While QA is vital, we strongly believe that quality is pervasive, and there needs to be a constant focus on this throughout a project. That also means always paying attention to a customer’s or user’s requirements. After all, there’s no point in building the best product if it doesn’t do what’s needed.

Because we always take this approach, we believe that quality is everyone’s responsibility all the time – from the developers writing the code, to the project managers, and even the customers we’re working with.

Doing this is not easy, and it requires a high level of commitment. But by operating in this way, as a single team, we can deliver outstanding outcomes together. Here are some of the most important considerations we always keep in mind when it comes to ensuring we create great software.

Understanding from the outset what ‘good’ looks like

Quality starts at the very beginning. That means the first discussion with the main stakeholders and really understanding their requirements. We then need to ensure the requirements are described in a way that’s testable, so we can validate whether the finished product meets the correct criteria.

We’ll then work with our development teams to check the written requirements are achievable and can be implemented with the right level of quality. Only once everyone is satisfied with this will we be ready to start work on a product.

Managing time pressures

It’s rare to have a project without some kind of time pressure – and of course that can compromise quality if not managed properly. So, as well as defining ‘Ready’ before we start a piece of work, we also create an agreed definition of ‘Done’. This will include the types of tests and reviews which must be completed before a feature is considered finished.

But, of course, unforeseen problems or scope changes do happen during a project, meaning that things can take longer than expected or need to be reprioritised. When this happens, it’s important to be open and transparent, and also to have courage – for example to explain to a key stakeholder that a change in the delivery schedule might be necessary.

I’ve seen organisations that have a very top-down way of working where people are too afraid to give bad news to their superiors, so they’ll do whatever is expedient to avoid it. Unfortunately, though, the upshot is usually that the management will eventually discover that the delivered product is not good enough – and they’ll wonder why. The answer, of course, is because of the culture in their business. Therefore, transparency and honesty are vital. After all, everyone is ultimately working to achieve the same goals.

Rigorous testing – after every small step

Although, as we’ve stressed, quality needs to be baked in right through the process, effective testing is still crucial. And it’s important to test early and regularly, otherwise a nasty shock may arise at the end – for example, realising an entire project is built on code that doesn’t work properly.

We use agile processes, breaking a project down into sprints that usually last two weeks. At the end of each sprint, we’ll carry out tests to ensure the software is fulfilling its requirements, working effectively, and conforms to the highest security standards.

We employ tooling to continuously conduct vulnerability testing and ensure software complies with OWASP Top 10 security standards. We put these tools into the build pipeline to ensure they are always running and developers know immediately when code is non-conformant.

We also use static code analysis tools to ensure the code we produce conforms to quality, reliability and maintenance standards.

And while our most experienced, senior developers are involved in these processes, again we also look to automate as much of it as possible. That way, a test can be rerun on a frequent basis – as software will always change during an agile development process – with no backlog building up.

Scalability and future-proofing

Scaling needs to be considered from the get-go – but there’s always a balance to be found. It’s easy to end up over-engineering a product so it can scale when that may not be needed for several years, if at all. But ignoring scalability can lead to its own problems if it turns out to be necessary.

It’s therefore essential for us to truly understand our customer’s needs so we can ensure the right level of scalability is built in. We’re also finding that public cloud gives us the option of scaling a product easily and rapidly, if required.

In addition, it’s crucial to consider the future maintainability of a solution – and this is often more important than the initial cycle of development. If quality is compromised during the build phase, maybe for cost reasons, it can quickly become a false economy as maintenance of poor software can be expensive and greatly increase the total expenditure.

In our opinion, automation is definitely the way to go when it comes to maintenance. But it’s incredibly hard to automate if the product hasn’t been built to high standards in the first instance – which further emphasises the need for stringent quality control during the initial build phase.

If you’d like to find out more about any of the points raised in this article, and how we can deliver great software for your business, get in touch now.

Iain Bishop, founder and CEO, Damilah

Delivering great software on time for our customers comes down to effectively managing four key elements: scope, risk, quality, and talented people. In this series of articles, which accompany our Tech Talks video, we take a closer look at each one individually.

Here, we tackle the tricky topic of risk…

Whether you’re developing software or sending a person to Mars, there’s always a fine line to tread at the start of every project: between optimism and pessimism.

Naturally, everyone involved will be hoping and working for the best possible outcome. But unless there’s a keen awareness of what could go wrong – whether you want to call that pessimism or realism – it’s highly likely that some poor outcomes will result.

This is why effective risk management is vital when it comes to delivering great software on time. And, as with many other considerations – such as managing scope and quality – doing it well means taking a holistic approach from start to finish, and beyond.

We think a lot about risks – so you don’t have to

It’s important to point out that, if you continue reading this article, you may end up with a sense of foreboding, worrying that every project is fraught with dangers waiting to derail it. And it’s true that even the simplest undertaking can have inherent risks that threaten to compromise quality, cost or delivery times.

However, we spend a lot of time predicting and assessing those risks to help avoid problems before they occur; or, if they do materialise, to ensure we can mitigate against them in a way that will result in minimum impact for our customers.

In other words, we spend a lot of time thinking about risks, and how to manage them, precisely so our customers don’t have to.

The three principal kinds of risk

In every software development project, there are usually three major types of risk to consider, as follows:

1. Scope

This could include changes to the scope, or adding new requirements, once a project has already begun. For more on this, see our article on this topic .

2. Technology

This could involve, for example, incorporating new technologies and new practices, or changing the platform on which we are working.

3. Dependencies

This generally revolves around the interdependencies between teams, and is an area we focus on strongly. We might have, for example, a dozen or more teams working on a single project, so frequent and clear communication is essential to avoid blockers. We’ll therefore sequence and synchronise our schedules so they are complementary to each other, while constantly keeping the lines of communication open. 

Mitigation plans and measuring risk

At the start of every project, we’ll create a risk mitigation plan based on a combination of our own experience and empirical data.

To do this, firstly we’ll identify the risks and assign each one a score – assessing its possible impact on a scale of one to five, and the probability of it occurring on a scale of one to four. Multiplying those two values gives us a risk score from zero to 20, with 20 being the highest possible.

That gives us a clear idea of what to focus on. Then we’ll plan how to avoid those risks and also pinpoint the signs that help us to spot a problem at the earliest possible stage. Our overall aim is to steer clear of situations where people just hope for the best because they want to report good news to the management – maybe because they’re under pressure to deliver by a certain time.

In our experience, it’s always better to have the risk discussion at the beginning of a project so we can develop a realistic plan, rather than end up making excuses for failure throughout. That’s why it’s so important to think through risks early on, and to keep updating the risk assessments, as risk management is an ongoing process throughout any project.

A good example is the introduction of new technology, which often carries its own risks. A proactive approach, such as ‘spiking’ – in other words, taking a couple of people aside and testing it well in advance of the project deadline – is an effective way of managing it. I’ve worked on many projects in the past where our first choice was wrong and the tech we were planning to use just wasn’t going to work for us – which is exactly the kind of risk that spiking can help to avoid.

Turning short-term risks into long-term opportunities

The phrase, ‘There are no problems, only opportunities’ is a cliché – because, we believe, it’s often true. In many cases, when it comes to risks inherent in a project, we can also identify an opportunity hidden within.

The methodology we use to assess levels of risk allows us to calculate both negatives and positives. For example, making certain technical changes may pose a short-term risk because we need to alter the scope of a project to accommodate them. But in the longer term, those changes may help us to build a solid platform that will accelerate the development of additional features.

By using the same methodology for opportunities as for risks, we can gauge how one is balanced against the other – and if the gain score is higher than the risk score, it’s probably worth considering.

As always, the great benefit comes from close collaboration with our customers so we can truly understand their requirements and how we can create value for them. Then we can effectively measure the risks worth taking and ensure we deliver the best possible outcomes.

If you’d like to find out more about any of the points raised in this article, and how we can deliver great software for your business, get in touch now.

Iain Bishop, founder and CEO, Damilah