Optimizing Iteration

As a project manager in the software industry, I've found that one of the most important aspects of my job is effectively planning and distributing work for my team. At Parcel Perform, we've developed a custom iteration planning process that helps us stay focused and adaptable to the needs of our business.

Every week, I lead our iteration planning sessions with a team of 5 frontend engineers, 2 backend engineers, and 2 manual QC specialists. The goal of these sessions is to plan out the work for the upcoming week, which can include both long-term epic projects as well as more immediate requests from our marketing and product management teams.

The key to making this process work is finding the right balance between proactive, strategic work and reactive, business-driven tasks. We start by reviewing our current epic projects - the larger, more complex initiatives that will take multiple weeks or months to complete. This helps ensure that we're making steady progress on our long-term roadmap.

Next, we turn our attention to the more immediate requests that have come in from other parts of the organization. These can range from small enhancements to the existing platform to more significant new features requested by our customers. By reviewing these requests as a team, we're able to quickly assess the effort required and prioritize them accordingly.

One of the biggest benefits of this approach is that it allows us to remain adaptable and responsive to the needs of the business. Rather than rigidly sticking to a pre-determined plan, we're able to quickly adjust our focus and allocate resources as needed. This has been particularly valuable in the fast-paced world of software development, where requirements can change rapidly.

At the same time, we're careful to ensure that our team members are not overloaded. By carefully distributing the work and setting clear expectations, we're able to keep everyone productive and engaged without burning them out.

Overall, I've found that this custom iteration planning process has been a game-changer for our team at Parcel Perform. By striking the right balance between strategic and reactive work, we're able to deliver high-quality software that meets the evolving needs of our business. If you're a project manager facing similar challenges, I'd encourage you to explore a similar approach.