Career Planning and Lifelong Learning

1
Career Planning and Lifelong Learning

• CSSE 372, Software Project Management
• Don Bagert
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• January 17, 2006
• Thanks to Mark Ardis for most of the slides
  included.

2
Source Material

• Much of this material has been taken from the
  Construx website at
• www.construx.com/professionaldev/

3
Average Software Developer

• Reads lt 1 professional book per year (not
  counting manuals)
• Subscribes to no professional magazines
• 75 do not have a degree in CS or related field

4
Lifelong Learning

• Reading
• Books
• Magazines
• Training
• Certification
• Professional Conferences
• Graduate Education
• MS, MBA
• PhD

5
Construx Professional Development Ladders

• Levels numbered from 8 to 15
• College graduates start at level 9
• Level 12 is full professional status
• There are different development plans for
  achieving Levels 10, 11 and 12
• Salary correlates with level
• Award ceremonies for significant advancement

6
Construx Knowledge Areas

• Process
• Maintenance
• Quality
• Requirements
• Testing

• Configuration Management
• Construction
• Design
• Engineering Management
• Technology

7
Capability Levels

• Introductory performs basic work under
  supervision
• Competence performs independent work,
  occasionally coaches others
• Leadership performs exemplary work, regularly
  coaches, provides project or company leadership
• Mastery performs reference work, taught classes,
  provides industry-level leadership

8
Capability is a Function of Knowledge and
Experience
9
Ladder Levels

• Beginning
• Some background in software engineering
• Fairly strong background
• Consistently had "wins" on projects
• Champion, takes ownership of project
• Major technical resource in company
• Industry leader

10
Example Introductory Requirements - Engineering
Management

• Reading
• Software Project Survival Guide, Steve McConnell
• "They Write the Right Stuff", Charles Fishman
• "Software Engineering Code of Ethics and
  Professionalism", ACM/IEEE-CS
• Work Experience
• Review a project plan
• Plan and track personal activities

11
Example Competency Requirements - Engineering
Management

• Reading
• Rapid Development, Steve McConnell
• "Recommended Approach to Software Development",
  NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• ... (4 other books and articles)
• Work Experience
• Participate in creation of project estimate
• Reviewer of at least one project plan
• Assist project management on at least one project
• Seminars
• Software Project Survival Guide (2 days)
• Rapid Development (2 days)
• Software Estimation (2 days)

12
Example Leadership Requirements - Engineering
Management

• Reading - customized, about 1000 pages
• Work Experience
• Act as project manager on at least one
  significant project
• Create project plans for at least 2 significant
  projects
• Seminars
• Effective Software Project Management (3 days)
• Risk Management (2 days)
• Professional Experience
• Teach courses
• Obtain professional certifications
• Reviewing for magazines
• Active mentoring and coaching

13
The Construx Employee Experience

• Mentoring/Being Mentored
• Professional Development Plans
• Professional Development Plaques
• Training Program 10-12 days a year
• Salary Structure affected by levels
• Performance Review Program
• Software Engineering Discussion Groups
• Level 12 Recognition bonus, reception, ad
• Transition Level 12 senior hires (first year is
  conditional)

14
What's your plan?