Becoming Part of the Team
I set up a meeting with the team for the next day, and explained, "I can't give you testers; I have no one to give you. I can't do the testing myself—I still have my management work to do. But I can offer you my services as a project manager, especially if you need someone to run interference and remove the other obstacles that will arise."
This was my first meeting with the team. I'd known these guys for a while—some for more than 10 years socially. Here's how I remember that meeting.
Dan, one of the longtime team members and one of the original developers, said, "Well, Johanna's OK as a tester and better as a project manager, but we really need more testers, not another manager. Sorry, Johanna." Dan gave me that lazy smile and leaned back in his chair.
Fred agreed: "JR, it's nice of you to offer, but we really need testers." Fred was also one of the original team members. He drummed his fingers on the table and his knee-thumping kicked up a notch. Fred was a great developer, and had a few nervous habits.
"Well, I can't give you testers. I have no one available, and no money to hire more people. I offered to be the project manager not because I think you need management, but to help you with ideas about how to work differently than you're accustomed to. It's clear to me that the team had a great process that worked before. But that process depended on the testers. I can't give them to you."
Clyde asked, "Why? What's the problem?"
I pulled out the testing assignment ...