Effective UI

Chapter 4. Bringing Together a Team

Since the entire course of your project will involve the application of intellect to identifying and solving problems, the capabilities and aptitudes of your team members (stakeholders included) will be the single greatest contributor to the success of your project. No amount of process, no brilliant development methodology, and no force or aptitude of management can bring about as much success as a talented, driven team can. That is, unfortunately, one of the weaknesses of what we’re able to offer through this book. We can provide roadmaps, strategies, and tactics to help you find your way through the project, but if the people applying those concepts and doing the design and development work aren’t adequately creative and qualified, you’ll be swimming against the current the whole time.

Of all the things EffectiveUI has figured out how to do well over the years, hiring amazing people was our first priority and has remained our principal focus. We’ve been very fortunate in being able to attract some of the top people in our field, because our company works on the cutting edge of this domain and is able to provide a more challenging, user-focused alternative to talented people. All of the learning that’s described in this book has been developed through putting those people together in challenging situations.

But most people don’t have the opportunity ...