Our work methodology

We pursue a thorough methodology, including some or all of the following stages:

  1. Discover: the discovery stage ensures we have a solid understanding of the underlying problem. We explore and challenge your assumptions, discover the questions you should be asking, and gather relevant data. This phase involves in-depth interviews with necessary stakeholders, and the review of associated and relevant organisational documentation. We typically propose the following Discovery activities:
    • We ask questions to ascertain your software engineering philosophy.
    • We consider your organisational goals and understand these by meeting with stakeholders — usually executives and any other key people.
    • We examine your current processes by meeting with appropriate team members to cover off all relevant processes, and by reviewing existing process documentation.
  2. Define: identify and define the real problem by analysing data, and reviewing findings. We detail the gap between current and aspirational states. We review and synthesise all the information presented to us during discovery, and then consolidate information to build a more complete picture.
  3. Develop: together with you, we brainstorm ideas, and explore a number of possible solutions to the issues at hand. Collaboratively, we identify how to bridge the identified gap, what is missing, and how to approach the solution.
  4. Deliver: we either implement the solution with you or provide advice on how to implement it by yourself.
  5. Check: measure and review results to confirm or invalidate our assumptions and selected solution.
  6. Adjust: we aim to learn something from everything we do, draw conclusions, thoughtfully iterate on our implementation, and standardise practices to prevent the problem from recurring.

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Would you like to improve team effectiveness and productivity? Got a project you think we can help with? Interested in leadership coaching or engineering training? Basically, want to work with us? Get in touch: gday@blackmill.co and we will be in touch in a jiffy.

We live on, and benefit from, the colonised lands of the Arakwal and the Minjungbal peoples of the Bundjalung nation, and those of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of these lands and recognise their enduring connection to land, waters, and culture. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present.