Parabens a todos pela primeira reuniao! Muito produtiva!

Oct 8, 2012

In case you are wondering, it means “Congratulations to all for the first meeting! Very productive!”

Background

A "high-level" process flow chart

This past week I spent the majority of my time “walking the halls” (as we say at E&Y) and trying to understand Pixel’s business risks and opportunities. I took lots of notes, drew some process diagrams, and even made an organizational chart. I felt like an auditor all over again, completing E&Y’s UBT (understand the business template) and process walk-throughs. I saw how a Pixel project is sold, scoped and priced (the commercial process); the life cycle of software development (the software development process); and how final products/solutions are assembled and delivered (the production process). I took lots of notes, made request lists, drew some charts and even got some white board action into the mix.

Issue

At a company this size, frankly any size, there can be inter-dependencies among the functional areas of the company creating a need for an open and consistent line of communication between these areas. Although there is consistent communication, it’s almost always formal and many relevant parties do not receive all of the information.

A view of our first meeting from the outside looking in.

Proposed solution

I proposed a WEEKLY OPERATIONAL STATUS UPDATE MEETING. We had our first meeting yesterday, Monday, October 8, 2012 at about 2:22pm. The meeting was scheduled to start at 2pm; I’ve been told this is not unusual so I was sort of ready for it. When you are in South America, you tend to just go with the flow. Fortunately, I used 10 of those 22 minutes to run to the post office across the street to send a thank you postcard to Ms. Webb and Mrs. Daniel’s 3rd grade class for all the wonderful advice they gave me .

And a closer look at our meeting from the inside

Conclusion

The meeting eventually started and the heads of each of these functional areas discussed ongoing projects and issues that needed the attention of the broader group. Resolutions were reached for some while action items were developed for the others. Shortly after, a meeting summation, including action items and the individuals responsible for each item, was emailed to the broader group. This morning I got the one-line email from Daniel Li “Parabens a todos pela primeira reuniao! Muito produtiva! – Congratulations to all for the first meeting! Very Productive!” Also, there will be a standing inter-departmental meeting every Monday from here on out. Guess what?...I’m invited.

Guilhereme Salvini translating on my behalf to Rodrigo Almeida  while Rubens Cianga listens in

 Photos:

• First meeting – clockwise starting on far left Creso Chaves – Commercial director, Suely Pala- Software Director, Edgard Ortiz – Co-founder, Daniel Li – Co-founder, Rubens Cianga Purchasing and project management and Rodrigo Almeida – Production manager) 
• Meeting Closeup:   Edgard, Daniel and Ruebens