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What do you know about software management and what experience do you have in this field?
I am very excited to answer this question as I have a lot of experience in this field, even though my previous work was not related directly to software management. All throughout my time at my last job, I spent it gaining experience until one day, they offered me the opportunity of a lifetime – to become the new Software Manager. As my title implies, the job entails managing software for any company – from developing and implementing applications from scratch, to maintaining it through updates and maintenance projects. I might be leaving my job, but I will always have the satisfaction of knowing that my team is running smoothly and not having any issues with it. I’ve learned so much about how software management works and what makes it a successful venture.
I am very familiar with the industry and its tools, from the most basic step of a software development process all the way to the maintenance phase of an application. I took an interest in software engineering as my senior project at high school, but my passion for it was not only due to how cool it sounded – I wanted to be able to help out any company that had a problem with their applications. The goal of my job is not only just creating great software, but also making the best organization around so that it can last.
The biggest problem I have found in software management is that most managers do not know what they are doing. Most of them just like to follow the “by the book” and then create their own by following all the steps exactly. This is a very ineffective way of thinking. It can be easy for software projects to take a long time to complete, so it is more important than ever to make sure you are thorough with your planning and schedules.
How would you handle a situation where there is a conflict between two team members over how to complete a task or goal?
There are many ways to deal with this situation, depending on the nature of the controversy. If it’s just a simple difference of opinion, then I would make sure that both members are given the chance to pitch their ideas and present them to the upper management or whoever assigned them this project. If they still disagree, then they need to justify their viewpoint and back it up with reasons. If all of them are strongly aligned, I would address the situation by asking them to work together and come up with a solution. If both sides agreed to work together but still had difficulties in collaboration, then I would suggest that they create their own project team composed of two members from each side, and assign one member as the leader of the project team. In some cases, I would appoint a leader myself and ask the team to come up with a plan to complete the project.
In any case, I would make sure that they have a clear idea of their role and purpose. If they still disagree after I have done all of these things, then I would have to take matters into my own hands. I would ask each person to explain why they think their idea is better and what makes them think it’s better than their colleague’s one. I would come up with my own way of resolving the situation.
Describe a time when you had to give negative feedback to an employee or team member. How did you go about it and what was the outcome?
Negative feedback is not always easy to give, especially when it’s about a project you so greatly believe in and are proud of. If the other members were part of the project too, then I would present my thoughts in a constructive manner without attacking any person. I’d also try to present the situation as objectively as possible. To avoid one of the main causes of negative feedback, I would present facts, not my personal feelings. I would also try to prepare myself beforehand by asking how others are going to react in certain situations – and what they might say. For example, I would be expecting the team members to be defensive and try to change me, complaining about not enough time for some of the tasks.
If I’ve already given negative feedback to a project, then I would try to avoid giving it again. It’s always best if you can resolve things internally before you discuss them with others. If this isn’t possible, then consider providing a warning before you give negative feedback. This way, you will be more likely to receive it in a constructive manner instead of being attacked on the spot.
What do you think are the most important skills for a software manager to possess?
Several skills and experiences that are crucial are: enthusiasm, time management, leadership and communication. If a manager wants to build a successful team, he must possess one of them. There are many guides out there that offer great advice on how to be a better leader in the software and web industry. I have read most of them and have learned from each one of them. One of the books that I would highly recommend is: “The Leader’s Guide to Software Management” by Cory Doctorow.
It represents great advice for both software managers and software engineers. Software engineers could learn about time management and team-building skills, while software managers could learn about effective leadership and communication.
As a leader, you should always have a long term vision for your team. You should be able to communicate this vision in a clear way to your team members. A good public speaker is required but only if the message you are delivering is accurate and well structured. Vision is the key. Software engineers usually have a difficult time understanding the end goal of a project. Tell them a vision that they can relate to and they will be more motivated to work on it.
Have you ever encountered a problem with a software program that you were unable to solve, and if so, how did you go about finding a solution?
Rarely, but it has happened once. We were working on a project that required us to work with a specific software, but the program’s producer discontinued it. We had to find an alternative format through which we could edit our videos before publishing them, which was rather difficult at the time. However, we eventually found a solution by using a more complex program that some of our colleagues were able to use with ease. I must say, they were very helpful and saved us from ruining the project by giving us a hand.
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“software manager interview questions” : “Have you ever encountered a problem with a software program that you were unable to solve, and if so, how did you go about finding a solution?”
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