AVISTA E-Update

The latest news and insights on safety-critical software and systems development from the AVISTA services team. Subscribe to our monthly email updates.

AVISTA in CrossTalk Magazine
February 7, 2011 — The January/February 2012 CrossTalk Magazine includes an article from AVISTA services process improvement experts Craig Hale and Mike Rowe. The article, “Don’t Get Out of Control: Achieving Real-Time Quality and Performance,” covers the basics of statistical process control (SPC), and the benefits for software development quality.

Moving from a Technical to Management Role
January 31, 2011 — At some point in your technical career, you may consider moving into a project management role. However, project management positions typically all require experience. How do you use your current technical background and break into project management? Here are some tips on transitioning from a technical career to project management.

Using the Progress Principle
January 23, 2011 — Lots of teams talk about “wins”, such as completing major programs or reaching big business goals. This year, help your team stay engaged in their work by bringing a new focus on progress to the team.

The Role of Vision in Success
January 17, 2011 — If you want your organization to become something great, show your employees the value of what you are asking them to do. For leaders, this means regularly communicating their vision to their teams.

Brainstorming With Your Team
January 3, 2011 — If you’re looking for different team building advice to increase a work team’s effectiveness, you’ve found the right article. Developing better brainstorming meetings can make a huge difference in the team’s general attitude, especially during a difficult phase of a team project.

Teamwork is Important
December 27, 2011 — Look at how teamwork affects your organization's structure and its efficiency. Efficient staff interaction creates positive benefits, such as high morale and employee retention.

How to Increase Your Sense of Urgency to Help Your Team
December 20, 2011 — You need an unwavering attitude that gets people to seize opportunities, to make things happen now, and to continually eliminate low-priority activities to be able to move faster and work smarter. Create a sense of real urgency.

Tips to Motivate the Team
December 13, 2011 — You have a team and an objective, and you want to be the best manager ever seen. You can not only motivate, you can inspire and inspired people achieve great things. Here are some ingredients for success.

Selecting Project Team Leaders
December 6, 2011 — Who do you select as the team leader for future projects? Consider how the role of project team leader will help a team member develop management skills in preparation for upcoming opportunities, as well as its team impact.

Organizational Skills and Work Ethic
November 29, 2011 — There is an important connection between organizational skills and work ethic. These skills also impact quality, so helping team members be more organized is critical.

Become a Better Manager: Working with Your Team
November 22, 2011 — This is the second of two articles that cover ways to be a better manager. This article looks at working with your team.

Become a Better Manager: Looking Within
November 15, 2011 — Good management skills can be innate, but they can also be learned. It is important to look into yourself before looking outward to your team.

AVISTA to Present at the NDIA CMMI Technology Conference
November 8, 2011 — AVISTA Services is very pleased to be involved in the NDIA’s Annual CMMI® Technology Conference & User Group again this year. One of our experts on process improvement is presenting two sessions in mid-November.

How to Handle Difficult Questions
November 1, 2011 — It is easier to handle difficult questions from clients or co-workers, if you’re prepared. Learn a few easy tips.

How to Ask Good Questions
October 25, 2011 — This article provides tips on how to plan to get the answers you need.

Types of Questions
October 20, 2011 — A quick overview on different kinds of questions to help you ask good questions to achieve an objective, but also to understand when you’re facing questions.

Asking Good Questions
October 18, 2011 — Asking good questions is an important communications skill. We speak to deliver a message, but sometimes we may want to gather information, get to know someone, or just find out their ideas or opinions.

Aerospace and Defense Benefit from Turnkey ATE Collaboration
October 6, 2011 — Ideal Aerosmith is working with AVISTA Services to help manufacturers speed development and certification for their complex components, and focus on the development of the end product.

Eliminate Planning Guesswork
September 27, 2011 — Successful project completion means that committed deliverables and quality objectives are achieved on time and on budget. In a tight economy and highly competitive marketplace, delays and cost overruns can be disastrous. Successful project execution must be optimized at every phase of development.

Maximize Project Planning with Outside Resources
September 20, 2011 — When planning your next complex, safety-critical embedded software development project, you don't need to do it alone. If you plan to use outside resources for development, those resources may also be able to help scope the project.

Prevent Pain Later by Planning Outsourcing
September 14, 2011 — Software outsourcing has increased significantly over the last 20 years and has become a mature business model, yet many organizations still ignore strategic outsourced services planning. A few key planning steps can prevent issues later.

High Maturity Measurement and Analysis Workshop Presentation
September 6, 2011 — Many organizations look for guidance on what it takes to reach high maturity and how to keep improving once they get there. The 2011 High Maturity Measurement and Analysis Workshop is where experts share examples of successful implementations. One of AVISTA’s experts was invited to present again this year.