HARTMANN software group

organizational and professional development GAP BRIDGING®

The intent of Gap Bridging is simple: boost productivity and mitigate risk by bridging the skills gap. To measure this gap, we assess the feasibility, risk incurred, production levels, organizational infrastructure and team dynamics, member skills and subject matter expertise required of each engagement. Based upon our findings, we develop a hands on learning curriculum that simultaneously broadens the existing knowledge base and shortens the deliverable time line.

The impetuous to create Gap Bridging stems from what is arguably an incorrect market focus to improve product and staff development. Practices like Scrum, Lean and DevOps are touted as the de facto way of boosting productivity. Unfortunately, all too often the focus of organizations is on adhering to the rules of these development practices than on product requirements. Moreover, none of them account for creativity, employee morale, knowledge silos, poor communication channels and individual versus team improvements. Gap Bridging addresses all these facets.

Software development cannot be likened to a sports team that hacks its way to winning or where each team member is responsible for only a handful of tasks. When developing embedded systems or transactional software as an example, lives or fortunes may be at stake. Ignorance is not bliss especially in a court of law when being sued because too much attention was given to learning new technologies or adhering to a generic development practice than to addressing all the business requirements and product development risks. Gap Bridging is a mature production management engineering system that puts the focus on developing efficient, tested, highly reliable and maintainable products.

What is Gap Bridging®pairing requisite expertise with production demands

Gap Bridging is an elite production enhancement tool, applying U.S. military concepts i.e. organized, detailed, comprehensive, with sound adult learning theory. By assessing skill and knowledge gaps, detailing organizational structure and communication channels and documenting individual and team responsibilities, the gap bridging methodology identifies and addresses any and all Information Technology production deficiencies.

Whether you intend on migrating from one system to another, integrating new software, designing and developing a new application, gap bridging will be a tremendous benefit as it pairs the requisite expertise needed to successfully move forward.

Why employ Gap Bridging®boost productivity/decrease risk

reduce

stress

When an employee does not know their responsibilities, does not possess the skills needed to do their work, feels lost in the organizational structure, they become stressed. If you do not think that this will adversely impact your company, no matter how large, think again.

failure

Continued high development demands within inordinately short timelines are a byproduct of a misunderstanding of the team's capabilities and knowledge. Most musical groups wish that they too could be as great as the Beatles but only guarantee their failure when expecting success overnight. It is not just because music can be easily downloaded for the huge downturn in revenue in the music industry.

cost

Well trained, highly knowledgeable staff are more efficient than the alternative and have a direct impact on development and maintenance costs.

boost

morale/retention rates

Nothing boosts commitment like training: not an increase in salary nor more vacation time.

transparency

If employees are penalized for what they do not know or what they may have done incorrectly, they are more than likely unwilling to speak up when something is not working.

teamwork

When employees have a clear understanding of their job responsibilities/roles, are provided with guidance, know the appropriate communication channels, see themselves as an integral and necessary part of something, and appreciate the risks of non-participation, a team has been formed.

How is Gap Bridging® Practicedassess and bridge the skills/knowledge gaps

1.
learn

Each Gap Bridging engagement encompasses a unique set of demands as each organization has a varied set of personalities each with own skill improvement requirements. Moreover, each project has a mixture of technologies that, without a best practices implement, can adversely impact productivity and risk. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to learn: your goals, any and all designs, schedules, staff organization charts and the like. We need to learn about you before we can make the appropriate recommendations to ensure a successful outcome.

2.
evaluate

We provide a skills/knowledge assessment and the subject matter expertise required to bridge any gaps. Evaluations are conducted via interviews, tests, observations, group discussions and document and code reviews. Our Gap Bridging evaluations are highly refined and are, therefore, completed in a short period of time. The outcome of this phase is a detailed document detailing communication, knowledge and skill gaps.

3.
chart

We chart the effect of introducing versus not introducing Gap Bridging. We account for the role of our subject matter experts in providing professional consulting services and the training/knowledge services needed to boost productivity, motivate your staff, increase retention rates and improve communications. The intent of this step is to inform you of organizational development options and the impact of Gap Bridging on your current system and teams.

4.
plan

Commit to and detail a plan to move forward that details the best use of our subject matter expert's time and resources to facilitate your team's efforts.

5.
teach/migrate/integrate/develop/design

This phase is the heart of Gap Bridging. This is where all cylinders are firing: training and hands on work occur simultaneously.

6.
deliver

Completion means not only having produced a working, highly maintainable product; it also means having developed a well educated, highly skilled team.

Subject Matter ExpertsKnowledge Transfer Services

1.

Assess

where you are, where you wish to go and the expertise, knowledge and skills to get you there.
2.

Advise

on whether you should build or buy. Provide a learning and integration/build timeline for each considered approach. Review corresponding risk/cost estimations
3.

Commit

on where you need to go and our involvement.
4.

Work

by providing training and consulting services.
5.

Succeed

using Agile, Lean, DevOps, Waterfall ... build a well trained, highly effective, team oriented work force. Deliver periodic releases of working code and/or a completed project.