Eau Claire , Wisconsin Business Training

Since you asked for the three most important things that non-programmers should know about, and I’ve spent most of my career working with more non-programmers than programmers, I have a few interesting things that would help.

Number One - It Is Impossible To Accurately Estimate Software Projects

No matter what is tried. No matter what tool, agile approach, or magic fairy dust people try to apply to creating software… accurately predicting software project timelines is basically impossible.

There are many good reasons for this. Usually, requirements and feature ideas change on a daily/weekly basis. Often it is impossible to know what needs to be done without actually digging into the code itself. Debugging and QA can take an extraordinary amount of time.

And worst of all…

Project Managers are always pushing for shorter timelines. They largely have no respect for reality. So, at some point they are given estimates just to make them feel better about planning.

No matter how much planning and estimation you do, it will be wrong. At best it will be directionally correct +/- 300% of what you estimated. So, a one year project could actually take anywhere between 0 and 5 years, maybe even 10 years.

If you think I’m joking, look at how many major ERP projects that go over time and over budget by many years and many hundreds of millions of dollars. Look at the F-35 fighter jet software issues.

Or in the small, you can find many cases where a “simple bug fix” can take days when you thought it was hours.

All estimates are lies made up to make everyone feel better. I’ve never met a developer or manager who could accurately estimate software projects even as well as the local weatherman(or woman) predicts the weather.

Number Two - Productivity Is Unevenly Distributed

What if I told you that in the average eight hour work day the majority of the work will get done in a 30 minute timeframe? Sound crazy?

Well, for most programmers there is a 30–90 minute window where you are extraordinarily productive. We call this the flow state.

Being in the flow state is wonderful and amazing. It often is where the “magic” of building software happens.

Getting into flow can be difficult. It’s akin to meditation in that you have to have a period of uninterrupted focus of say 30 minutes to “get in” the flow, but a tiny interruption can pull you right out.

Now consider the modern workplace environment. Programmers work in open office environments where they are invited to distract each other constantly.

Most people need a 1–2 hour uninterrupted block to get 30–90 minutes of flow.

Take the 8 hour day and break it in half with a lunch break, and then pile in a few meetings and all of a sudden you are lucky to get one decent flow state session in place.

That is why I say that most of the work that gets done happens in a 30 minute timeframe. The other 7–8 hours are spent being distracted, answering email, going to meetings, hanging around the water cooler, going to the bathroom, and trying to remember what you were working on before all these distractions.

Ironically, writers, musicians, and other creative professionals have their own version of this problem and largely work alone and away from other people when they are creating new things.

Someday the programming world might catch on, but I doubt it.

Even if this became obvious, it doesn’t sit well with most companies to think that programmers would be paid for an 8 hour day and only be cranking out code for a few hours on a good day. Some corporate middle manager would probably get the bright idea to have mandatory flow state training where a guru came in and then there would be a corporate policy from a pointy haired boss mandating that programmers are now required to spend 8 hours a day in flow state and they must fill out forms to track their time and notify their superiors of their flow state activities, otherwise there would be more meetings about the current flow state reports not being filed correctly and that programmers were spending too much time “zoning out” instead of being in flow.

Thus, programmers would spent 7–8 hours a day pretending to be in flow state, reporting on their progress, and getting all their work done in 30 minutes of accidental flow state somewhere in the middle of all that flow state reporting.

If you think I’m joking about this, I’m not. I promise you this is what would happen to any company of more than 2 employees. (Even the ones run by programmers.)

Number Three - It Will Cost 10x What You Think

Being a programmer, I get a lot of non-programmers telling me about their brilliant app ideas. Usually they want me to build something for free and are so generous as to pay me up to 5% of the profits for doing 100% of the work.

Their ideas are just that good.

Now, I gently tell them that I’m not interested in building anything for free.

At that point they get angry, but a few ask how much it will cost. I give them a reasonable (and very incorrect) estimate of what it would cost to create the incredibly simple version of their app idea.

Let’s say it’s some number like $25,000.

They look at me like I’m a lunatic, and so I explain how much it costs to hire a contract programmer and how long it will actually take. For example’s sake let’s say it is $100/hr for 250 hours.

To be clear, these are made up numbers and bad estimates (See Number One for details…)

In actuality, to build the actual thing they want might cost $250,000, or even $2,500,000 when it’s all said and done.

Building software can be incredibly complex and expensive. What most people can’t wrap their head around is the fact that a company like Google, Apple, or Microsoft has spent BILLIONS of dollars to create something that looks so simple to the end user.

Somehow, the assumption is that something that looks simple is cheap and fast to build.

Building something simple and easy for the end user is time consuming and expensive. Most people just can’t do it.

So, the average person with a brilliant app idea thinks it will cost a few hundred or maybe a few thousand dollars to make and it will be done in a weekend is so off the mark it’s not worth considering their ideas.

And programmers are too eager to play along with these bad ideas (by making bad estimates and under charging for their time) that this notion is perpetuated to the average non-programmer.

So, a good rule of thumb is that software will cost 10 times as much as you think and take 10 times as long to finish.

And that leads to a bonus point…

BONUS - Software Is Never Done

Programmers never complete a software project, they only stop working on it. Software is never done.

I’ve worked at many software companies and I’ve never seen a software project “completed”.

Sure, software gets released and used. But, it is always changing, being updated, bugs get fixed, and there are always new customer requests for features.

Look at your favorite software and you’ll quickly realize how true this is. Facebook, Instagram, Google Search, Google Maps, GMail, iOS, Android, Windows, and now even most video games are never done.

There are small armies of developers just trying to keep all the software you use every day stable and bug free. Add on the fact that there are always feature requests, small changes, and new platforms to deal with, it’s a treadmill.

So, the only way out of the game is to stop working on software. At that point, the software begins to decay until it is no longer secure or supported.

Think about old Windows 3.1 software or maybe old Nintendo Cartridge video games. The current computers and video game consoles don’t even attempt to run that software anymore.

You can’t put an old video game in your new Nintendo Switch and have it “just work”. That is what happens when you think software is done.

When programmers stop working on software the software starts to die. The code itself is probably fine, but all the other software keeps moving forward until your software is no longer compatible with the current technology.

So, those are the four most important things that non-programmers should know about programming. I know you asked for only three, so I hope the bonus was valuable to you as well.

iPhone vs Android vs Tablet?

[Jun, 18, 2012] |
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What are some of the software development headaches associated with iPhone vs Android development?

The Boss (hereafter referred to as TB), handed me this research assignment. Hey, I finally got a little bit of one ups man ship on TB.

This is a significant moment in my life. Like me, TB isn't really human. I know because neither of us seem to indulge in that luxury known as sleep. That makes it extremely difficult to have any sort of 'gotcha'. I'm dancing. I got one.

In the warp speed development cycles we are now facing, TB must have gone to sleep, which in human terms is known as a wink. (About a 40th of the second).
18 June 2012 Monday, 3:30 PM (15:30 HRS) UTC -8, in Los Angeles Microsoft is making a major tablet announcement, revealing its own hardware that is tablet-based. Do not be surprised if it entails a Hollywood Inc. focus.

Top Innovative Open Source Projects Making Waves in The Technology World

[Mar, 17, 2014] |
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A whole new world was thrown wide open with the advent of the concept of open source. The biggest advantage of open source projects is the easy availability of the source code and also the rights to tweak it or modify the code as we deem fit.

Listed below are some top open source projects that are making waves with their innovative ideas at this moment.

ProjectLibre

Project Libre is the open source replacement of Microsoft Project. It was one among the top 10 open source projects of 2013. With over 6 million downloads; it has most certainly captured the imagination of people around the world. Details of project Libre could be found at http://www.projectlibre.org/ . Project Libre has separate release for mainframes. It also has a web based version which further increases its overall appeal. One of the main advantages is that it has a list of tasks that can be tracked to closure. It can also be used in conjunction with LibreOffice to provide a great set of tools to the team leaders.

Diaspora

A Look at Growing Technology Careers and Those That Are Being Phased Out

[Dec, 02, 2019] |
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Technology is changing all the time, and the jobs that are associated with technology are changing as well. People that are looking at careers in technology will see some jobs that are being phased out as others increase in popularity. This means that people that are interested in tech jobs should be vigilant in researching those opportunities that are growing in demand.

A Dying Breed of Legacy Systems

The mainframe programmers i.e., COBOL, have been getting phased out for years, and are reaching retirement age. The demand for these skills are at an end of an era as more technology surfaces with needs for app development and cloud migration. These jobs will be phased out and are being replaced with developers that are knowledgeable in more object-oriented programming positions such as Java, C#, and etc.

Programmers / Analysts

Professionals that work in software development, can find work in a number of different tech careers. People that know how to program, particularly in object oriented programming, can expect to be employed and in demand for some time to come. The salaries for programmers range from $50k – millions, depending on the skillsets one has mastered. Like any other profession, one can opt to learn just enough to get by or hone in on a discipline currently in demand and master it, such as data analysts, machine learning analyst and cloud migration specialists.

Tech Support for Portable Devices

The healthcare industry is seeing a rise in jobs in Information Technology because more hospitals are going paperless. There is a great demand for people that have the ability to work with portable devices because this is what many doctors and nurses will be using as they move away from the long paper trail that has been created from patients. People that have the ability to configure and troubleshoot portable devices like tablets and phones are able to support the applications for these devices will be in high demand. In this case, learning programming languages such a C++ is the perfect route to go in.

Technology Trainers

There will always be a need for someone that can learn, utilize and teach proprietary programs to others. Internal proprietary technology will need to be updated which means that technology trainers are expected to be current in the knowledge base for companies that are utilizing this software. People that are in the training field, will need to stay updated with new technology, grasp new concepts quickly and be able to teach it efficiently. As more companies take hold of proprietary programs, it becomes important for software application trainers to be put in place to teach this technology.

Printer Support Jobs Dwindle

People that are working in the technology field of printer support will need to consider looking at other opportunities because some of these printer support jobs will be phased out. There is a reason for this. More jobs are becoming phased out in the world of printer technology because fewer people are using printers. It has become easier to read the documents and transfer these documents to other workers inside an organization. This means that less money is being spent on printers. Even less money is being spent on printer support. People that have acquired jobs where their primary role is to work in printer repair will see a decline in the number of people that are needed for these types of positions. It becomes a lot less feasible to have printer repair people in place when there is no printer in the office.

Graphic Design

Technology also holds a special place for those that have the experience in graphic design. Websites and social media really engage people in visual art and people that know how to display it on web pages have a plethora of jobs. This leaves this field wide open for those that know about design structures and editing images that can result in eye catching imagery.

Wan/ Lan Management

One big area that offers an array of different jobs is the area of wide and local network router and switch management. People that are proficient in programming switches and building networks can get themselves a number of jobs dealing with the network topology. Tech careers are booming when it comes to this type of field because many people do not have this experience. They may know how to set up computers, but they may not have any idea about what to do if the network connection is no longer working properly.

People that know how to configure switches for networks and troubleshoot these issues with network connectivity will have a wide range of geographical locations that they connect together to build one network for a business.

Tech Life in Wisconsin

Fun Facts and stats: â€¢ Wisconsinâ€™s nickname is the Badger State. â€¢ In 1882 the first hydroelectric plant in the United States was built at Fox River. â€¢ The first practical typewriter was designed in Milwaukee in 1867. â€¢ The nation's first kindergarten was established in Watertown in 1856. Its first students were local German-speaking youngsters. â€¢ The Republican Party was founded in Ripon in 1854.

As machines become more and more efficient and perfect, so it will become clear that imperfection is the greatness of man. Ernst Fischer

other Learning Options

Software developers near Eau Claire have ample opportunities to meet like minded techie individuals, collaborate and expend their career choices by participating in Meet-Up Groups. The following is a list of Technology Groups in the area.

BrewMUG - Milwaukee's MongoDB User Group · Madison Area Software Developers Meetup Group · Green Bay Ruby User Group ·

Fortune 500 and 1000 companies in Wisconsin that offer opportunities for Business Analysis developers

Company Name	City	Industry	Secondary Industry
We Energies	Milwaukee	Energy and Utilities	Gas and Electric Utilities
Bemis Company, Inc.	Neenah	Manufacturing	Plastics and Rubber Manufacturing
Regal Beloit Corporation	Beloit	Manufacturing	Tools, Hardware and Light Machinery
Manitowoc Company, Inc	Manitowoc	Manufacturing	Heavy Machinery
Briggs and Stratton Corporation	Milwaukee	Manufacturing	Tools, Hardware and Light Machinery
Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC)	Milwaukee	Financial Services	Lending and Mortgage
A.O. Smith Corporation	Milwaukee	Manufacturing	Tools, Hardware and Light Machinery
Sentry Insurance	Stevens Point	Financial Services	Insurance and Risk Management
Rockwell Automation, Inc.	Milwaukee	Manufacturing	Tools, Hardware and Light Machinery
Bucyrus International, Inc.	South Milwaukee	Manufacturing	Heavy Machinery
Diversey, Inc.	Sturtevant	Manufacturing	Chemicals and Petrochemicals
Alliant Energy Corporation	Madison	Energy and Utilities	Gas and Electric Utilities
Plexus Corp.	Neenah	Manufacturing	Manufacturing Other
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.	Madison	Manufacturing	Tools, Hardware and Light Machinery
Kohl's Corporation	Menomonee Falls	Retail	Department Stores
Snap-on Tools, Inc.	Kenosha	Manufacturing	Tools, Hardware and Light Machinery
Fiserv, Inc.	Brookfield	Software and Internet	Data Analytics, Management and Storage
CUNA Mutual Group	Madison	Financial Services	Insurance and Risk Management
Oshkosh Corporation	Oshkosh	Manufacturing	Heavy Machinery
Modine Manufacturing Company	Racine	Manufacturing	Manufacturing Other
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company	Milwaukee	Financial Services	Insurance and Risk Management
Joy Global Inc.	Milwaukee	Manufacturing	Heavy Machinery
Harley-Davidson, Inc.	Milwaukee	Manufacturing	Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles
American Family Insurance	Madison	Financial Services	Insurance and Risk Management
Johnson Controls, Inc.	Milwaukee	Manufacturing	Heavy Machinery
ManpowerGroup	Milwaukee	Business Services	HR and Recruiting Services

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the hartmann software group advantage

why take Business Analysis Training with the hartmann software group?

A successful career as a software developer or other IT professional requires a solid understanding of software development processes, design patterns, enterprise application architectures, web services, security, networking and much more. The progression from novice to expert can be a daunting endeavor; this is especially true when traversing the learning curve without expert guidance. A common experience is that too much time and money is wasted on a career plan or application due to misinformation.

The Hartmann Software Group understands these issues and addresses them and others during any training engagement. Although no IT educational institution can guarantee career or application development success, HSG can get you closer to your goals at a far faster rate than self paced learning and, arguably, than the competition. Here are the reasons why we are so successful at teaching:

Learn from the experts.
1. We have provided software development and other IT related training to many major corporations in Wisconsin since 2002.
2. Our educators have years of consulting and training experience; moreover, we require each trainer to have cross-discipline expertise i.e. be Java and .NET experts so that you get a broad understanding of how industry wide experts work and think.
Discover tips and tricks about Business Analysis programming
Get your questions answered by easy to follow, organized Business Analysis experts
Get up to speed with vital Business Analysis programming tools
Save on travel expenses by learning right from your desk or home office. Enroll in an online instructor led class. Nearly all of our classes are offered in this way.
Prepare to hit the ground running for a new job or a new position
See the big picture and have the instructor fill in the gaps
We teach with sophisticated learning tools and provide excellent supporting course material
Books and course material are provided in advance
Get a book of your choice from the HSG Store as a gift from us when you register for a class
Gain a lot of practical skills in a short amount of time
We teach what we know…software
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