Karen Adkins

Check Out Our Agile Process in Action

August 3, 2016August 3, 2016by Karen AdkinsLeave a Comment

We recently worked with Benefit Express (BE), a health benefits administration firm, to enhance their in-house software. We’ve worked with them in the past, so they knew our agile, feature-driven development processes could meet their needs.

Our total transparency model allowed us to be in constant communication with BE even though we worked remotely, ensuring the product would give their customers what they needed.

Utilizing Angular.js, C#, and Web API, we provided the tools and resources that allowed BE to finish their project on time.

Check out this video to learn more:

SharePoint

SharePoint 2013 On Line – Trying to Open Document in Word 2013 Desktop Version

November 2, 2013June 17, 2016by Karen AdkinsLeave a Comment

Problem: I have my browser open to a SharePoint Document Library. A doc will show in Web Apps. When I select edit in Word, I get a splash screen that says I need to install 32 bit Office Apps.

Solution: I did an Office Repair on the desktop apps. This Worked!!!

Details: I was using IE 10. Office Pro Plus 2013. When I used Chrome, I could use the Desktop Word 2013. Very frustrating but now it is solved!!!

Best Practice

Code Review 2.0

May 15, 2013June 17, 2016by Karen AdkinsLeave a Comment

I received this email from one of my team members. Really good food for thought. I would love to hear from you if you try it out and it works!!!

Continue reading “Code Review 2.0” →

Best Practice

Time Management Tips and Tricks

March 31, 2013June 17, 2016by Karen AdkinsLeave a Comment

Interesting, quick read with some helpful hints on time management. I especially like slide 5:

Here is the link for the complete slide deck: 26 Time Management Hacks I Wish I’d Known at 20

Best Practice, Requirements

A Practical Way to Gain Experience Acquiring a New Skill – Mind Mapping Your Career Plan

March 24, 2013June 17, 2016by Karen AdkinsLeave a Comment

Mind Maps are used for problem solving, team building and in requirement gathering among other things. Following 10 simple guidelines from Buzan on Wikipedia, you, too, can try this approach.

Continue reading “A Practical Way to Gain Experience Acquiring a New Skill – Mind Mapping Your Career Plan” →

Best Practice

Is a Technical Lead like a Super Bowl Quarterback?

February 3, 2013June 17, 2016by Karen AdkinsLeave a Comment

As I pondered my next blog post (New Year’s resolution Is to make sure we are posting on a regular basis), I received the email below from Mike Mansbach, Citrix Online. The same questions apply to the Tech Lead on a Software Development Team. Who performs better under pressure? What different types of teamwork styles makes the team successful? If your tech team role is more equivalent to Line Men, does the style of quarterbacking from the tech lead affect your performance?

Continue reading “Is a Technical Lead like a Super Bowl Quarterback?” →

Project Management/Business Management

Focusing on Strength

April 27, 2012June 20, 2016by Karen Adkins1 Comment

Think about focusing on your strengths to be a better you – better employee and better person. We live in a society that has us focusing on making our weaknesses into strengths. Are we setting ourselves up for failure when we try to excel at something that we lack talent to begin with? Look at Michael Jordan. He was a stellar basketball player. Michael did not bring the same level of skill and talent to baseball and golf. Gallup’s research shows that people who know and use their strengths tend to be better performers.

Continue reading “Focusing on Strength” →