How do you know your work focus and level of effort are staying on target for your individual, team, and company goals? Even if you
The case for detailed time tracking – Atomic’s approach
I’ve rigorously tracked my time at Atomic for 13 years. Yet when I talk with other professionals, I’m frequently reminded that many companies, teams, and individuals
Client diversity drives good financial results
Atomic is an intentionally-general software product development consultancy. We’ve found success through technology and client diversity. Instead of focusing on a single industry or technology
Jazz and the software company – A choreography of chaos and order
The longer I’m in leadership, the more I become aware of a simple, but harrowing fact: The best leaders in business improvise. A lot. In
What identifying a company architecture did for us
Growth challenges the structure of any organization. In my experience, it’s easy to let those changes sneak up on you. As part of our recent
Why colocation? Addressing the objections to having a centralized team
Everyone who works at Atomic as a full-time employee has the expectation of colocating with their team in one of our two offices in Michigan.
A milestone reached in Atomic’s goal to employ more women
We’re approaching a significant milestone in our company initiative to employ more women. When our last Accelerator member joins in mid-July, 25% of Atoms will
Can matrix management work in a services firm?
I never suspected I’d come to think matrix management might be a great idea for managing project-based, professional services firms like Atomic. My undergraduate business
Visualizing cash flow for shareholders with a Cash/AR graph
Cash is the life blood that runs a business. If it’s mismanaged, it’s highly likely that the company will experience pain. Unfortunately, employees are often
Firing people: feelings, perspectives, and practical advice
This is a summary of what I’ve learned about firing people. I’ve had to do that difficult, unpleasant, but occasionally absolutely necessary task 12 times,