How to effectively communicate to Developers/PMs - A guide for developers and project managers

Manning Peterson, Robert Kitchen

Imagine you are a developer working on a tough user story for your new Drupal site. You’ve been stuck on this problem for at least 60 minutes but you think you just might have the answer you're looking for. You slowly start to work out the variables in your head when suddenly, your PM appears behind you and disrupts your train of thought! His questions are simple enough and he seems content with your answers. Which is great, but now because of this unexpected interruption, it will take you another 20 minutes to recollect your thoughts and sort through your problem.



Communication between Project Managers and Developers is something that can cause stress on both sides but it doesn’t have to be. Come join us as we explore some of the things that developers do to Project Managers that drive them mad as well as some of the questions or statements Project Managers make that horrify developers.



Together, we will look at examples of poor communication between PMs and Devs such as: last minute scope changes;unreasonable estimation demands; unexpected increases in level of efforts and overall gotchas that have plagued both developers and project managers since the dawn of web development.


Project Managers will walk away with:

What forms of communication are most effective with developers

What things PMs can do to foster a calm, productive environment for developers

What phrases/questions can trigger anxiety among developers

A better understanding of what developers need to be the best that they can be



Developers will walk away with:

What forms of communication are preferred by PMs

What information PMs need to do their jobs

A glance into the challenges of a PM and why they are requesting certain pieces of information

How we as developers can provide PMs the ammunition needed to keep our stakeholders satisfied


This session will consist of a short comedy skit followed by open conversation and lessons learned.

This session is targeted at Developers and Project Managers. Any experience level can benefit

https://www.midcamp.org/topic/how-effectively-communicate-developerspms-guide-developers-and-project-managers

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