
Using old and inefficient techniques like [waterfall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfall_model) while building modern software applications can become extremely dangerous in today's fast-paced business environment.

The main reason is that competition is enormous, things change lightning fast so businesses and IT teams need to find ways to work closely, maintain their flexibility and adapt fast.

[Extreme Programming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_programming) is a great recipe that solves these issues and helps us to build complex and useful applications while maintaining strong collaboration bonds with our customers. Let's see why.

## The problem

As an IT team, how often do you come across new requests from the customer's side that force you to refactor heavily or do things from the ground while a project runs?

As a customer, how often do you realize that you actually need something different compared with the things you asked for upfront while a project runs?

## Business needs are doomed to change

We need to realize that we tend to build even more and more complex software applications so not being able to predict everything upfront is quite possible to happen.

Actually, this is the most common one.

So the 1.000.000 dollars question is "How can we describe, estimate and foresee all these things that are not known or described in full detail yet, and might be required in the near future?"

We simply cannot!! We are not wizards that can tell the future, right?

## The solution

[Extreme Programming](http://www.extremeprogramming.org) is an approach that helps hugely to minimize this risk and bring the 2 worlds closer.

This Agile model helps us have small iterations, work side-by-side with the customers and adapt fast to their growing needs without worrying about error-prone estimations, newly introduced requirements, or last-minute changes.

With XP methodology we can provide value to our customers constantly while adapting to various requirements that were not visible or even described at first.

XP improves a software project in five essential ways:

- communication
- simplicity
- feedback
- respect
- courage

Through these principles, customers and IT people come closer, build stronger bonds, stay constantly on the same page and work for a common cause all the way long.

Let's build useful stuff together then. Cheers!!


Business and IT teams, stop arguing and start collaborating


The most valuable asset of every organization is its people. That said the hiring process plays a crucial role into finding talented people who match perfectly with the organization's culture.

Apart from that, the hiring process actually is the start of the journey, so it speaks volumes regarding the organization's ethos and values. Who wants to make a bad first impression, right?

So how do we check for perfect matches?

### Use the right tools for the job

We are using tools like [Workable](https://apply.workable.com/helloworld-pc/) to publish and manage our openings.

Platforms like [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/helloworld-pc/) and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/helloworld.gr) are used to demonstrate them to the world. 

### Curriculum Vitae scan

A CV cannot describe accurately a talented person, but it can provide some very important details about their background, their interests or even their personality.

Things that stand out:

- cover letters with a personal flavour
- involvement with open source projects
- hobbies, interests and activities outside of working hours
- social profiles
- the general feeling that the CV is prepared with ❤️

Why such an interest about social profiles, hobbies and activities?

This is because we are looking first for a human-being that can fit into our team and then for a professional who can do the job. 

### Assignment

The very next step is a short technical assignment that lasts less than one (1) hour. Through this assignment we verify that the candidate has the technical knowledge required for this position.

There are tons of online platforms out there that provide excellent tools for this job and help us to automate it as much as possible.

Things we evaluate:

- soft skills questions, so we spot matches
- ability to solve algorithms with any programming language
- deep knowledge of the technologies in question like ReactJS, HTML, CSS, RESTful APIs, MVC, OOP etc

### Interview

At this stage a thirty (30) minutes interview takes place, so we get to know each other, discuss things that are not mentioned in the CV and analyze the assignment's results.

The candidate asks things about the organization's vision and goals while we try to see whether we are a good fit and vice-versa.

It is important to have a match for both sides in order for this marriage to become a functional one.

### Work together period

This is the final stage during which candidates work side by side with some of our people on actual stories and tasks. This period lasts for one (1) week and in the end we evaluate all this together with the candidate.

Through this process, candidates can see what does it mean to work with us in order to eliminate the possibility of any unpleasant surprises after getting hired.

We definitely don't want to waste peoples' time, so candidates are getting paid for their precious time and efforts before getting involved in this process and not after.

Let's make it work then. Cheers!!


Publications about "management"

By Hello World PC

Business and IT teams, stop arguing and start collaborating

By Hello World PC

The hiring process is where the organization's culture begins