linaro-project-management team mailing list archive

[Joey Stanford <joey.stanford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

On today's tech lead call we had a long discussion about release
management and monthly milestones.

There were a few topics:

1) global release manager
2) monthly milestones
3) Releases sprint

Global RM:
In order to support monthly releases we think that we need to expand
the RM role outside of Platform and to handle all Engineering Team
Leads (i.e. all the working groups plus platform).  This will increase
the workload and make having a second RM a must.  I have an open hire
on the career page for an RM to backfill Jamie.  Changes:
 * the RMs will run two release meetings, one for the platform team,
and a second one for the WGs.  (What this is implying is that the RM's
can't be RM/PMs because of the workload and that we need more PMs for
Platform)
 * the RMs will own updating the content of www.linaro.org/downloads
 * the RMs will own all releases.  This will require more support from
TLs and PMs than what we've traditionally had.

Monthly Milestones:
In order to support monthly release we have agreed that
 * we'll have monthly milestones for each WG + Platform
 * the PMs will create those milestones for the TLs based upon
schedule input from the RMs
 * the PMs will be, as much as possible, the bridge between the RM and
the TL for monthly releases
 * each WG, via the PM, will plan out and populate two milestones in advance. So
  * Now, you'll be planning out Months 1 and 2
  * In month 1 you'll be planning out Month 3 and refining Month 2 as needed
  * in month 2 you'll be planning out Month 4 and refining Month 3 as needed
  * in month 3 you'll be planning out Month 5 and refining Month 4 as needed
  * in month 4 you'll be planning out Month 6 and refining Month 5 as needed
  * in month 5 you'll be planning out the release, refining Month 6 as
needed, and planning for UDS/LDS
  * in month 6 you'll be focused on the release, doing public plan
reviews for the next cycle, and planning out Months 1 and 2 of the
next cycle

Releases Sprint
I've offered to host a short releases sprint in Colorado between now
and August for the two RMs, the engineering PMs, and interested
parties such as ASAC.  The agenda would be an end to end review of the
release process, with the above and monthly release in mind. The
deliverables would be an updated process, and updated wiki, that
accurately reflects both the RM duties, PM duties, and TL duties.
Fathi and Jamie and the PMs need to tell me if this is something
worthwhile doing and if so, we'll get it scheduled.  I used to runs
sprints out of the house so I'm setup to accommodate 8 people
comfortably and can overflow that easily by another 4. (Complete with
high speed wireless, food, and mountain views)


If we follow this thought process further, it may make sense to reform
the PMs and RMs into a "Linaro Releases Team" who's focus shifts to
primarily effecting Linaro releases and increasing transparency and
secondarily reducing TL workload.  Food for thought.

I need to know IF a face to face releases sprint would be of benefit
or would a marathon VOIP call for a few days be better.  If we do the
sprint I'll recommend flying in Wednesday, meeting on Thursday and
Friday, and then you can go home late Friday evening or stay and I'll
take everyone up on Saturday and do a driving tour of Rocky Mountain
National Park as a team building exercise and you can leave on
Saturday evening.

Joey