bringing design to a tech team
project goal
The goal of the team I manage, Transit Realtime Communications, is to provide MBTA riders with useful and accurate information about service by maintaining our transit data feeds. My goal as PM of this team is to introduce process, design, and focus.
team
Our team is comprised of a Tech Lead, GTFS Lead, and 1-3 engineers.
process
My first challenge was to understand the complex data and technical system our team works with. I enlisted developers to document how our applications behave, structured project work, started documenting rider feedback. We collaborate by holding brainstorms for things ranging from our future roadmap to an emergency situation (like the Red Line derailment).
learning
I've learned how to rely on people—the developers I work with are incredibly knowledgable in areas I'll never fully know. To work well with someone is also to trust them.
We can't forget that technical teams need design and research, too. People exist on the receiving side of what we can mistake as algorithmic problems, and they need a voice in our process.
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