97 Things Every Software Architect Should Know

Chapter 90. Find and Retain Passionate Problem Solvers

Chad LaVigne is a solutions architect and technical hired gun for Baltimore-based TEKSystems, Inc. He works primarily in the Minneapolis area designing and implementing solutions utilizing Enterprise Java technologies.

—Chad LaVigne

PUTTING TOGETHER A TEAM of outstanding developers is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the success of a software project. While the concept of keeping that team together does not seem to get as much lip service, it is equally important. Therefore, you need to carefully select your development team and diligently protect it once assembled.

Most people probably agree that finding top-notch developers requires thorough technical interviewing. But what does thorough mean exactly? It doesn't mean requiring candidates to answer difficult questions about obscure technical details. Screening for specific technical knowledge is definitely part of the process but turning an interview into a certification test will not guarantee success. You are searching for developers with problem-solving skills and passion. The tools you use are sure to change; you need people who are good at attacking problems regardless of the technologies involved. Proving someone has the ability to recite every method in an API tells you very little about that person's aptitude or passion for solving problems.

However, ...