From 739fd0c976de4a162e881b0eff6a00266161fe91 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Holden Rohrer Date: Wed, 5 May 2021 20:14:34 -0400 Subject: added 7factor research essay --- hireme/about-7factor.tex | 103 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 103 insertions(+) create mode 100644 hireme/about-7factor.tex diff --git a/hireme/about-7factor.tex b/hireme/about-7factor.tex new file mode 100644 index 0000000..439b0df --- /dev/null +++ b/hireme/about-7factor.tex @@ -0,0 +1,103 @@ +\font\twelverm=ptmr7t at 12pt +\twelverm +\baselineskip=24pt +\nopagenumbers +\headline={\hfil Rohrer \number\pageno} +{\obeylines +Holden Rohrer +Ms Rosner +Hire Me +10 Mar 2021} + +\centerline{7Factor Research Essay} + +7Factor is a boutique software development and consulting firm. +Jeremy Duvall, the founder, created the company after working at other +consultancy companies because he saw a problem. +There was a lack of coordination between the sales team and the +programming team. +The programmers were being pushed into unreasonable deadlines based on +promises that couldn't be realistically fulfilled. +This wasn't just a bad work environment for engineers, though; it led to +poor outcomes for clients as well. +Over its existence, 7Factor has worked for many clients to create, +develop, and improve solutions for their unique problems. +7Factor employs their own DevOps (a mix of developing programs and +administering their use on a server or serverless platform) tools and +cloud-based solutions. +7Factor focuses on using modern technology instead of legacy tools so +that they can respond quickly and improve over time. + +WellEntry is a product line that 7Factor has created and sold to +companies that need a COVIDtracking solution without wanting to build +one themselves. +This is the project that I'll be working on during my internship, and +I'm excited to see how it's been written and what I'll be able to +contribute to it. +Its entire ``stack'' (the software used to run the web application) is +based on JavaScript, which is a language that I've used before. +I, however, haven't worked with most of the frameworks that the +WellEntry team is using on top of the basic runtime, so I'll be +interested to learn these. +In addition, there are many coding practices that WellEntry uses that I +haven't yet had a chance to work with. +These include test-driven development (writing code based on +expectations from unit tests), cloud-based infrastructure, and Kanban. + +Kanban is part of the principles that 7Factor uses in all of their +development projects. +It is a project management philosophy where work is organized into small +tasks that team members can work on individually to create new business +value without having to spend too much time on coordinating these +efforts. +Version control software, which I have worked with before, is also part +of this philosophy. +7Factor uses GitHub and a Continuous Deployment pipeline to manage +changes to the projects they work on and hosting them. +They also use Cloud-Native tooling like Amazon Web Services's EC2 and +database management software. +This makes 7Factor more able to use modern and efficient deployment +technology like Terraform, Ansible, Chef, etc. +During my internship, I hope to see some of these technologies in action +on the projects that I'm working with. +I've dabbled with some of this before, but I'm really interested in +seeing how they get fully used in a team setting. + +7Factor also consults with various companies as long-term retainers or +shorter-term advice contracts and business software discovery. +7Factor defines seven key principles that it uses in all of its +contracts, whether they're continuous long-term projects or helping a +company migrate from one platform to another. +These seven factors start with ''force multiplication.'' +The company and its staff want to ``teach, elevate, and strengthen'' +each other to continuously improve. +This leads into the second aspect: automate and continuously improve +every piece of software that they work on. +This prevents legacy code or processes that get forgotten about. +It helps the team prevent unnecessary work on figuring out a problem +that's already been solved. +7Factor also has ethical commitments. +Similar to the Hippocratic Oath, they want to do no harm. +Within and without the team, 7Factor is ethical and responsible, focused +on doing the right thing over doing the easy thing. +Focusing on ways to help their team improve over time, 7Factor follows +the philosophy of Kaizen in their culture. +The teams at 7Factor work on continuously improving and learning from +themselves and others. +They ``embrace change and thrive in uncertainty,'' which is very +valuable for their consulting position. +7Factor also prioritizes equality and diversity. +Recently, 7Factor has also made a diversity push to increase the +diversity of their staff to be more inclusive of everyone's voices and +reach better solutions. +But above all of these is to Build Good Things. +Elegant architecture, rugged testing and implementation, cutting-edge +technology, and innovative services are very important to the 7Factor +Motus Operandi. +In the past, 7Factor has worked for Delta, Aveanna, Cox Automotive, +Welnys, iVita Financial, and others. +They've received glowing reviews because the company is focused on +helping their customers through the unique pains and problems of their +issues. + +\bye -- cgit