Christian has been with Systematic since September 2007 and works as a Systems Engineer.

Christian’s thoughts on...

... training and career

- Training and career development are very much in focus in Systematic, and we are good at it. Our CEO, Michael Holm, always says that 'It’s better to train people and risk they leave than do nothing and they stay', and there’s no doubt that Systematic lives by this statement. All the project managers I’ve worked for have focused on training. There’s no doubt that training and career development are taken very seriously, and I believe it’s one of the reasons why we're able to retain people.

... teamwork

- In general, there's a strong team spirit in Systematic. I guess one of the reasons is that we change projects so often and consequently get to work together with many different people. I’ve never felt 'left alone' in Systematic. I’ve always been able to ask my colleagues for advice or guidance.

… knowledge networks

- The knowledge networks ensure knowledge sharing across the organisation and are a big step on the way to enabling Systematic to leverage on the knowledge possessed by the employees.

I’m currently a member of three networks. One of them is called 'Q’s Lab' and its aim is to debate and refine ideas of the members that can be of value to Systematic’s business. It’s fantastic that there’s room for exploring and testing new ideas in this way.

On average, I spend one hour a week on the knowledge networks, which means that I contribute to the networks when I can and with regard for the project I work on.

... CMMI and agile development

- In Systematic, we combine CMMI with agile development methods such as scrum. This strengthens our processes as they complement each other.

I think it’s a very positive thing that we work with CMMI. The time and money spent on it return tenfold and Systematic’s rapid growth is very much a result of CMMI. Also, it provides us with valuable tools. It contributes to our ability to finish projects in time, and the comprehensive process machinery and the way the projects are run are straightforward, so it’s easy for new employees to start in Systematic without feeling left high and dry.

Scrum makes it easier for us to get and maintain an overview of the project and ensures that relevant knowledge is shared within each project. Using scrum in projects also brings about security and the opportunity – as well as responsibility – of planning my work day. In other words, it ensures that I have a manageable working day.

... a typical day at work

- My working day is rather varied.

I come to work and start up whatever I’m working on. In the morning, we hold a scrum meeting where all project members are kept up to date and we share knowledge. The rest of my day is characterised by work that to a great extent includes dialogue and sparring with my colleagues.

I’ve had many different roles in the projects I have been a part of, such as Scrummaster, Developer and stand-in for my Team and Project Managers during a holiday, all of which are very different from each other and thus also have created variation in my working day.

... his first months as a Systemate

- They were a good experience. Compared to other companies I’ve worked in, Systematic is the one it was the easiest to start in – despite the fact that it’s a very complicated area of business.

Already on the first day, I met the CEO at a welcome meeting, and I was introduced to all my future close colleagues shortly after starting, which meant that I could start working right away.

Right from the start, I was given a lot responsibility and support from my colleagues, which was a great experience.

... working in an international company

- It’s exciting to work in a company with customers from all over the world. It means that you get to meet many different types of people and cultures, which can be an exciting challenge.

... making a difference by developing solutions that simplify critical decision making

- We make a difference with what we do. It’s a powerful motivation factor to work with something that is used in situations where it makes a difference: It’s vital to our customers that our software doesn’t fail, because it can ultimately mean the difference between life and death.

There aren’t many companies that do what we do – and do it as well as we do, so it’s exciting to be a part of Systematic’s team. It increases commitment in the everyday life that what I do makes a difference to others. I go to work because what I do makes sense. - It has to make sense, which it very much does in Systematic, and I’m proud to contribute to simplifying critical decision making and making a difference in this way.