The Raidboxes team lives WordPress 100 percent. We want our dashboard to remain number 1 in the future - and we are strengthening our product development and project management to achieve this. You can find out more about Jacob's work in our interview.
Raidboxes continues to grow - be part of it
Jacob, what exactly are your tasks as a Product Owner?
My first task will be to get an overview of all projects and open issues at Raidboxes. I will then prioritize these together with the various stakeholders - i.e. the project managers.
Tasks as Product Owner
The aim behind this is to reduce the number of topics dealt with at the same time in order to provide more focus when planning new features and projects. This also includes the introduction of the Scrum project management method at Raidboxes.
In future, I will act as an interface between technology and the other departments - such as Sales, Marketing or Support. This will enable the orderly communication of requirements to be implemented.
What advantages do you hope to gain from Scrum?
The introduction of Scrum means, among other things, better project planning, a coordinated roadmap and ultimately an optimization of collaboration between technology and stakeholders. These points in turn enable transparent internal communication about the status and progress of the various development projects.
In your interface function: Do you already have ideas for better dovetailing?
In fact, I'm even reducing the interlinking between technology and other departments in order to enable more focused work by technology. In future, all requests will go through me - and will only be passed on to the technology department for implementation according to their priority and effort.
This prevents the developers from receiving far too many requirements from various departments and thus losing track.
Interface between the departments
You have also implemented your own WordPress projects. How did you come up with the ideas?
After a few years as an employee and a 6-month trip around the world, I tried my hand at self-employment and created a small search engine for travel destinations using WordPress. Fittingly, the idea came to me while I was planning my trip around the world.
Another project was the development of a game similar to a murder mystery dinner. Only with a focus on socially relevant topics. The aim behind it was to spread as much joy as possible. Hence the name "The Happy Dinner".
How exactly does this knowledge help you in your current job?
Raidboxes is the host of my first website, which of course gives me an advantage in my upcoming challenges. I also gained some insights into the world of WordPress during development, which are also useful to me.
Why Raidboxes?
You previously worked for large companies. Why Raidboxes now?
I wanted to work for a company that shares my values in terms of sustainability. And that also offers me the opportunity to take responsibility. In other words, where I can achieve the greatest possible impact. Thanks in part to the direct contact as a customer, it was clear to me that Raidboxes offers precisely these opportunities.
What is your first impression of the team, i.e. behind the scenes?
Everyone in the team is super friendly and helpful with all the questions that arise, especially when starting out in a company. So my impression is consistently positive.
Working from home
You work partly remotely from Düsseldorf. How are you still close to the team and the sprints?
I will always be on site in Münster for the meetings that are essential in the Scrum environment. There are also short 15-minute status meetings every day to keep up to date with current events.
In general, many employees also work from home from time to time, so this type of collaboration is nothing unusual at Raidboxes. And it should therefore not require any major adjustments.
What do you do when you're not working for Raidboxes?
Probably planning my next trip or surf trip. Otherwise, I do a lot of sport or just spend time with my wife and friends.
