What are the most important OpenERP skills for a software development team lead?

1 Python programming

Python is the main programming language used to develop OpenERP modules and customize its features. As a team lead, you need to be proficient in Python syntax, data structures, object-oriented programming, and common libraries such as NumPy, pandas, and SQLAlchemy. You also need to be familiar with the OpenERP framework, its API, and its coding standards and conventions. You should be able to write clean, readable, and maintainable code that follows the best practices of Python and OpenERP development.

2 Database management

OpenERP uses PostgreSQL as its database system, which stores and organizes the data of the ERP application. As a team lead, you need to have a solid understanding of database concepts, such as tables, schemas, queries, indexes, triggers, and views. You also need to know how to use the PostgreSQL tools and commands to create, modify, backup, and restore databases. You should be able to design and optimize database schemas that suit the business requirements and the OpenERP data model.

3 Web development

OpenERP has a web-based user interface that allows users to access and interact with the ERP system from any browser. As a team lead, you need to have a good grasp of web development skills, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Bootstrap, and XML. You also need to know how to use the OpenERP web framework, which is based on Werkzeug and Jinja2, to create and customize web pages, templates, widgets, and controllers. You should be able to implement web standards, accessibility, and security features for the OpenERP web interface.

4 Project management

As a team lead, you are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing software development projects for OpenERP. You need to have strong project management skills, such as defining the scope, budget, and timeline of the project, setting the goals and expectations of the stakeholders, assigning and coordinating the tasks and roles of the team members, monitoring and controlling the progress and quality of the project, and communicating and reporting the status and results of the project. You should be able to use the OpenERP project management module, or other tools such as Git, GitHub, or Jira, to manage your projects efficiently and effectively.

5 Testing and debugging

Testing and debugging are essential skills for any software development team lead, especially for OpenERP, which is a complex and dynamic ERP system that needs to work reliably and securely. As a team lead, you need to have a thorough knowledge of testing and debugging techniques, such as unit testing, integration testing, functional testing, performance testing, code analysis, logging, and exception handling. You also need to know how to use the OpenERP testing and debugging tools, such as the test runner, the debugger, the logger, and the console, to identify and fix errors and bugs in your code.

6 Business analysis

OpenERP is not just a technical software, but also a business software that aims to solve the problems and needs of different industries and domains. As a team lead, you need to have a keen sense of business analysis, which involves understanding the business context, processes, and goals of your clients and stakeholders, identifying and documenting their requirements and specifications, translating them into functional and technical solutions, and validating and verifying them with the end users. You should be able to use the OpenERP business analysis tools, such as the business process modeler, the report designer, and the dashboard builder, to create and present business solutions for OpenERP.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?