[rubinelli]

If you know developers X and Y aren't hitting their deadlines, then a weekly status call isn't enough. You will have to micromanage; this means at least daily one-on-ones, seeing with your own eyes what was produced, testing their finished products, and discovering _what is wrong with them_.

In me experience, poor performers aren't lazy. They either have personal problems, or burned out, or need something but are afraid of asking because, ironically, they thought it would make them look bad.