Software Process And Measurement Cast

This week Mauricio Aguiar and Christine Green join me to discuss the state and future of Software Measurement. Mauricio, Christine, and I are all recent Past Presidents of the International Function Point Users Group (the largest international software measurement association). The conversation is both provocative and enlightening.  Note, the audio of my voice is a little muffled but the important parts of the conversation come from Christine’s and Mauricio’s lips. I know what the issue was and have added a step to my interview checklist.  Bios Mauricio Aguiar is the founder of TI Metricas, a leading software measurement company based in Brazil. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Mauricio was elected President of the International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG) for 2005-2007 and also for 2017-2019, after serving on the IFPUG Board since 2000. Mauricio was involved with the implementation of function point analysis and metrics programs in many Brazili

As we begin counting down to the end of the year, I would like to consider the team lead’s role. It is a nearly ubiquitous role in organizations, but is almost never talked about in agile frameworks. We begin our journey into the role by establishing three examples to help understand how the role is practiced and why it can generate friction if not addressed when adopting frameworks.  We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the cast.  This week we talk about the idea of descoping and its role in work entry. Done early, descoping is a tool while done after you have made commitments it makes a tool out of you.  Re-Read Saturday News  Nearly 30 hours of driving, Thanksgiving, and far too few hours with a large part of my extended family kept me from completing the re-read of Chapter 8 of Project to Product  https://amzn.to/2WzvPac (Amazon Affiliate Link). We will be back next week to talk about the problems caused by role and tool disconnection acro

This week we are taking a quick journey into a discussion of prioritization outside of a team or an organization's span of control. It is easy to confuse influence and actually be able to exert control over an outcome.  Wishful thinking often can lead to frustration.  Tony TImbol also brings his “To Tell A Story” column to the cast building on the ideas that are central fro good user stores.  Check out Tony’s Product Owner training events at http://tonytimbol.com/events/  This week to talk about the product owner’s role in writing and maintaining user stories.  Re-Read Saturday News  This week we re-read Chapter 7 of Project to Product  https://amzn.to/2WzvPac (Amazon Affiliate Link). This week we consider Mik’s first two epiphanies and introduce the topic of network value streams.   Catch up on previous installments: Week 1: Foreword and Introduction - https://bit.ly/39gIt0A  Week 2: Age of Software - https://bit.ly/2XYvqyI  Week 3: From Project to Product - https://bit.ly/3mhwJBb  Week 4: Introducing The Fl

Today we will speak to Kit Merker, COO of Nobl9 about Service Level Objectives (SLO). Kit provides down-to-earth advice for adopting and using SLOs to benefit teams AND organizations.  Kit’s bio: Kit Merker's 20+ year career spans product management, engineering, evangelism and community-building roles at Google, Microsoft, JFrog, and the governing board of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). He is currently Chief Operating Officer for Nobl9, driving community and growth for service reliability for enterprise development teams. Contact information: linkedin.com/in/kitmerker (LinkedIn) kitmerker.com  (Personal Website) nobl9.com  (Company Website) @KitMerker (Twitter) Re-Read Saturday News  This week we re-read Chapter 6 of Project to Product  https://amzn.to/2WzvPac (Amazon Affiliate Link). In the chapter the author tells four stories of disruption -- they are interesting in their own right. Still, if we look for a common thread I would suggest the communication needed to manage the balance betwee

Today we feature our interview with Vincent Hendersen. We talked about scaling agility up -- not the same as scaling agile. Mr. Hendersen and I discussed thinking about agile as a service to align team and portfolio. This is a most thought-provoking interview. The idea of thinking about agile teams as a subscription model shifts the whole agile paradigm. Vincent’s bio: Vincent Henderson is an operations and product executive in B2B organizations that use knowledge and technology to create value. He has transformed information supply chains and content-driven businesses across 10 countries, 5 industries, and 3 decades. Vincent is a business technologist. He enjoys building rational and purposeful teams that focus on concrete, meaningful outcomes. He had his first Agile workshop about 10 years ago with Tom Cagley and Anthony Mersino. Since that watershed moment of insight, he has implemented and run Agile product development in the 4 different organizations that he has led since. As a business leader who rolls

This week we continue the priority theme with an essay titled, “What is a Priority?” I wish it was a simple question. Since the whole idea of priority is premised on a group of people having a shared perspective and definition this is a question that needs to be asked and answered.  We also have a visit from Susan Parente with her I’m Not A Scrumdamentalist column.  In this installment, we tackle bad leadership (I wish tackle was not used metaphorically). Upcoming Events Out of Control Work Entry Means "No Agile For You" November 4, 2021 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST In this webinar, we will use five common patterns of work entry to highlight team dysfunctions of poor work entry practices.  We will also explore a path forward for each work entry pattern to help improve the delivery of business value. Register Now: https://bit.ly/3q1yWnw  Re-Read Saturday News  I was busy preparing for my webinar, Out of Control Work Entry Means "No Agile For You" and did not complete Chapter 5’s re-read of Project to Product.  http

In the essay today, prioritization requires a steady hand and consistency. The process for prioritization should have more in common with a well-oiled basketball or futbol team than five-year-olds playing soccer in the schoolyard. How the moving parts work together is a process, but in some circles, “process” is a dirty word.   On the conversation side, Jeremy Berriault brings his QA Corner to the cast. We discuss test automation plans and strategies in agile.  Upcoming Events The Agile Online Summit!  This Week!!  Tom Henricksen delivers one of the most innovative online conferences. This year he has upped the bar again! While you can attend the Summit for free, there are a number of innovative options to learn even more from the Summit. Please join the premier Agile Online Conference from October 25th to 27th, 2021. Register at https://bit.ly/3mplqIK Re-Read Saturday News  This week, we dive into Chapter 4 of Project to Product titled Capturing Flow Metrics.  https://amzn.to/2WzvPac (Amazon Affiliate Link).

Today, we feature an essay titled, So I Asked What Is Agile. A simple question that yields interesting answers. One interesting outcome was that answers fit into three categories. We explore the process and people-oriented groups this week. I will come back to the rant category later this month.   In addition to the essay, Tony Timbol brings his To Tell A Story column to the cast! In this installment, the product owner’s role is under the microscope. Check out Tony’s website at https://bit.ly/2Z1IrIg Upcoming Events The Agile Online Summit!  The clock is ticking - loudly!  Tom Henricksen delivers one of the most innovative online conferences. This year he has upped the bar again! While you can attend the Summit for free, there are a number of innovative options to learn even more from the Summit. Please join the premier Agile Online Conference from October 25th to 27th, 2021. Register at https://bit.ly/3mplqIK Re-Read Saturday News  This week, we are taking a break from Project to Product.  Remember to buy a

Until this week, Disciplined Agile was a topic we had not investigated on the Software Process and Measurement Cast. DA is an approach to scaling agile development.  Today, Jonathan Lee and I discuss Disciplined Agile and reinventing yourself to stay relevant in a dynamic world.  Mr. Lee’s Bio: Jonathan has over 25 years of diversified IT consulting experience working with private and public sector clients.  His latest passion is in agile coaching and delivering Disciplined Agile training to individuals and organizations that want to transform themselves to practice Business Agility.  Jonathan is a Certified Disciplined Agile Instructor (CDAI). Jonathan has volunteered at PMI Chicagoland Chapter for many years serving on the board including serving as the Chapter President for 3 years in the past.  Jonathan is a frequent speaker at PMI chapters in North America. Email: Jlee@VitalityChicago.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jonathanleepmp Upcoming Events The Agile Online Summit!  The clock is ticking!  Tom Henrick

I deviated from the plan this week and recorded a conversation with my colleague, mentor, and friend Anthony Mersino (Anthony was last on the podcast SPaMCAST 583   http://bit.ly/3aJMw51 ). Our chat, titled, “Is Your Scrum Master The Problem?” Our conversation looks at transactive memory from the point of view of teams and Scrum Masters.  Is it a boon or a train wreck?  Anthony has also published a version of the conversation at https://bit.ly/3ux0Fge  We also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her I’m Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the cast. I have titled this conversation, “I Have A WIP Problem”. Ok so maybe both Susan and I have a lot on our plates, but we have the tools to tackle the problem. We talk about how to get your WIP under control.  Upcoming Events The Agile Online Summit!  Tom Henricksen delivers one of the most innovative online conferences. This year he has upped the bar again! While you can attend the Summit for free, there are a number of innovative options to learn even more from

Luis Gonçalves and I talked about his new book introducing the ADAPT Methodology. We discussed why using a framework can help leaders stay relevant. Our conversation dovetails nicely into the Re-read Saturday focus on Project to Product. There is a lot of synergy between the ideas of Kersten and Gonçalves.  Luis’s Bio: Luis Gonçalves is an Entrepreneur, Best Seller Author, and International Keynote Speaker.   When consulting he works exclusively with Entrepreneurs, Founders, and Senior Leaders on the implementation of his game-changing "ADAPT Methodology".  By following the "ADAPT Methodology" Executive Leaders will be able to assess the 5 main pillars of their organization by identifying gaps that are required for them to succeed as a modern and digital leaders.   He has been successfully involved in the software industry since 2003 and his company blog https://www.adaptmethodology.com/ is considered a ‘must-read’ for everyone in the software development industry. Upcoming Events The Agile Online Summit!  T

As a coach, I use and observe transactive memory all the time. Used wisely, transactive memory means a team can be more than the sum of its individual members. Mess it up and you might as well put your hand in a running garbage disposal. For example, my wife remembers things like special events and then clues me in…if she is around. This year I missed an important birthday.  Coaches and Scrum Masters often act as the official process memory for teams until they move on . . . you can guess what happens next. This week we explore when transactive memory works and when it does not. Also, Jeremy Berriault and I discuss helping improve Daily Scrums in his QA Corner column. Note: I have been made aware that SPaMCAST 667 is missing in action. I am trying to track the issue down. Upcoming Events The Agile Online Summit!  Tom Henricksen delivers one of the most innovative online conferences.  This year he has upped the bar again!  Please join the premier Agile Online Conference from October 25th to 27th, 2021, Registe

We are back from backpacking on Isle Royale. Simply awesome.  Today, we feature a discussion with Tom Henricksen.  You know Tom from the Agile Online Summit and the Dev Ops Online Summit however Tom is more than just the Summits. Today we discuss learning and then get into whether hybrid working scenarios are all they are cracked up to be. I am not sure we agreed. Tom Henricksen is a technology professional with over 20 years of technical experience. He has worked as a developer, Team Lead, Scrum Master, and Manager. Tom is the founder of the Agile Online Summit! Use this link: https://agileonlinesummit.shop/?utm_source=aftomas  Upcoming Events The Agile Online Summit!  Tom Henricksen delivers one of the most innovative online conferences.  This year he has upped the bar again!  Please join the premier Agile Online Conference from October 25th to 27th, 2021, Register at https://bit.ly/3mplqIK Re-Read Saturday News  Next week we will begin to read Mik Kersten’s Project to Product. I will be reading from the Ki

The SPaMCAST is on summer holiday for the next two weeks (SPaMCAST 666 and SPaMCAST 667. Today we are featuring an interview released on December 27, 2015, with  Gerald (Jerry) M. Weinberg.  Gerald Weinberg is the author of more than 100 books, including the best-selling Secrets of Consulting, other non-fiction series, and the ever-popular Women of Power novels. He is a principal in the international consulting firm of Weinberg and Weinberg. The festschrift, The Gift of Time (Fiona Charles, ed.) honors his work for his 75th birthday. A website for Jerry’s fans may be found at http://www.geraldmweinberg.com .  A talk with Jerry was always profound, and I must admit that Jerry’s humor caused me to laugh more times than I can count during our conversation. Mr. Weinberg died on August 7, 2018, I wish I had interviewed him more times for the podcast.  Re-Read Saturday News  The poll for the next book in the series has begun! Note there are two books in the list I have not read. I am planning to read them and have

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 665 features our essay on the organizational aspects that impact teams. Teams don’t live in a vacuum, so when the word organization gets used it reflects the influence of all sorts of organizations. Organizations facilitate teams to a greater or lesser extent. In the workplace, the employer’s organization will have the most significant impact on how teams form and perform but it is not the totality. Other influences can affect the structure and performance of teams.  We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who will bring his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast. In this installment, Jon and I discussed the idea of making decisions at the last responsible moment. We decided on the topic just before we began recording (just kidding).  The SPaMCAST will be on summer holiday for the next two weeks. We will be re-releasing two favorite episodes from the archives to tide you over.  Re-Read Saturday News  This week concluded our re-read of  Monot

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 664 features our interview with Sunny Han, CEO and Founder of Fulcrum.  Sunny and I talked about motivation, we talked agile development, and we talked about what it takes to see a vision through to reality. The ideas about engineering a communication architecture are phenomenal.   Sunny Han is the CEO and Founder of Fulcrum, a manufacturing ERP platform dedicated to helping manufacturers build a better future. He led Fulcrum to raise a $3.1M seed round of venture capital in 2020. Sunny is dedicated to delivering a connected future where frictionless manufacturing production and supply chains lead to faster and better product innovations. “There’s no future of innovation that doesn’t include innovation in manufacturing.” LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yusunnyhan Website: fulcrumpro.com  Email: sunny@fulcrumpro.com Twitter: sunnythehan Re-Read Saturday News  This week we focus on Chapter 7 of  Monotasking by Staffan Nöteberg.  This chapter is titled “Recharge Creative Think

This week we explore the impact of process (it really isn’t a bad word) problems in prioritization. Prioritization requires a steady hand and consistency. The process for prioritization should have more in common with a well-oiled basketball or futbol team than five-year-olds playing soccer in the schoolyard. How the moving parts work together is a process We also have a visit from Tony Timbol discussing freestyling user story formats in his To Tell A Story column. Re-Read Saturday News  This week we focus on Chapter 6 of  Monotasking by Staffan Nöteberg.  This chapter is titled “Simplify Cooperation.” Cooperation requires communication. Messing communication up is a problem, a problem that is the responsibility of every person involved in trying to communicate.  Last week’s experiment focused on evaluating each task as I put it on my short list for operacy.  One of the outcomes was that I broke work into smaller chunks which were simpler and more practical. I also found parts of the work that I did not have

In this week’s podcast, we speak with Mike Potter, CEO of Rewind.  Mike and I talk about the need to backup SaaS applications, remote and hybrid working, and entrepreneurship. This interview opened my eyes to the risks we all face by trusting SaaS application companies to back up our data. Mike also highlights in his answers how humanity in the workplace can help create special results.   Bio - A self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur, Mike Potter is the co-founder of Rewind, a company that backs up and protects SaaS data. While studying Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University, Mike began his start-up career as the founder of InTheHack.com, one of the most popular sporting websites in Canada. Since founding Rewind in 2015, Mike has focused on building a company culture that values and respects employees. “I'm a big believer in building strong teams, hiring great people, and giving them the freedom to do their best work”, he adds. When Mike isn’t building companies or products, he can usually be found const

Over the past few months, I have been in traffic jams on the highway several times when traveling to our weekly hike.  In more than one instance someone has decided to pull over and drive on the berm.  In more than a few cases the outcome of this technique for getting things done ends poorly. Despite the unpredictable outcome, jumping the queue is practiced by many in traffic and even more when funneling work to teams. The consequences when working on information technology products are far more predictable than driving, and they are ALWAYS bad. Let’s fix some of the problems leading to queue jumping. We also have a visit from Susan Parente, who brings her I Am Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the cast.  We discuss risk management when using hybrid agile approaches.  Contact Susan on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/susanparente or at Parente@s3-tec.com Upcoming Events Using the TMMi accelerates the value of DevOps Fri, August 6, 2021 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT   This is a free TMMi America Webinar featuring Rex Black  (S

In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast, I speak with Rob Rastovich, CTO of ThingLogix. We talked about meeting customer needs through developing solutions using the AIoT (not a typo).  This is a seachange for both businesses and developers who will need to reskill and rethink what is possible.  Rob has been actively involved in technology for nearly 30 years, from building a top 10 e-commerce site in a time when e-commerce was still in its infancy to establishing what is now known as Amazon’s AWS IoT.  As CTO of ThingLogix, Rob is the chief architect behind the company’s groundbreaking IoT platform that eliminates the need for code. ThingLogix uses AI to power digital transformation across industry, commerce, and government globally.  Web: https://www.thinglogix.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rob-rastovich-1560532  Upcoming Events Using the TMMi accelerates the value of DevOps Fri, August 6, 2021 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT This is a free TMMi America Webinar featuring Rex Black  (SPaMCAST is a proud