Software Process And Measurement Cast

SPaMCAST 700 features our interview with Slater Victoroff. Slater suggests that what we think of as AI today will be overtaken by human-machine partnerships. He uses the metaphor of a bionic arm. AI is the future and that future is not very far away. Slater Victoroff is the Founder and CTO of indico data solutions, an Enterprise AI solution for unstructured content with an emphasis on text and NLP. He has been building machine learning solutions for startups, governments, and Fortune 100 companies for the past 5 years and is a frequent speaker at AI conferences. linkedin.com/in/slatervictoroff slater.r.victoroff@gmail.com Twitter: @sl8rv Website: https://indicodata.ai/    Re-read Saturday  News The chapters of Why Limit WIP: We Are Drowning In Work this week and last are interrelated.  Last week we focused on multitasking. For those with a short memory, human multitasking is in the same category as unicorns and shiny vampires: a fun concept but dangerous to believe in. This week we deal with context switching

This week we feature our interview with Eric Daimler, PhD. Eric and I discussed how AI can unlock the potential of humanity.   Dr. Eric Daimler is an authority in Artificial Intelligence with over 20 years of experience in the field as an entrepreneur, executive, investor, technologist, and policy advisor. Daimler has co-founded six technology companies that have done pioneering work in fields ranging from software systems to statistical arbitrage. Daimler is the author of the forthcoming book "The Coming Composability: The roadmap for using technology to solve society’s biggest problems." A frequent speaker, lecturer, and commentator, he works to empower communities and citizens to leverage AI for a more sustainable, secure, and prosperous future. As a Presidential Innovation Fellow during the Obama Administration, Daimler helped drive the agenda for U.S. leadership in research, commercialization, and public adoption of AI. He has also served as Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor of Software Engineering

This week Susan Parente and I had an extraordinary conversation about team leads in agile and leadership. In some cases, the role of a team leader is treated as if it were superfluous to requirements in other cases it is a tool to delegate work to people in an effort to subvert self-organization and when organizations get it right the role is a vehicle to unlocking the capabilities of teams. Contact Susan at parente.s3@gmail.com or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/susanparente Re-read Saturday  News Week 3 of our re-read of Why Limit WIP: We Are Drowning In Work by Jim Benson talks about the thrill of getting things done. People with a lot of WIP look for more work, things they can grab and complete to feel good about themselves. I am as guilty as anyone else. Sometimes when items on my shortlist get stuck instead of breaking the items down into smaller chunks to progress the work I will grab a less valuable task and just do it so I can check something off.  Susan Parente, who you just heard from in one of her

This week we talked with Jardena London. We discussed her book Cultivating Transformations - A Leader's Guide to Connecting the Soulful and the Practical. Being soulful sounds fluffy, but isn’t.  It is critical for delivering lasting change.  Jardena is a Business Transformation Consultant, Author, Keynote Speaker, and a Certified Facilitator of Dare to Lead; Brene Brown’s groundbreaking training program for organizations based on creating courageous workplaces. Jardena is also the Founder of Souls@Work.org which is focusing on leading a movement to create workplaces that nourish our souls and exude positive energy.  Her recent book, “Cultivating Transformations:  A Leader’s Guide to Connecting the Soulful and the Practical” has been described as “the book you buy and carry around with you everywhere.” Her most recent successes have been transforming a large legacy organization into a modern workplace with breakout results. She also speaks at corporate events and on stages worldwide on the positive effects o

We began the Re-Read Saturday feature in 2014 with a re-read of John Kotter’s classic Leading Change. The list of books we have re-read is quite long -- I am going to have to create a list. All that said, last week a person that regularly comments on the podcast indicated they really did not know what Re-Read Saturday was all about. So today to commemorate spring in the northern hemisphere (and the fact that it snowed) and the kick-off of the latest re-read (Why Limit WIP by Jim Benson) I am going to share an audio version of this week's entry.  As we always say, buy a copy of the book and read Jim Benson’s Why Limit WiP (buy a copy using our Amazon Affiliate link  https://amzn.to/3u6Feml get reading) along with us. The written version:  https://bit.ly/3iDezbp  This week we also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault, who brings his QA Corner to the podcast.  Jeremy and I explored the difference between relative and absolute time.  Upcoming Events: Free Webinar When Prioritization Goes Bad https://www.greatpro.or

This week we talk to Julianna Lamb, co-founder and CTO at Stytch about agile in start-ups, hybrid working, how to keep a product backlog under control, grow a business in the early 2020’s, and more.  Julianna is the Co-Founder and CTO of Stytch, a platform for user infrastructure and passwordless authentication. She was previously a software engineer at Strava and Plaid and an early product hire at Very Good Security.  Originally from Idaho, Julianna studied computer science and history at Stanford. A former professional figure skater, she started racing triathlons in college and is now an Ironman triathlete. Contact Data: Website: https://stytch.com/ Twitter: juliannaelamb LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/juliannaelamb   Re-Read Saturday News  Today we complete our re-read of Agile Conversations by Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick touching on the Conclusion, Further Resources, and our concluding notes.  Next week we will begin re-reading Jim Benson’s Why Limit WiP (buy a copy using our Amazon Affiliate link 

Organizational design often collides with getting work done; generating friction that causes all manner of problems. No one goes out of their way to make things difficult, however poor operating metaphors and one size fits all solutions are never optimal. There is a way for agile and team leaders to coexist, but can you take that path? Also this week, Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column make time for the cast. In this installment, we talk about time (including a few time-related puns). Re-Read Saturday News  The accountability conversation is the fifth and last conversation addressed in our re-read of  Agile Conversations by Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick. In Chapter 7 the authors define accountability as “being obligated to render an account of what you have done and why.” Next week we will cover the conclusions and some final thoughts. Then we will have a quick interlude re-reading Jim Benson’s Why Limit WiP while we run a poll to select the next books.      https://am

Today we speak with Prateek Joshi. Prateek and I talked about the definition of AI,  machine learning, and an approach to using AI in the real world.  AI is in your future and it won't be the Matrix or Skywarn (or will it).    Prateek Joshi is the founder of Plutoshift and a published author of 13 books on AI. He has been featured in publications such as Forbes, CNBC, TechCrunch, and Bloomberg. You can visit www.prateekj.com to learn more about him. Plutoshift: https://plutoshift.com/  Re-Read Saturday News  We had a bit of home repair this week and I did not get the Week 10 of our re-read of  Agile Conversations by Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick completed (thanks to Laurie and Todd for use of their condo).  We will be back next week. Buy a copy now! https://amzn.to/3vEjr55  Week 1: Logistics and Introduction - https://bit.ly/3EZspxT  Week 2: Escaping The Software Factory - https://bit.ly/3HIlivg  Week 3: Improving Your Conversations - https://bit.ly/3ty0nYe  Week 4: The Trust Conversation - https://bi

In SPaMCAST 692 we discuss Process Improvement as a phrase or perhaps even a mantra. Uttering the phrase evokes all sorts of baggage and cognitive biases that affect behaviors, not always for the better. What are the listeners of the Software Process and Measurement Cast to do?   We also have a visit from Tony TImbol who brings his “To Tell A Story” column to the Podcast. We dive headlong into the tangled world of user stories and agile requirements.  Tony also announces his new ebook on agile requirements. Get your own copy!  https://bit.ly/3plyiAu  Re-Read Saturday News  Week 9 of our re-read of  Agile Conversations by Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick is about commitment. Over the years I have observed that there are some people who are very committed to adopting a new way of working, some people that pay lip service, and others who flat-out resist. This is obviously a continuum.  Update on last week’s experiment: I was not able to leverage the concepts of joint design directly.  I did use coherence bu

In SPaMCAST 69, Kevin McKeel talks about using neurolinguistics to aid in software estimation tools. Is this the end of the world for the software estimating profession or the beginning of a golden age?  Probably both, listen and draw your own conclusions. Kevin’s Bio Mr. Kevin McKeel has over 25 years of experience in software cost estimation. He is a CCEA and SAFe Architect and received the prestigious 2021 Technical Achievement of the Year award from ICEAA related to the research of automated software sizing using AI and NLP. Mr. McKeel holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Finance, ‘89) from James Madison University and a Master’s in Business Administration (Decision Systems, ’92) from The George Washington University. LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kevin-mckeel-2457235 Website: logapps.com Re-Read Saturday News  Week 8 of our re-read of  Agile Conversations by Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick concludes our read of Chapter 5 addressing the ‘Why Conversation’. This week we spent time tackling the c

This week we revisit the age-old statements, “I don't want to be measured” and its alter ego, “management will use metrics against me.”  While often stated as if they are questions, both are positions. We weave in two recent techniques from our Re-read of Agile Conversations to consider the interests behind the statements   Also, Jeremy Berriault weighs in on the need for testing strategies in agile on this edition of this QA Corner.   Re-Read Saturday News  Week 7 of our re-read of  Agile Conversations by Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick begins Chapter 5 addressing the ‘Why Conversation’. Like the ‘Fear Conversation’, we will approach this in two parts; focusing this week on two areas, positions and interests, and inquiry and advocacy. We will tackle joint design next week.  My experiment of the week: I set out to create a fear matrix – that sounds like a movie title.  I failed, BUT more importantly, I was able to use the fear matrix approach as a structure for a retrospective.  It worked well. The idea

Prabhjot Singh and I talk about AI using AI to improve the flow of work and the delivery of value.  AI, however you define it, is in your future. You need to be ready!   Mr. Singh’s bio:  Prabhjot Singh is a serial entrepreneur who has started multiple for-profit, social enterprise, and non-profit ventures. He serves as President and CEO of Pyze, the most recent company he founded to enable the world’s largest enterprises to improve business operations through AI-driven Process Intelligence and Analytics. He has over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and product management. He previously co-founded Pixatel Systems, a social enterprise that utilizes mobile computing to deploy apps and e-Learning solutions to millions of users. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/psinghsf Twitter: https://twitter.com/psinghSF Company Website: https://www.pyze.com/ Re-Read Saturday News  Week 6 of our re-read of  Agile Conversations by Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick continues on Chapter 4: The Fear Conversation. We discu

Continuous improvement through inspecting and adapting is a core tenant of an agile mindset, which dovetails well with every executive’s need to deliver the most value possible.  Measurement is an important tool to help teams and organizations ask the right questions at the right time. Flow metrics, not burndowns and velocity, need to be a big part of any IT organization's approach to measurement.  We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast.  Jon discusses the complicated relationship between time, work entry, and promises.  Have you checked out The Open Transformation Playbooks Martin Foster discussed last week? If not, you are missing something important.  https://transformationplaybooks.org/    The Open Transformation Playbooks is an initiative to build an open, remixable, body of knowledge for agile organizational transformation.   Re-Read Saturday News  Week 5 of our re-read of  Agile Conversations by Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fr

Today we begin Year 16 with an interview, discussion, conversation -- call it what you like -- with Martin Foster.  We covered a ton of ground, including whether the goal of any organization should be to be more agile and the 2021 Business Agility Report. During one segment we discussed the statement, “the impediments are the path.” A wonderful and thought-provoking start to Year 16!   ANNOUNCING:  The Open Transformation Playbooks: https://transformationplaybooks.org/    A (very new) initiative to build an open, remixable, body of knowledge for agile organizational transformation.  To accompany this episode Martin and TeamForm have launched the first tranche of content.  Martin’s Contact Information: 2021 Business Agility Report: https://bit.ly/3GXfzBJ TeamForm: https://www.teamform.co/  Email: martin@orchestrated.io LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/martinfoster   Martin’s Bio  Martin is a senior consultant at TeamForm.  His passion is working with organizations that are transforming themselves to cross-functional

Today marks the end of year 15 on the Software Process and Measurement Cast, and we are closing the year with pitchfork and torches. We discussed the world of knowledge work in 2022. Leadership, principles, value, and values take center stage. Panels like this make me want to do panels every week! The panelists (other than myself) are: Jeremy Berriault https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-berriault-mba/ Web: https://berriaultandassociates.com/  Jon M Quigley linkedin.com/in/jonmquigley Web: https://www.valuetransform.com/product-development-tools/ Kevin Rush linkedin.com/in/kezrush Twitter: @Kezrush Chris Hurney linkedin.com/in/chrishurney Web: https://www.inspiradoconsulting.com/ Twitter: chris_hurney Participating in spirit (they were on part one last week) Susan Parente Susan Parente  linkedin.com/in/susanparente Twitter: @TechRiskManager Jeremy Willets linkedin.com/in/jeremywillets   Blog: https://www.jeremywillets.com/    Re-Read Saturday News  Week 3 of our re-read of  Agile Conversations by Douglas Squir

One of the fun parts of programming the Software Process and Measurement Cast is getting diverse groups of people together to chat.  In this edition of the podcast, Jon M Quigley, Jeremy Willets, Jeremy Berriault, Kevin Rush, Susan Parente, and myself convened to discuss what we learned about work in 2021. The last few years have been extraordinary -- both good and bad. When you live in times like these it is incumbent on all of us to learn from them. The panelists (other than myself) are: Jeremy Berriault https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-berriault-mba/ Web: https://berriaultandassociates.com/  Susan Parente linkedin.com/in/susanparente Web: http://www.s3-tec.com/ Jon M Quigley linkedin.com/in/jonmquigley Web: https://www.valuetransform.com/product-development-tools/ Kevin Rush linkedin.com/in/kezrush Twitter: @Kezrush Jeremy Willets linkedin.com/in/jeremywillets   Blog: https://www.jeremywillets.com/     Re-Read Saturday News  Week 2 of our re-read of  Agile Conversations by Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fr

SPaMCAST 684 posts on January 2nd, 2022.  The new year evokes both retrospection and expectations for the future. 2021 was quite the year; SPaMCAST 635 marked the beginning of our 15th year of publishing with a conversation with Johanna Rothman (SPaMCAST 635 - Practical Ways to Manage, A Conversation with Johanna Rothman). That was our most downloaded cast of 2021.  In late August I lost a podcast . . . (a summer rerun), SPaMCAST 668 has attained the status of the Lost Show. Somehow while I was backpacking on Isle Royale the preprogrammed show failed to post.  I have a backup but it is more fun to have a lost cast.  I will rectify the situation at some point when I stop being amused. The year ended with my 12-year-old mixer going to the electronics recycler. The new mixer should be delivered soon. Even with all of the hassle, I have been able to do three great interviews and two related panel discussions that will round out year 15 and kick-off year 16. That’s the long way to say that even though I am struggl

Ben Woznicki and I talk about the book and ideas inside the covers of Team Topologies. Ben provides a great deal of advice on creating teams that are fit for purpose.  Ben and I have worked together, hosted a video podcast together, and more -- it is a great conversation. Ben is an Organizational Health Coach: Helping you deliver sooner, with higher confidence, and more consistency.  Ben has 10 years of experience with all facets of technical and business agility and organizational transformation. He collaborates with, trains, mentors, and coaches at all levels to smooth the transition to Lean and Agile ways of delivering value. And aligns transformation efforts to organizational objectives so everyone is on the same page.  Contact InformationLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benwoz/  Email: b@benwoz.com   Re-Read Saturday News  We have just completed our re-read of Project to Product ( https://amzn.to/2WzvPac - Amazon Affiliate link). Next week we begin our re-read of  Agile Conversations: Transform Yo

At the end of the year, planning and prioritization take center stage. We can only really prioritize work, needs, and dreams that are within our span of control. That does not stop people from trying to prioritize work that is not theirs to prioritize.  We also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her I’m Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the cast.  This month we talk about getting leadership right. It is possible! Re-Read Saturday News  As 2021 comes to a close we bring our re-read of Project to Product to a close as well (buy a copy and dive into the book https://amzn.to/2WzvPac - Amazon Affiliate link). The conclusion of the book brings the discussion back as a reflection on the turning point of the Age of Software.  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 Flow Framework - https://bit.ly/3lqJTwd Week 5: Capturing Flow

This week we touch on a topic that is near and dear to my heart, work entry, with an essay titled Prioritization Without Control of Work Entry. I am tempted to suggest that without control over what you can say yes to, the whole idea of prioritization is a farce. The answer is more complicated, but only a little.  We also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault who brings his QA Corner to the cast. This week we discuss measuring testing -- it is more than just pass/fail. Re-Read Saturday News  Chapter 9 of Project to Product (buy a copy and re-read the book with us https://amzn.to/2WzvPac Amazon Affiliate Link) ties the three layers of the author’s model together and exposes the third epiphany from his visit to the BMW plant that has been the central plot element of the book. The chapter puts all the parts together. But instead of relating how he connects the infrastructure, I want to focus on how important it is to generate an end-to-end view of work for any software-intensive product. Catch up on previous instal