Software Process and Measurement Cast

The Nine Core Principles of Work Intake are a key backbone of Mastering Work Intake by Jeremy Willets and Tom Cagley. Teams and organizations need to apply these principles to avoid chaos. In the SPaMCAST 804, we illustrate the application of the Nine Core Principles based on role and organizational hierarchy beginning with the classic Scrum team roles. We also have a visit from Susan Patente, who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast. This installment discusses why organizations do projects and their role in society. Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy Willets and I have opened a new workshop cohort to help you learn to tame the work intake beast! The workshop will run from 31 May to 28 June in five manageable 90-minute chunks. For more details hop over to our Maven site for more information, sign up, or join the mailing list! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 4, Deep Work is Meaningful begins Part 2 of by Cal Newport. Part 2 contains Newport’s rules and ideas for learning to work deeply. There are several ideas that I want to highlight in this chapter. The first is that attention and focus are finite AND consumable resources. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 805 will feature our interview with Peter Schroeder. We will discuss plane crashes, fatherhood, and the journey from a technologist to a business person. This is not a two truths and a lie exercise.

Our video provides a quick overview of Work Intake and its importance. Enjoy and let's discuss the concept. Learn to solve IT’s dirtiest secret — work intake. Stop ignoring it. Start fixing it. Today we are also announcing two new Mastering Work Intake training opportunities. Diagnose and solve work intake anti-patterns Become a work intake master. Work intake is the biggest challenge facing organizations today. If you don’t get work intake right, you won’t be in business for very long. We offer two different versions of the cohort — One with pre-recorded videos and less time in live sessions. (Begins May 3 - 24th) One with fewer videos and more time in live sessions. (Begins May 31 - June 28 Both versions include teaching, peer feedback & discussion, feedback from Jeremy and Tom, Q&A, templates, and an electronic copy of our book, Mastering Work Intake: From Chaos to Predictable Delivery. Enroll or join our mailing list using the links below:

The SPaMCAST 802 features a panel discussion. Mark Metze, Jeremy Willets, and myself. discuss “Is agile still a movement or has it reached middle age?” We weigh the appropriateness of wailing and gnashing of teeth, hand wringing and sullen withdrawal, or pragmatism and philosophy. In the end perhaps the right answer is to buy a pair of mom or dad jeans and accept that all great movements reach middle age at some point. We look forward to your opinions and comments. Panelists Mark Metze: With a career spanning over 30 years in the software industry, Mark has evolved from a seasoned developer, dedicating 19 years to crafting high-quality and maintainable code that directly addressed real-world challenges. Transitioning into a management role, he spent the next 9 years leading development teams, gaining a holistic perspective on the various roles crucial for successful software delivery. Embracing the philosophy of servant leadership, he transitioned once again to the role of a Scrum Master. Over the last 3.5 years, his focus has been on fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and empowering teams to excel in their agile practices. Mark's journey from a hands-on developer to a supportive Scrum Master reflects a deep understanding of the intricacies of software development, coupled with a passion for facilitating teams to achieve their highest potential. Mark also hosts The Agile Within podcast with new episodes debuting each week. It's mission is "Providing agile insights into human values and behaviors through genuine connections". You can listen on your favorite podcast platform or on the web: Jeremy Willets is a coach, speaker, and author who has spent the last decade working with people and teams to achieve greatness in the workplace. He started out as a technical writer on a Scrum team and quickly fell in love with Scrum and the Agile Manifesto values and principles. Since then, he’s served thriving organizations as a Scrum Master, Agile Coach, Senior Agile Coach, Release Train Engineer, people manager, and mentor. Jeremy has spoken at conferences throughout the midwestern United States. He’s an avid Substack blogger and music maker. He holds a SAFe® Practice Consultant (SPC) certification. Jeremy can be found at Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy Willets and I have opened a new workshop cohort to help you learn to tame the work intake beast! The workshop will run from 31 May to 28 June in five manageable 90-minute chunks. For more details hop over to our Maven site for more information, sign up, or join the mailing list! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 3, Deep Work is Meaningful completes Part 1 of by Cal Newport. If you are reading this chapter for the first time, my interpretation of the author’s intent is not to prove that deep work is meaningful but rather to argue that it is more meaningful than shallow work. On deeper reflection, there are even more cautionary notes for the always “in contact” amongst us. Read the chapter, this week’s re-read post, and contemplate! Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 803 we will contemplate the product roles impact on work intake. These roles appear straightforward and at the same time offer many layers and nuances. Regardless of the approach or structure someone is using, making work intake decisions might enhance or trash product decisions. Someone is making those decisions, you need to understand the impact. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not a Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast.

The SPaMCAST 801 will examine the question, “When is not having clear priorities a winning strategy?” While the answer might seem self-evident, I am not sure people and organizations put their money where their mouth is. We also have Kies Kostaqi’s You Are Not Alone column. This installment highlights the soft skills required to be an effective Scrum Master. Soft does not mean unimportant or easy to develop. How can you spread the word about ? The best way is to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you buy your books. Reviews increase the likelihood that someone like you will discover the book! New Workshop Cohort Open! Jeremy Willets and I have opened a new workshop cohort to help you learn to tame the work intake beast! The workshop will run from 31 May to 28 June in five manageable one-hour chunks. For more details hop over to our Maven site for more information, sign up, or join the mailing list! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 2 of by Cal Newport. Is titled Deep Work Is Rare. It should be subtitled either “and that is our fault” or “stop doing what everyone else is doing”. Read the chapter, this week’s re-read post, and contemplate! Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST In the next SPaMCAST 802, Mark Metze, Jeremy Willets and I discuss “Is agile still a movement or has it reached middle age?” Will it be wailing and gnashing of teeth, hand wringing and sullen withdrawal, or pragmatism and philosophy? Listen to find out!

In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 800 Johanna Rothman takes over the podcast and interviews Jeremy Willets and me. We discussed , why principles make more sense than best practices, and how disciplined work intake is the core to getting work done. We learn that in practice, stop starting and start finishing only works when you pay attention to the work that goes into a system. Contact info: Johanna Rothman LinkedIn: Website: Jeremy Willets LinkedIn: Website: Tom Calgey LinkedIn: Website: https://tomcagley.com/ I was asked the best way to spread the word about . The single best way is to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you buy your books. Reviews increase the likelihood that someone like you will discover the book! New Workshop Cohort Open! Jeremy Willets and I have opened a new workshop cohort to help you learn to tame the work intake beast! The workshop will run from 31 May to 28 June in five manageable one-hour chunks. For more details hop over to our Maven site for more information, sign up, or just join the mailing list! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 1, Deep Work Is Valuable, begins the first part of the book by Cal Newport. Part 1, The Idea, comprises the book’s first four chapters and focuses on making the case for Deep Work. One of the interesting arguments for the value of deep work is that we are in the throes of digital transformation. Combining that trend with position internationalization and incrementalism yields all-or-nothing jobs. Read the chapter, our re-read post and contemplate! Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Week 2: - Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 801 will examine the question, “At what level does not having clear priorities create a winning strategy?” While the answer might seem self-evident, I am not sure people and organizations put their money where their mouth is. We will also have a visit from Kies Kostaqi who brings her You Are Not Alone column to the podcast.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 799 discusses why all communication is not collaboration. It is a commonly held belief that complex problems require collaborative efforts to solve. Couple that with an almost fad-like insistence that if a little collaboration is good, more is better, which leads to everything being deemed collaboration. We can do better with a little effort. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column. Mr Quigley and I talk about prioritization as micromanagement. And how if you are not there to pick up the pieces when work is pushed into an organization you have a poor perspective. .New Workshop Cohort Registration Open! Jeremy Willets and I have opened a new workshop cohort to help you learn to tame the work intake beast! The workshop will run from 31 May to 28 June in five manageable one-hour chunks. For more details hop over to our Maven site for more information, sign up, or just join the mailing list! Re-read Saturday News I ran across the quote "I wasted time, and now doth time waste me" Shakespeare, Richard II as I was listening to by Cal Newport while jogging/walking the dog. The quote and the content of Newport’s book made me decide to feature my second time through Deep Work in our Re-read Saturday feature. This week we discuss how the re-read approach and the Introduction which includes important definitions. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 800 will feature Johanna Rothman interviewing Jeremy Willets and me. We discussed the book, . Any conversation with Johanna ends up being a master class. I look forward to spending this milestone with Johanna, Jeremy, and you.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 798 features my interview with Steve Taplin of Sonatafy Technology. Steve and I discussed the nuances and benefits of nearshore software development. Steve also provided his thoughts on why building an uplifting culture both inside and outside the organization reaps powerful rewards for everyone it touches. Steve Taplin leads Sonatafy Technology as its CEO, bringing an entrepreneurial flair and inspirational leadership to the forefront of nearshore software development. His career is marked by a series of successful business scalings, showcasing his ability to tackle complex challenges within the tech industry. Steve's expertise spans across critical business domains, driving Sonatafy to excel in delivering top-tier software solutions. Contact Information: Re-read Saturday News This week we put a bow on our re-read of with a few final thoughts. This book has earned a place on my useful bookshelf. The quote from last week sums up my rationale for Re-read Saturday. “We take action because of our relentless pursuit of improvement. That is what professionalism is all about.” Next week we will begin our re-read of by Cal Newport. Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: – Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: s - Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 799 will feature an essay on why all communication is not collaboration. Like all trendy words, we are confusing the meaning and in the process losing the value of the act. One final thought before next week, just because you allow time for Q&A, a talk at an All Hands Meeting is not collaboration even if you say it is. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column. A little foreshadowing… SPaMCAST 800 will feature Johanna Rothman, Jeremy Willets, and me.

In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 797 we ponder a statement from Roger Turnau in SPaMCAST 796, “You can’t expect the process to save you from yourself in every circumstance.” The statement poses a leadership quandary leading to questions every leader must ask. When does process guidance make sense? When do processes infantilize teams and leaders? These are not the basis for an after-work philosophical discussion. Vast movements within the software industry have been spawned as cultures have swayed between directive and laissez-faire poles. We also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault who brings his Evolutionary Agilst™ Column to the podcast. We discussed whether testers are part of the team and if they own quality. Re-read Saturday News This week we finish our re-read of with two chapters. Chapter 13 is titled Scaling Monte Carlo. In a perfect world, one team could do all of the work needed for a product or feature a manageable piece at a time. Unfortunately, this is the real world. In Chapter 14, titled A Parting Thought, Vacanti states, “We take action because of our relentless pursuit of improvement. That is what professionalism is all about.” Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: – Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 798 will feature our interview with Steve Taplin. Steve and I discussed sourcing nearshore and creating a culture inside and around an organization.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 796 features a conversation with Roger Turnau. Roger and I talk about prioritization using the cost of delay. Every organization and team I have ever worked with has a backlog of work and lots of people screaming that their piece of the backlog is the most important. The cost of delay is an important tool to filter out the noise and it can be as nuanced as you need it to be. Roger Turnau is an Agile Coach at Accenture. His mission is to empower and inspire leaders and organizations to create an environment where high performance feels effortless. His approach to achieving this combines an emphasis on psychological safety, building trust throughout the organization, and close attention to KPIs, OKRs and flow metrics to ensure durable results. For the past five years, Roger has specialized in enterprise and DevOps coaching, product development, and Agile transformations. Contact Information LinkedIn: Website: (Blog) Last Call for Cohort 1! Slay Work Intake Chaos: Become a Master in 5 Weeks! Based on Tom Cagley and Jeremy WIllet’s new book , learn to diagnose and solve work intake anti-patterns to stop drowning in work. Work intake is the biggest challenge facing organizations today. If you don’t get work intake right, you won’t be in business for very long. A 5-week cohort-based course, meeting weekly for an hour, includes teaching, peer feedback & discussion, feedback from the authors, time for Q&A, templates, and an electronic copy of our book, Mastering Work Intake: From Chaos to Predictable Delivery. Are you ready to commit? Join our cohort-based workshop. The first cohort is starting on March 1st, 2024. Details at Re-read Saturday News This week we tackle two chapters of . Chapter 11, “Different Sampling Methods”. The chapter points out that random sampling techniques are just the tip of the iceberg in approaches. Chapter 12, ”What Percentile Do I Choose?”, discusses whether you always need to quote the 85th percentile range. The short answer is no but like most things, there is more to it than that. Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: – Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 797 we ponder the question, should the process save us from ourselves in every circumstance? We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault who brings his Evolutionary Agilst™ Column to the podcast

Part of every profession is the jargon practitioners adopt. Having a language links people together and creates a sense of community. It also creates private gardens: a profession set off from those around it. Jargon is a form of secret handshake. Jargon is a two-edged sword, both gathering and excluding people. Be wary! We also have a visit from Susan Parente and her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. We discussed her recent mini-sabbatical. Stepping back has the power to clear your mind. Slay Work Intake Chaos: Become a Master in 5 Weeks! Based on Tom Cagley and Jeremy WIllet’s new book , learn to diagnose and solve work intake anti-patterns to stop drowning in work. Work intake is the biggest challenge facing organizations today. If you don’t get work intake right, you won’t be in business for very long. A 5-week cohort-based course, meeting weekly for an hour, includes teaching, peer feedback & discussion, feedback from the authors, time for Q&A, templates, and an electronic copy of our book, Mastering Work Intake: From Chaos to Predictable Delivery. Are you ready to commit? Join our cohort-based workshop. The first cohort is starting on March 1st, 2024. Details at Re-read Saturday News This week we tackle two chapters of . We begin with Chapter 9 - VoP, VoC, and Predictability which sums up Section I, Variability and Predictability. Chapter 10, titled Monte Carlo Simulation, Revisited begins Section II, Advanced Monte Carlo Simulation and Predictability. Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: – Week 10: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 796 our conversation with Roger Turnau. Roger and I will delve deeply into prioritization using the cost of delay. Every organization and team I have ever worked with has a backlog of work and lots of people screaming that their piece of the backlog is the most important. Cost of delay is an important tool to filter out the noise.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 794 features our conversation with Nick Schrock. Nick and I discussed data engineering, AI, and entrepreneurship. As the Founder at Dagster Labs, Nick has the perfect standing to talk about three of the hottest topics of 2024. Nick’s Bio: Nick is the Founder and CTO of Dagster Labs, the company behind Dagster, a popular open-source data orchestration platform. Before Dagster Labs, he was a Principal Engineer and Director at Facebook from 2009 to 2017, where he founded the Product Infrastructure team and co-created GraphQL. After cutting his teeth at Facebook, he pursued his passion for working on engineers’ pain points after hearing that data infrastructure was a big issue. He founded Dagster to address this issue, highlighting how quickly open-source projects were able to make an impact at legacy companies. Dagster couldn’t come at a more critical time as data and ML engineering are beginning to drive both human and business decision-making. Contact Information: Linkedin: Website: Stop Project Chaos: The Ultimate Guide to Predictable Work Intake Feeling overwhelmed by endless tasks and unpredictable deadlines? You’re not alone. But what if you could transform your project into a well-oiled machine, delivering consistent value on time? Introducing Mastering Work Intake: From Chaos to Predictable Delivery. Ditch the black hole of endless requests. Discover practical strategies for capturing, filtering, and prioritizing work effectively. Gain control of your work pipeline. Learn how to navigate different types of work at different stages, ensuring smooth flow and efficient delivery. Become a master of saying “no”. This book equips you with the tools and techniques to confidently decline unproductive work and protect your team’s focus. Stop the chaos and start delivering! Grab your copy of Mastering Work Intake today and unleash your project’s full potential. JRoss: or Amazon (US): Are you ready to commit to not letting bad work drag you down? Invest in your success and learn how to master work intake for a smoother, more rewarding project experience. Join our cohort-based workshop. The first cohort is starting on March 1st, 2024. Details at Re-read Saturday News Chapter 8 shatters myths! Once upon a time in a land far, far away, I believed a few of these myths. Ok, it was just about five years ago that I was dissuaded from the last of my misbeliefs. I believe that many of my misconceptions are founded in the collision of words between classical statistics and words Shewhart used for Process Behavior Charts (PBC). Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: XmR Charts and the Four Basic Metrics of Flow - Week 9: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 795, why do teams, products, projects, and companies exist? Why do we care? (We really should!) We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast!

Feeling overwhelmed by endless tasks and unpredictable deadlines? You're not alone. But what if you could transform your project into a well-oiled machine, delivering consistent value on time? Introducing Mastering Work Intake: From Chaos to Predictable Delivery. Ditch the black hole of endless requests. Discover practical strategies for capturing, filtering, and prioritizing work effectively. Gain control of your work pipeline. Learn how to navigate different types of work at different stages, ensuring smooth flow and efficient delivery. Become a master of saying "no". This book equips you with the tools and techniques to confidently decline unproductive work and protect your team's focus. Stop the chaos and start delivering! Grab your copy of Mastering Work Intake today and unleash your project's full potential. JRoss: or Amazon (US): Ready to commit to not letting bad work drag you down? Invest in your success and learn how to master work intake for a smoother, more rewarding project experience. Join our cohort-based workshop. The first cohort is starting on March 1st, 2024. Details at

As you would suspect, I have recently been talking up Mastering Work Intake which Jeremy Willets and I co-authored. One conversation turned to the topic of whether value stream analysis was useful in controlling work intake. The simple answer is YES across the whole value stream and up and down the hierarchy. We will also have a visit from Kies Kostaqi who brings her “You Are Not Alone” column to the podcast. In this installment, we discuss whether anyone (within reason) can play the Scrum Master role. Mastering Work Intake by Tom Cagley and Jeremy Willets Have you purchased your copy of ? Doing the right work at the right time can make or break your project, and there are surprisingly few resources to show you how to manage this process effectively - no longer. focuses on the full pipeline that work follows as it enters and exits your organization, including the different types of work that enter at different levels and times. It is a must-read for agile coaches, Scrum Masters, product owners, project and portfolio managers, team members, and anyone who touches the software development process. Mastering work intake involves recognizing that it’s easy to say “ yes” and much harder to say “ no.” Buy a copy today! J Ross: Amazon (US): For physical copies outside of the US and Canada: UK and EU: For international orders outside of Europe: (or the Amazon store for your country) Re-read Saturday News Chapter Seven, of , dives into the nuances of using XmR charts for the basic flow metrics including: Cycle Time Throughput WIP WIP Age This is a hugely useful chapter. There are three points that I draw out this week. They are the difference between XmR and Cycle Time (scatter plot) Charts, chunky data, and Total WIP Age charting. Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 794 will feature our conversation with Nick Schrock. We discussed data engineering, AI, and entrepreneurship. As the Founder at Dagster Labs, Nick had the perfect standing to talk about three of the hottest topics of 2024.

by Thomas M Cagley Jr and Jeremy Willets, gives you the tools to prioritize and deliver the right work at the right time. The book is on the shelves today! One of the topics covered in the book 9 Core Principles of Work Intake. Today’s audio promo describes the 9 principles to promote both the book and our cohort-based workshop. To whet your whistle, when you join the cohort waitlist (near the bottom of the Maven landing page) you will receive a copy of the 9 Core Work Intake Principles Worksheet. This is one of the handouts from the class that you can use to determine how your team or organization is doing with them. Purchase a copy of Mastering Work Intake at: J Ross: or Amazon (US): Sign up or join the waiting list for the workshop at If you have any questions email me at tcagley@tomcagley.com

Happy Birthday to the Software Process and Measurement Cast. Today we begin year 18 with our interview with Gil Broza. Gill and I discussed his new book, Deliver Better Results: How to Unlock Your Organization’s Potential. The book is available NOW! I am excited by the ideas in the book and I think you will be also. If you are involved in improving value delivery this is a must-have-book. Why? Because it identifies what organizations that successfully improve value delivery have in common and provides those ideas to you. Gill specializes in helping leaders deliver far better results by upgrading their organizations’ Agile ways of working. He is the author of , , , and Listen to the podcast and then download Chapter 1 from: Other Contact Links: The book: Gill’s My website: LinkedIn: Mastering Work Intake by Tom Cagley and Jeremy Willets Have you purchased your copy of ? Doing the right work at the right time can make or break your project, and there are surprisingly few resources to show you how to manage this process effectively - no longer. focuses on the full pipeline that work follows as it enters and exits your organization, including the different types of work that enter at different levels and times. It is a must-read for agile coaches, Scrum Masters, product owners, project and portfolio managers, team members, and anyone who touches the software development process. Mastering work intake involves recognizing that it’s easy to say “ yes” and much harder to say “ no.” Buy a copy today! J Ross: Amazon (US): For physical copies outside of the US and Canada: UK and EU: For international orders outside of Europe: (or the Amazon store for your country) Re-read Saturday News Chapter Six, of , is titled Detecting Signals on PBCs. Finding a signal in the noise is like separating the wheat from the chaff. Adding to the pile of quotes, one of the most enduring is “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” A more appropriate version in the context of this chapter might be “Give a person some data and they will see a trend. Teach a person to detect a signal and they won’t be as silly” – doesn’t have the same punch, but the new version encapsulates Chapter 6. Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 793 explores the relationship between value stream mapping and work intake. The whole value chain needs to understand why mastering work intake delivers more value for everyone! We will also have a visit from Kies Kostaqi who brings her “You Are Not Alone” column to the podcast.

With SPaMCAST 791 we complete Year 17 with our interview with Vinnie GIl. Vinnie and I talked about conferences and staying connected with the Agile Community. One of the topics we covered was the value of conferences and meetups to the community and individuals—a great way to complete year 17. Vinnie puts people and culture first. She enjoys connecting with people and companies to find their purpose, walking alongside them in their organisational growth journey. Her passion is influencing change at the Enterprise level to help bring about wide-ranging agile organisational transformation. Vinnie has vast industry and has deep business experience mining, engineering, retail, financial services, public sector, education, travel, automotive to name a few. She has over 20 years in the project space and previously held roles in Project Management, Contracts, IT, HR, Strategy as well as experience working in and with start-up companies. She is a Chartered Fellow of the MCIPD. She is deeply involved in the Agile community and volunteers her time with the Business Agility Institute, in addition to being a member of the International Consortium for Agile. She is an IC Agile Authorised Instructor and teaches ICP Leading With Agility and Agility in Human Resources. Vinnie has a special interest in educating and education being the tool that empowers people. As an international conference speaker, she enjoys sharing real life agile learnings with a hint of banter. Mastering Work Intake by Tom Cagley and Jeremy Willets Have you purchased your copy of . Doing the right work at the right time can make or break your project, and there are surprisingly few resources to show you how to manage this process effectively - no longer. focuses on the full pipeline that work follows as it enters and exits your organization, including the different types of work that enter at different levels and times. It is a must-read for agile coaches, Scrum Masters, product owners, project and portfolio managers, team members, and anyone who touches the software development process. Mastering work intake involves recognizing that it’s easy to say “ yes” and much harder to say “ no.” Buy a copy today! J Ross: Amazon (US): For physical copies outside of the US and Canada: UK and EU: For international orders outside of Europe: (or the Amazon store for your country) Note: The Publisher indicates that it takes a while for the physical copies to get to the distributors outside of the USA and Canada. Re-read Saturday News This week, Chapter 5 of . The question of how much data is required to determine what is happening in a system is a perennial bugaboo. Those predisposed to acting tend to think less is more, while those with more reticence sometimes wait forever to make a decision. The question of how much data is needed is more than just a footnote in flow. Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 792 begins Year 18 with our interview with Gil Broza. Gill and I talked about his new book, Deliver Better Results: How to Unlock Your Organization’s Potential. The book explores what all successful improvements to value delivery have in common.

SPaMCAST 790 features our interview with Stefan Wolpers. Stefan and I talked about the Scrum Master's role in the 21st Century, his new book The Scrum Anti-Patterns Guide (), and remembering that it's all about people. Stefan’s Bio: Embarking on a Scrum career unintentionally in 2006, Stefan was initiated as a Scrum Master for a small German startup. Lacking initial knowledge but employing careful observation, note-taking, and dialogue, the author embraced the role and learned from the team’s experiences. Eighteen years into his Scrum journey, Stefan maintains an unwavering appetite for learning, humbled by the vast knowledge shared within the agile community. Recognizing newcomers’ overwhelming challenges in this field due to scarce formal education, he aspires to provide guidance, emphasising a pragmatic, common-sense approach grounded in observing human interaction and collaboration. Since 2019, Stefan has served as a Professional Scrum Trainer for Scrum.org. LinkedIn: Email: Websites (Other) (Other) (Company) Mastering Work Intake by Tom Cagley and Jeremy Willets HAS PUBLISHED! Jeremy Willets and I have been gobsmacked by the reaction to . Doing the right work at the right time can make or break your project, and there are surprisingly few resources to show you how to manage this process effectively - no longer. focuses on the full pipeline that work follows as it enters and exits your organization, including the different types of work that enter at different levels and times. It is a must-read for agile coaches, Scrum Masters, product owners, project and portfolio managers, team members, and anyone who touches the software development process. Mastering work intake involves recognizing that it’s easy to say “ yes” and much harder to say “ no.” Buy a copy today! JRoss: Amazon (US): For physical copies outside of the US and Canada: UK and EU: For international orders outside of Europe: (or the Amazon store for your country) Note: The Publisher indicates that it takes a while for the physical copies to get to the distributors outside of the USA and Canada. Re-read Saturday News We continue with Chapter Four of , titled Process Behaviour Charts, this week. Humans often fall prey to seeing trends when they don’t exist. Today we construct an XmR chart to begin to fix that failing. Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Next SPaMCAST With SPaMCAST 791 we will complete Year 17 with our interview with Vinnie GIl. Vinnie and I talked about conferences and staying connected with the Agile Community. A great way to complete year 17.

As a coach and mentor, I often observe meetings and events so I can debrief with the person(s) I am coaching afterward and provide them with a different perspective. I was involved in observing a planning session in which a stakeholder stated, “Combine these two items, they are similar, and only count it as one toward our capacity.” What? We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column. Jon and I talk about including technical people in sales and estimates. New Book! Jeremy Willets and I have written which will be released on January 9th. Regardless of whether you’re creating, enhancing, or maintaining software products, work intake is a challenge you deal with constantly. Doing the right work at the right time can make or break your project, and there are surprisingly few resources to show you how to manage this process effectively. You need to know what your team is executing, what work is next, and the skill sets required to do the work. focuses on the full pipeline that work follows as it enters and exits your organization, including the different types of work that enter at different levels and times. It is a must-read for agile coaches, Scrum Masters, product owners, project and portfolio managers, team members, and anyone who touches the software development process. Mastering work intake involves recognizing that it’s easy to say “ yes” and much harder to say “ no.” Order or preorder your copy from JRoss: Amazon (US): For physical copies outside of the US and Canada: UK and EU: For international orders outside of Europe: (or the Amazon store for your country) Note: The Publisher indicates that it takes a while for the physical copies to get to the distributors outside of the USA and Canada. Re-read Saturday News Chapter Four of , titled Process Behaviour Charts is a trojan horse. This chapter is substantially more than a rehash of Process Behaviour Charts. The chapter corrected a misconception I have had for at least twenty years which we will get to in Part 2 of our re-read of chapter 4 (we are taking two weeks on this chapter to set up chapters 5 and 6). Thanks, Mr. Vacanti. Buy a copy and get reading – . Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 790 will feature our interview with Stefan Wolpers. Stefan and I talked about the Scrum Master role in the 21st Century.

SPaMCAST 788 is our annual SPaMCAST panel featuring most of the podcast regulars including: Jeremy Berriault, Keis Kostaqi, Jon M. Quigley, Jeremy Willets, and Tom Cagley appears in the ringmaster role. Tony Timbol and Susan Parente, regular contributors, were unable to join and we missed them (this time of year is busy). Maybe I should do the annual panel in February, no one is busy in the colder parts of February. During this year's panel, we talked about using AIs in coaching, working in the office, Jon tent, and took a look into 2024. This is a long podcast so I will keep the chit-chat down to a dull roar. Learn to Solve IT's Dirtiest Secret! Work input, which includes prioritization and sequencing, is how work gets to an organization or team. If you get it wrong you are throwing time and money away. Simply put, poor work intake means “no agile for you”. Jeremy Willets and I have written tackling the topic that JRoss Publishing will publish in January 2024. In support of the book, we are building a live, workshop-based course for anyone deciding on what work gets completed! This includes Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers - lots of people are involved which is part of the problem! The workshop will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. This cohort-based course will combine concise lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using a survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort – link below. We will use the list to alert you when the workshop is available. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 789 we will continue on our tour of some of the least talked about and most scary work intake problems. This is in the run-up to the release of on January 9th. Preorder your copy now! We will also have a visit from Mr Jon M Quigley who is bringing his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast.

This week we continue in the minefield of why starting everything you are asked to do is problematic that we began in SPaMCAST 785. Framing the discussion is a text from a friend of the cast which highlights those requests that you just can’t say no to. Lots of rationalizations and negative impacts. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente and her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. In this installment, we discuss the idea that everyone has a book in them. Re-Read Saturday News Vacanti begins Chapter 3 of , by reminding the reader: “A predictable process behaves in a way we expect it to.” Further a predictable process exhibits only routine variation which means learning to distinguish signal and noise. Buy a copy and get reading - . The current re-read entry Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Learn to Solve IT's Dirtiest Secret! Work input, which includes prioritization and sequencing, is how work gets to an organization or team. If you get it wrong you are throwing time and money away. Simply put, poor work intake means “no agile for you”. Jeremy Willets and I have written tackling the topic that JRoss Publishing will publish in January 2024. In support of the book, we are building a live, workshop-based course for anyone deciding on what work gets completed! This includes Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers - lots of people are involved which is part of the problem! The workshop will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. This cohort-based course will combine concise lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using a survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort – link below. We will use the list to alert you when the workshop is available. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 788 we will feature the annual SPaMCAST panel. As always the conversation will be rollicking. The topics will cover AI, working in the office, and a look into 2024.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 784 features our conversation with Kevin Surace. Kevin is an AI Inventor, Futurist, and Keynote Speaker. We talk about the hype and promise of AI and whether you can ignore using AI in the workplace. My synopsis, embrace AI or live under a bridge. That might be a bit of hyperbole but if you lived through the PC revolution and the birth of the internet I think not. Kevin’s Bio Kevin Surace, is a renowned futurist, disruptive innovation keynote speaker, and pioneer in the AI space since the 1990s He is the CTO of Appvance.ai which applies AI in the testing space. Kevin has an impressive portfolio of nearly 100 worldwide patents, including the groundbreaking technology behind Siri and other virtual assistants. He is the visionary creator of one of the world's first smartphones and a dynamic speaker featured in over 15 thought-provoking TED and TEDx talks. His accomplishments have earned him accolades such as Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year, CNBC's Innovator of the Decade, and an esteemed induction into RIT's prestigious Innovation Hall of Fame. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksurace/ Personal Website: KevinSurace.com Twitter: @kevinsurace Business Website: https://appvance.ai/ Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin the read of by Daniel S. Vacanti in earnest covering Chapters One and Two. These two chapters provide a statistical cautionary tale and then go on to define variability. The definition of variability is a foundation that much of AA Volume II builds on. Buy a copy and get reading - . The current re-read entry Week 1: - Week 2: - Learn to Solve IT's Dirtiest Secret! Work input, which includes prioritization and sequencing, is how work gets to an organization or team. If you get it wrong you are throwing time and money away. Simply put, poor work intake means “no agile for you”. Jeremy Willets and I have written tackling the topic that JRoss Publishing will publish in January 2024. In support of the book, we are building a live, workshop-based course for anyone deciding on what work gets completed! This includes Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers - lots of people are involved which is part of the problem! The workshop will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. This cohort-based course will combine concise lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using a survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort – link below. We will use the list to alert you when the workshop is available. Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 787 we continue in the minefield of why starting everything you are asked to do is problematic. Framing the discussion is a text from a friend of the cast which highlights those requests that you just can’t say no to. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente and her Not A Scrumdamentalist column.

I was asked, “Why shouldn’t I say yes and start everything that comes my way?” As we celebrate the impending publication of (it is going to the printers very soon) we continue the discussion of work intake scenarios that bedevil teams and organizations. Controlling work entry is controlling WIP which helps us be our best selves. But are there times when you have to say yes when you don’t want to? We also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault bringing his Evolutionary Agilist Column to the cast! Mr Berriault and I discussed the concept of root cause. Everybody is looking for one but very few understand the concept. Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin the read of by Daniel S. Vacanti. This is the second of Mr. Vacanti’s books we have covered in Re-read Saturday. The 260-page book includes a Preface, 14 Chapters broken into two sections, two appendices, endnotes, a bibliography, and an index (hooray). I am planning to cover this book in approximately 16 weeks. Reviewing the book, there are several chapters that I can see combining into a single week and a few chapters that will take a couple of weeks to think through. I also suspect that I may lose one or so weekends to holidays. I am targeting completing this read on March 31st. Buy a copy and get reading - . The current re-read entry Week 1: - https://bit.ly/4adgxsC Learn to Solve IT's Dirtiest Secret! Work input, which includes prioritization and sequencing, is how work gets to an organization or team. If you get it wrong you are throwing time and money away. Simply put, poor work intake means “no agile for you”. Jeremy Willets and I have written tackling the topic that JRoss Publishing will publish in January 2024. In support of the book, we are building a live, workshop-based course for anyone deciding on what work gets completed! This includes Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers - lots of people are involved which is part of the problem! The workshop will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. This cohort-based course will combine concise lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using a survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort – link below. We will use the list to alert you when the workshop is available. Next SPaMCAST Software Process and Measurement Cast 784 will feature my conversation with Kevin Surace, AI Inventor, Futurist and Keynote Speaker. We will discuss the hype and promise of AI.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 784 features our interview with Michaele Gardner and Brian Hackerson. We talk about their Agile Best Self Initiative. We also, and perhaps more importantly, discuss being in control of yourself so you can truly deliver value to those around you. As we start to close out 2023 it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how you can be your best self. Michaele Gardner started out as a counselor at an emergency crisis line. Clients were too messy: clear inputs did not lead to predetermined outputs. So she moved into the world of IT and has not looked back. Becoming a developer on an XP team brought together her interests in psychology, flow, teamwork and problem solving. She quickly realized that many teams (and organizations) poured their hearts and souls into projects that added little value. Her next natural step was to help engineers and organizations understand business value at a micro and macro level. At all levels, Michaele loves giving change agents tools to define their own “why” and stay emotionally resilient. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaele-gardner-0829205/ Brian R. Hackerson is the co-creator of the Agile Best Self mindset, the VP of People Operations and Enterprise Agile Consultant at . An innovator at the intersection of Agile practices and personal development, Brian has revolutionized team engagement and performance in various leadership roles. His approach uniquely blends professional growth with personal empowerment, embodying his belief in the transformative power of aligning individual journeys with Agile principles. LinkedIn: Agile Best Self: Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 11 of is titled Saving The El Faro. In this final chapter, the author could have just as easily reimagined the outcomes of the Pinto design or the Deepwater Horizon disasters. The theme throughout the book is that Industrial-age thinking fails more often in the age of Knowledge Work. My final thoughts on this book? Not to put too fine a point on it, this is Marquet’s most important book yet. Use the links below to read all of my final thoughts on and to catch up on previous installments. Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: – Week 10: – Week 11: – Week 12: - Next week we begin the READ (my first time) of ; which is available at LeanPub. We re-read Volume I in 2018 () that book was life changing…I am looking forward to Volume II. Learn to Solve IT's Dirtiest Secret! Work input, which includes prioritization and sequencing, is how work gets to an organization or team. If you get it wrong you are throwing time and money away. Simply put, poor work intake means “no agile for you”. Jeremy Willets and I have written tackling the topic that JRoss Publishing will publish in January 2024. In support of the book, we are building a live, workshop-based course for anyone involved in deciding on what work gets completed! This includes Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers - lots of people are involved which is part of the problem! The workshop will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. This cohort-based course will combine very short lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using a survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort – link below. We will use the list to alert you when the workshop is available. Next SPaMCAST As we celebrate the impending publication of (it is going to the printers very soon) I will continue the discussion of work intake scenarios that bedevil teams and organizations. Controlling work entry is controlling WIP which helps us be our best selves. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault bringing his Evolutionary Agilist Column to the cast!

Software Process and Measurement Cast 783 tackles a classic work intake problem, “Do you have the authority to ask for this work?” Work input processes need to vet more than just requirements. We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley. Jon and I discussed taking control of your personal growth. It is not your organization's responsibility. Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 10 of is titled, The Red-Blue Operating System. Marquet starts this chapter with the cautionary tale of the Ford Pinto. The chapter highlights the outcome of the industrial approach to leadership going wrong. My wife had a Pinto when we first started dating. It was our only car and we both remember waiting for it to be recalled, even as we drove to work every morning. We discussed the potential of the fuel tank exploding. What we were oblivious to was the reason for the problem. The failure of leadership and the failure of the decision-making model literally sentenced people to death to achieve a goal. Previous installments of our re-read of (buy a copy)! Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Learn to Solve IT's Dirtiest Secret! Work input, which includes prioritization and sequencing, is how work gets to an organization or team. If you get it wrong you are throwing time and money away. Simply put, poor work intake means no agile for you. Jeremy Willets and I have written tackling the topic that JRoss Publishing will publish in January 2024. In support of the book, we are building a live, workshop-based course for anyone involved in deciding on what work gets completed! This includes Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers - lots of people are involved which is part of the problem! The workshop will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. This cohort-based course will combine very short lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using a survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort – link below. We will use the list to alert you when the workshop is available. Next SPaMCAST Software Process and Measurement Cast 784 will feature our interview with Michaele Gardner and Brian Hackerson. We talked about Agile Best Self and being in control of our agile.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 782 features our conversation with Govind Balu on the importance of data and the concept of data transformations. Data represents the gold rush of the 21st Century! Govind Balu is a visionary entrepreneur and experienced executive with a strong background in leveraging data and AI to drive business growth across different industries. As the Founder and CEO of QuaXigma, he spearheads the company’s vision to transform organizations into data-driven enterprises. Govind observed that small and medium businesses struggle to effectively extract value from data and are unable to compete in a landscape where larger organizations more effectively leverage AI. Motivated to make data and AI easily accessible to SMBs, Govind founded QuaXigma with a clear mission to develop and deliver solutions that deliver business value by focusing on innovation, customer satisfaction, and strategic consulting. Govind’s LinkedIn Profile: Email: Company Website: Re-Read Saturday News In Chapter 9 of , Marquet provides several examples of using the new plays. As a reminder, the plays in the new playbook are: Control The Clock Collaborate Commit Complete Improve Connect Each play is powerful; however, the combination of the plays is where the real power is. For example, controlling the clock — calling a pause — allows a person or team time to think. During that pause, if they surface issues that are addressed the post-industrial plays of collaboration and improving are in evidence. Leveraging short iterations so that work can be demonstrated and inspected combines the control the clock, complete, and connect plays. Iterative planning, a hallmark of agile, combines control the clock and commit plays. Use the links below to explore more of the re-read. Previous installments of our re-read of (buy a copy)! Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Learn to Solve IT's Dirtiest Secret! Work input, which includes prioritization and sequencing, is how work gets to an organization or team. If you get it wrong you are throwing time and money away. Simply put, poor work intake means no agile for you. Jeremy Willets and I have written tackling the topic that JRoss Publishing will publish in January 2024. In support of the book, we are building a live, workshop-based course for anyone involved in deciding on what work gets completed! This includes Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers - lots of people are involved which is part of the problem! The workshop will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. This cohort-based course will combine very short lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using a survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort – link below. We will use the list to alert you when the workshop is available. Next SPaMCAST Software Process and Measurement Cast 783 will tackle a classic work intake problem, “Did I forget to tell you, the requirements changed?” What happens when you don’t have a clear line to the business to get feedback as you are doing work? Often you get to do things over and over and maybe over again. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault bringing his Evolutionary Agilist Coumn to the cast!

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 781 begins with a discussion of prioritization and sequencing. These two ideas often get conflated. Work might be important but if it has predecessors and successors it will require sequencing. You can’t deploy a new piece of hardware unless you have it. The acquisition of the equipment comes before deployment. Not letting teams control or have input into sequencing has consequences. Let us discuss avoiding those negative outcomes. We also have a visit from Keis Kostaqi who returns with her You Are Not Alone column. Keis and I discuss the new Scrum Master that gets thrown to the wolves. Get a coach or risk being eaten? Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 8 is titled, The Enabling Play: Connect. This Chapter begins with the story of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The disaster may have been avoided if a single button had been pushed. The button went unpushed until it was too late because the person did not have permission. Marquet states “How is it that a person could be more afraid of pushing a button without permission, than dying in a fiery explosion?” Hierarchy above all is a power play from the Industrial Age, a play that remains entrenched in corporate life. Fear supported by steep hierarchies, distorts common sense in environments with a strong culture of control and compliance. Previous installments of our re-read of (buy a copy)! Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Learn to Solve IT's Dirtiest Secret! Work input, which includes prioritization and sequencing, is how work gets to an organization or team. If you get it wrong you are throwing time and money away. Simply put, poor work intake means no agile for you. Jeremy Willets and I have written tackling the topic that JRoss Publishing will publish in January 2024. In support of the book, we are building a live, workshop-based course for anyone involved in deciding on what work gets completed! This includes Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers - there are a lot of people involved and that is part of the problem! The workshop will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. This cohort-based course will combine very short lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using a survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort – link below. We will use the list to alert you when the workshop is available. Link to Survey! Next SPaMCAST Software Process and Measurement Cast 782 will feature our interview with Govind Balu. We will discuss the importance of data and how organizations are tackling data transformations.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 780 features our interview with Billie Johnson. Our discussion focuses on the role of delivering outcomes and values using agile teams. We also discussed her book, which she co-authored with Kelley Burns. Re-Read Saturday News The improve play is one of the most powerful aspects of Marquet’s suggested framework. Improve is chapter 7 of . Improve is a time for stepping back from the pressure of getting stuff done to consider whether you are doing the right thing, right. We have spoken about the need to pause, reflect, and replan periodically – this is the heart of the Improve play. Previous installments of our re-read of (buy a copy)! Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Learn to Solve IT's Dirtiest Secret! Work input is how work gets to an organization or team. If you get it wrong you are throwing time and money away. SImply put, poor work intake means no agile for you. Jeremy Willets and I have written a book tackling the topic that will be published by JRoss Publishing in January 2024. In support of the book we are building a live, cohort-based course for Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers on taming work intake. The cohort will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. We’ve held workshops on this topic at conferences. We even have a book coming out in January on this topic. This cohort-based course will combine very short lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using this survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort: Next SPaMCAST Software Process and Measurement Cast 781 wrestles with whether overprioritization’s impact extends beyond poor leadership to bad products. Just because you have a prioritized backlog does not ensure delivering value. We will also have a visit from Keis Kostaqi who returns with her You Are Not Alone column.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 779 wrestles with the question, When prioritization involves overly detailed or excessive control over how someone accomplishes their tasks or when it impedes an employee's ability to make their own decisions it becomes micromanagement. Let's explore and look for a path to healing. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente and her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. Susan talks about her impending sabbatical and why taking a pause can be powerful. Re-Read Saturday News Complete is the next chapter in . This concept suggests breaking goals into smaller chunks with pauses to think and replan between each. Another solution to over-prioritization and micromanagement. Previous installments of our re-read of (buy a copy)! Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: - Week 7: - A Call to Action! Jeremy Willets and I are building a live, cohort-based course for Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Project Managers, Program Managers, and Portfolio Managers on taming work intake. I wanted to see if you’d be up for sharing it with folks who would find it valuable. The cohort will cover why work intake is the biggest challenge to teams and organizations today. Attendees will also learn what to do to solve this challenge. We’ve held workshops on this topic at conferences. We even have a book coming out in January on this topic. This cohort-based course will combine very short lectures, discussions, and exercises. It will provide space to learn and share with peers. We’re using this survey to build a waitlist for the first cohort: Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 780 will feature our interview with Billie Johnson. We will discuss her book, which she co-authored with Kelley Burns. We also talked about using business analysis to power agile teams.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 778 marks our return from Iceland. WICKED trip, great country, great people! We return with our interview with Bill Fox. Bill and I discussed his new book, , transformation, dialog, listening, and leadership. The many conversations Bill and I have had over the years leave me in a better place. Bill states, “I believe that the great leaders and companies in the 21st century will go on a Forward Thinking journey and be built from the inside out.’ The world has shifted, and new rules apply. It used to be that you would win by managing change, following best practices, working harder, or even smarter. It was the age of Industrial Thinking and people as profit-producing units. Bill’s LinkedIn Profile Websites (Company) (Personal) (Blog) Email bill@billfox.co Re-Read Saturday News This week in our re-read of L. David Marquet’s, , Leaving Bluework Behind: Commit. Whether you classify thinking as System Two thinking or bluework, at some point you have to cross the barrier from contemplation to doing. Chapter Five focuses on reducing the barrier between thinking and action. The process that bridges that barrier is commitment. The author begins the chapter by making the distinction between commitment and coercion. Previous installments of our re-read of (buy a copy)! Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 779 will wrestle with the question, when is prioritization micro-management? The answer is not straightforward but often can be yes. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente and her Not A Scrumdamentalist column.

This week we are on our annual holiday. We are toiling away editing audio and doing voice exercises to bring you new and exciting content and will be back next week! In the SPaMCAST 777 we re-release SPaMCAST 486 - Daniel S Vacanti, Actionable Agile Metrics. The idea of flow metrics has fundamentally changed my perspective on how to use metrics. I have to thank Mr. Vacanti for starting me on the path. Enjoy the interview. The original inroducion - SPaMCAST 486 features our interview with Daniel S. Vacanti. Mr. Vacanti is the author of . We discussed the concepts in the book, answered a question from Steven Adams, and talked about his new book. It was great to talk about a book with the author after the re-read.

We are on our annual holiday and will return with new programs on October 22nd. This week in the SPaMCAST 776 from our archives we feature SPaMCAST 641 - The Agile Coaching Code of Ethics, A Conversation With Shane Hastie and Craig Smith. The show was originally aired on March 7, 2021. I still think the ethics initiative is one of the most important things I have been involved with professionally. Enjoy the discussion. Read more (you really should) at The original inroducion - In the podcast this week, we discuss the Agile Coaching Code of Ethics and the process of building an ethical foundation. Shane Hastie and Craig Smith have been leading the effort to craft a useful Agile Coaching Code of Ethics for the past year. These two thought leaders have helped to pull together a diverse group of coaches, and then guide that herd of cats to create a new force to guide agile coaches of all stripes.

We are on our annual holiday and will return with new programs on October 22nd. The Software Process and Measurement Cast 775 is a re-release of SPaMCAST 635 - Practical Ways to Manage, A Conversation with Johanna Rothman. The show was originally released on January 24, 2021. It was one of the SPaMCAST’s many anniversary editions. Enjoy our conversation The original introduction - Cue the music . . . Happy Birthday, Software Process and Measurement Cast! Today we begin year 15 with a visit from Johanna Rothman. We talked about her THREE new books: Practical Ways to Manage Yourself: Modern Management Made Easy, Book 1 Practical Ways to Lead & Serve (Manage) Others: Modern Management Made Easy, Book 2 - Practical Ways to Lead an Innovative Organization: Modern Management Made Easy, Book 3 - We of course covered more ground. For example about 2/3rds of the way through we talked about why the word experiment is a dirty word in most organizations. This is a longer interview, but when I grow up I want to be just like Johanna (I am serious). See all her books, blogs, and other resources at jrothman.com and createadaptablelife.com.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 774 is a re-release of SPaMCAST 436. We are on our annual holiday and will be back with new programs on October 22nd. For the next four weeks, we will feature shows from our archives. Today SPaMCAST 436 - Incrementalism, UAT and Agile, and Systems Thinking was released originally on April 3, 2017. I hope you will enjoy today’s show! The original introduction - The Software Process and Measurement Cast 436 features our essay titled, , in which we answer the question of whether the state and culture of the organization or team, can have a large impact on whether a Big Bang approach or an incremental approach makes sense to change. Our second column is from Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy discusses user acceptance testing and Agile. There are lots of different ways to accomplish user acceptance testing in an Agile environment. The only wrong way is not to do UAT in Agile. Jeremy can be found at https://www.berriaultandassociates.com/ Jon M Quigley brings his column, The Alpha and Omega of Product Development, to the Cast. This week Jon puts all the pieces together and discusses systems thinking. One of the places you can find Jon is at .

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 773 will feature our essay on why as professionals we should strive to grow a little every day. I overheard a team lead complaining that their team did not need to do a retrospective, they were “darn near perfect.” The inference was that their time would be better spent doing rather than reflecting and thinking. Fixed mindsets (Review our re-read of Mindsets by Carol Dweck) are foreign to the philosophy of agile and quality. The comment hurt my heart. We will also have a visit from Jon M. Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast! Jon and I use the learning to play a new bass as a metaphor for learning technology. Re-Read Saturday News This week begin a new book on Re-read Saturday, this week! Ten years ago we started our Re-read Saturday journey. The first installment featured . We have read and re-read a lot of books. The book we begin our next ten years is L. David Marquet’s, . This is not Mr. Marquet’s first time in our re-read queue. In 2018 we re-read Turn the Ship Around! I think that book is universally seen as a game changer. Here is the kicker, I think Leadership is Language is more important and useful on a day-to-day basis. I can’t tell how many times I have used ideas from the book in the short time I have owned it. Buy a copy of and begin reading along. Week 1: Logistics, Foreword, Introduction - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 774 will feature a re-release of SPaMCAST 436. We are on our annual holiday and will be back with new programs on October 22nd. For the next four weeks, we will feature shows from our archives. Today SPaMCAST 436 - Incrementalism, UAT and Agile, Systems Thinking from April 3, 2017. I hope you will enjoy the show!

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 772 features our interview with Ahmed Wasfy. We discuss the role of the engineering manager and how people learn to be engineering managers. Coming to grips with the new role requires learning new skills not just rehashed technical skills. Ahmed, advises new leaders to take control of their careers and not to be a victim. Ahmed is an experienced engineering leader, having led teams at Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. In addition to his day job, Ahmed also helps engineering managers become effective leaders through his coaching. Links Instagram: LinkedIn: Website: Re-Read Saturday News After the conclusion of , there are three brief sections with practical tips for making ideas memorable. The dust cover states, “With Added Material (now even stickier)”. The added material provides more food for thought for using Made to Stick. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 773 will feature our essay on why as professionals we should strive to grow a little every day. We will also have a visit from Jon M. Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast!

To paraphrase Ghostbusters, critical thinking is the indispensable defense science of the next decade. Over the summer we have investigated the concept so we are better positioned to take part in a boisterous world. As decision-makers, the onus is on us to use critical thinking. Also, Jeremy Berriault joins bringing his QA Corner to the podcast. In this installment, Jeremy discusses the difference between maturity and evolution. Do agile organizations mature or evolve? Re-Read Saturday News We have spent the majority of the summer re-reading . While I didn't take the book to the beach, I did take it to the porch! As with other re-reads, the content of the book has found its way into my writing and consulting practice. In the case of Made to Stick, several ideas and examples have made their way into my essays on critical thinking. The two themes work well together. As you consider sticky ideas you need a framework to test their veracity. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 772 features our interview with Ahmed Wasfy. We will discuss the role of the engineering manager and how people learn the role. Being a good engineering manager requires more than a magic wand.

This week the Software Process and Measurement Cast 770 features my interview with Jess Brock. Jess and I talked about her new book, (the book is excellent but doesn’t really fit in your pocket), learning, and career pivots. Jess’s talk at Agile 2023 helped me reframe how I conceived of dojos as an intense learning environment, not a transformation technique. Jess’s Bio Jess is a dynamic coach, technologist, and author who has been involved in developing tech products since the mid-2000s. Jess attributes her diverse career experience as one of her greatest strengths because it enables her to coach with sincere empathy and experience. Former agile skeptic, Jess was eventually convinced by a colleague to give agile a try more than a decade ago. Her personal transformation was so impactful that Jess continues to contribute to the broader Agile community to this very day. Most recently Jess has poured her energy into immersive learning dojos as a preferred means of developing long standing skills. She is the proud author of . Website: http://jessbrock.com/ Re-Read Saturday News The epilogue was the end of the original version of ; later additions had extra material added. I am reading from the 26th printing. We will cover the extra material titled, Sticky Advice, next week. Today we'll discuss the Epilogue, without wrapping the book up. It feels wrong :) I read this chapter more deeply knowing that there was more to come. It felt like less of a recap and more of how to use the book. Three items caught my attention during this read. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 771 we will complete our summer theme on critical thinking. Critical thinking might sound esoteric or academic, however, I think that categorization is both wrong and misses the point. Critical thinking is a survival tool. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault and his Agile Corner.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 768 features our interview with Phil Alves, CEO of DevSquad. Phil and I covered a wide range of topics starting with how he structures teams to perform in dynamic environments and culminating in a discussion of SaaS and entrepreneurship. Software development of any stripe is a team sport; either get it right or suffer the consequences. Phil describes himself as a SaaS Aficionado! He builds products for bootstrapped founders, fast-growing startups, and big enterprises at DevSquad. His SaaS company, DevStats, helps product and engineering leaders measure what matters. Phil also is a podcaster! The SaaS Origin Stories Podcast uncovers those pivotal moments and decisions that turned SaaS companies into major successes. Contact Information DevSquad: DevStats: Podcast: Re-Read Saturday News In Chapter 5 of we find that an analytical approach reduces people’s ability to be emotionally connected to an idea or concept. Without an emotional connection, they are far less apt to act. Calls to action that are emotionally engaging will generate action. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 769, we return to our summer theme of Critical Thinking. My daughter (Meghan also is the editor for the blog and podcast and sounding board on a wide range of topics) pointed out a model for levels of research. The model provides an interesting filter to help understand the types of research we use and the “power” each delivers. We will also have a visit from Keis Kostaqi. Keis brings her wit, empathy, and wisdom as a Scrum Master in complex environments to help you improve.

In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 767, we continue our summer dive into critical thinking. In this installment, we consider research and evidence. The discussion of research and evidence ties into this week's installment of Re-Read Saturday (Chapter 4 of which is about credibility). Research and evidence provide credibility and that is not always a good thing. Tony Timbol brings his To Tell A Story column to the podcast. In this installment, Mr. Timbol continues to unravel the mystery of the agile requirements and user stories. Re-Read Saturday News Credibility is the fourth requirement for maximum stickiness (short of Gorilla Glue) discussed in . Credibility is defined as the quality or power of inspiring belief or trust. Without credibility, the attributes of simplicity, unexpectedness, and concreteness crumble. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 768, Phil Alves, CEO of DevSquad discusses how he structures teams to perform in dynamic environments. Software development of any stripe is a team sport, you either get it right or suffer the consequences.

This week the Software Process and Measurement Cast 766 features our interview with Ben Johnson, Founder of Particle41. Ben and I discuss the importance of teams, communication, and dependability. Ben Johnson, founder of Particle41, is a serial Entrepreneur with a track record of success and is an active investor. He is a results-driven leader, skilled in managing high-functioning teams for exceptional outcomes. Ben cultivates collaboration, motivation, and effective communication. As a leader, he aligns team efforts with organizational goals and drives innovation. Ben delivers complex projects with visibility, velocity, and vision and is committed to sharing expertise for the growth of others. Particle41: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminrjohnson/ Re-Read Saturday News The third attribute of stickiness is concreteness. I spent most of the past week at Agile 2023 in Orlando, Florida. It was a metaphorical banquet of agile knowledge. I had more hallway conversations than I can count ruminating over presentation topics. The third chapter of reminded me that language is abstract but real life is not. Most readers of the Software Process and Measurement Cast blog have been to conferences, so reflect on how many ideas and concepts you implemented when you returned to the office. I suspect the answer is very few because few were tangible enough to be sticky. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 767, we will continue our deep dive into critical thinking. We will touch on the need to understand what valid research looks like and perhaps why authority bias makes it hard to recognize. We will also have a conversation with Tony Timbol who brings his To Tell A Story column to the podcast.

In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 765, we will continue with our summer theme on critical thinking by discussing authority. When deciding what to believe, the authority we place on the source has a significant impact. Authority bias is the name for this cognitive bias. We will also have a visit from the one and only Susan Parente, who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast. In this installment, we discuss why meetings seem to be the only mechanism for making decisions. Re-Read Saturday News And now for something completely different…is both the title of the 1971 movie by Monty Python and the Fly Circus and a hint at Chapter 2’s of title. The title is Unexpected (if you are reading along it won’t be a surprise), and is the second condition for something to be sticky. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 766 will feature our interview with Ben Johnson, Founder of Particle41 we discuss how important teams are to delivering value.

In Software Process and Measurement Cast 764 we feature my conversation with Johanna Rothman. We discussed her new book Successful Independent Consulting. Well, we started there and then hit topics like personal value and the impact of success. This might be the eleventy-first conversation I have had with Johanna, and each time I look forward to our time together with anticipation. They are always like attending a master class. Buy a copy of Successful Independent Consulting. Available everywhere including: Leanpub: Amazon: Johanna’s Bio: Johanna Rothman, known as the “Pragmatic Manager,” offers frank advice for your thorny problems. She helps leaders and teams learn to see simple and reasonable options that might work. Those practical alternatives can help them be more effective with others at work. With those choices, they can choose what—and how—to adapt their product development. With her trademark practicality and humor, Johanna is the author of 19 books, hundreds of articles, and blog posts about many aspects of product development. Her most recent books include Successful Independent Consulting, Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer, and Modern Management Made Easy series. Find her monthly newsletter and blogs at & . Editor's note: If you are not subscribed to Johanna’s newsletter…you should be. Re-Read Saturday News Simple is the first principle of making something sticky. It is also the title of chapter 1 of . There are three areas in this chapter I would like to spend more time with. The formula core + compactness = simple Curse of knowledge Metaphors and analogies As you read the chapter you will see that all three are intertwined; however, each of the three is useful to consider in isolation. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 765, we will continue with our summer theme on critical thinking by exploring how experts, experience, and evidence apply to critical thinking. We will also have a visit from the one and only Susan Parente, who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast.

We open the Software Process and Measurement Cast 763 with an application of critical thinking. Can you see the Great Wall of China from space? Urban legends say yes, Chip and Dan Heath (check out our re-read of ) say no. Let's think about this. We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley. Jon and I discuss the implication of the saying “time is money.” In the information economy using that old saw can lead to more problems than it solves. Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin our re-read of by Chip and Dan Heath in earnest. The Introduction lays out the framework for the book and a lot more. This is not one of those introductions you can skip. I can tell that this reading of is going to be different than the first. Heraclitus stated, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” This re-read may well be an examination of the dangers of accepting sticky ideas and those that generate sticky ideas. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 764 will feature my conversation with Johanna Rothman. We discussed her new book Successful Independent Consulting. Well we started there and then hit topics like personal value and the impact of success. Talking with Johanna is the same as attending a master class.

In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 762, we host a panel discussion on the impact of AI on project management prospects. The panel of Paul Clapis, Susan Parente, Michael Milutis, and Mark Tolbert state categorically that project administration will be overtaken, but the high-value human side of project management will not be displaced. I am not sure what that means for most people working in the project management space. Listen to the discussion and then look carefully at the work you are doing. Will AI be a boon or a bane for project management? Let the conversation begin. About Paul J. Clapis, Ph.D.: Dr. Clapis has over 30 years of experience managing AI, Machine Learning, and RPA projects for NASA, aerospace, and financial services industries. He also directed the Hughes Advanced Computing Lab at Yale Science Park, where he conducted applied research in AI, Expert Systems, Machine Learning, and Neural Networks. About Susan Parente: Susan is an Engineer/Consultant, speaker, and author with experience managing both software and hardware development. She is proficient in managing complex system implementation for companies seeking to use enterprise business software to improve business process efficiency. Susan is a regular contributor to the Software Process and Measurement podcast. About Michael Milutis: Michael Milutis is an international keynote speaker, instructor, and 25-year veteran of the IT industry who has dedicated his career to helping individuals learn, develop, and compete within a shifting technology landscape. About Mark Tolbert: Mark has over 30 years of experience in I.T., including 27 years at Hewlett-Packard. He successfully managed support programs and projects within HP Services. He is a full-time instructor for PMP Prep classes since November 2007. He is very passionate about project management and believes adopting the best project management practices and skills is crucial to the success of enterprises today. Re-Read Saturday News The votes are in and we have a near tie for the top spot. I decided to re-read by Chip and Dan Heath first. Part of the rationale is that I have two copies of this book and have not read by L. David Marquet – yet. Once we have completed Made to Stick, we will launch ourselves into Leadership Is Language. By then I will have read the book. Buy a copy of the book and then catch up on the logistics of this re-read: Week 1: - https://bit.ly/46tn5Bz Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 763, we will continue with our summer theme on critical thinking by exploring whether sources should matter when considering a topic. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development.

In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 761 we continue our exploration of critical thinking. In this installment, we examine logical fallacies. The logic in logical fallacies is incorrect whether by design or misinterpretation. You need to be prepared. This week, Jeremy Berriault brings a discussion of QA Audit in agile to the QA Corner. Are QA Audits a logical fallacy? Re-Read Saturday News The Re-read Saturday has been a feature of the Software Process and Measurement blog since 2013 (7 Habits of Highly Effective People was the first book). This week we are still in the process of choosing the next book or books (we chose three last time), therefore we have a bit of an interlude today. I need your input to make the final cut! Please provide your input using the poll below. https://poll.fm/12416734 In the interim catch up on the re-read of . Buy a copy because you can’t borrow mine! All of the Team Topologies re-read installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: Choose – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 762, we will share a panel discussing the impact of AI on the future of project management. A boon or a bane? Let the conversation begin.

SPaMCAST 760 will feature an interview with Jonathan Hensley, Founder & CEO at EMERGE. Jonathan and I talked about digital transformations and engagement. The core boils down to people and alignment. This was an extremely refreshing interview! Let me know what you think. Jonathon Hensley is co-founder and CEO of Emerge, a digital product consulting firm that works with companies to improve operational agility and customer experience. For more than two decades, Jonathon has helped startups, Fortune 100 brands, technology leaders, large regional health networks, non-profit organizations and more, transform their businesses by turning strategy, user needs and new technologies into valuable digital products and services. Jonathon writes and speaks about his experiences and insights from his career, and regularly hosts in-depth interviews with business leaders and industry insiders. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two boys. (Company) (Company) (Mobile First Podcast) Re-Read Saturday News First things second! Help me pick the next batch of books to be re-read. Pick two books from the poll below or email me at if you have a different suggestion. https://poll.fm/12416734 Back to first things! We completed our re-read of this week. If you have (or ever will have) any input into how teams are formed and maintained you need to read this book at least once. PS - buy a copy because you can’t borrow mine! All of the Team Topologies re-read installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: Choose – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 761, we will continue our exploration of critical thinking. In this installment, we will examine several of the attributes of critical thinking. We will also have a visit from the QA Corner. Mr. Berriault brings his wisdom to the podcast.

The SPaMCAST 759 continues our exploration of critical thinking. This week we search for a consumable definition. If you can’t hold a definition in your mind it is hard to contemplate the impact and necessity of rigorous thinking. Keis Kostaqi, brings the first installment of her Scrum Master, Facilitation and Transformation column to the podcast. In this installment, Keis discusses the impact of hierarchy on the role and behavior of Scrum Masters. Re-Read Saturday News We are nearly at the conclusion of . Over the next few days, we will post a poll to get the selection process moving for our next re-read book. Chapter 8 is titled “Evolve Team Structures With Organization Sensing.” I was struck by two important (and related) concepts during this read. They both are encompassed in the quote “the most important thing is not the shape of the organization itself but the rules and heuristics used to adapt and change the organizations as new challenges arise.” Previous Installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: Choose – Week 9: - Week 10: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 760 will feature an interview with Jonathan Hensley, Founder & CEO at EMERGE. Jonathan and I talked about digital transformations and engagement. The core boils down to alignment.

Jeffrey Miller and I have been trying to coordinate a time for an interview on the topics of tribal knowledge and team playbooks since August 2022. We finally solved that problem. Teams generate knowledge, understanding how to hold on to that knowledge and to push boundaries forward is why teams are powerful. Jeffrey Miller Technologist, Speaker, Author Jeffrey Miller is a Senior Consultant at Manifest Solutions in Columbus, Ohio. Jeffrey has over two decades of experience helping organizations bring value to their mission through software. He has presented a variety of topics at local user groups, regional tech conferences, and national healthcare meetings. Jeffrey and his wife, Brandy, are adoptive parents and have written a fun children’s book called "Skeeters" with proceeds supporting adoption. Learn more about the project at . Contact Information Blog: Company Website: LinkedIn: Twitter: Re-Read Saturday News Part 3 of , integrates team interactions with the team topologies. In Chapter 7, Team Interaction Modes, the authors define three basic interaction patterns. Buy a copy of and read along! Previous Installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: Choose – Week 9: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 759 will feature an essay building on our essay in SPaMCAST 757 which challenged the common agile belief that constant collaboration is a silver bullet. We will use this belief to explore critical thinking. We will also have a visit from Keis Kostaqi who brings her perspective of being a Scrum Master in a complicated environment.

A funny thing happened on the way to SPaMCAST 757. I was considering critical thinking when I ran into data that challenged a common agile belief - enter critical thinking. The idea is that constant collaboration, the goal of team rooms, and always-on communication software, is to create good ideas and decisions; good but not great. This week we also have a visit from Susan Parente who talks about her approach to personal kanban, something she calls kanban for one. Susan also takes us under the hood for a view into her busy, innovative world and how she keeps it under control. Re-Rread Saturday News This week we are back with Chapter 6 of by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais. The boundaries of teams are shaped by numerous pressures ranging from corporate politics and specialism to architectural structure. Inspecting the majority of teams it would seem that boundaries are the outcome of a random walk because they reflect all of these pressures over time. For more of a dive into the topic, check out the book and the whole re-read! Previous Installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 758 will feature our discussion with Jeffrey Miller. We will discuss the idea of tribal knowledge and playbooks. Teams generate a lot of information and knowledge - capturing that knowledge is not as easy as wishful thinking or waving a magic wand.

SPaMCAST 756 welcomes back Paul Gibbons. In this visit, we discuss his new book which he co-authored with Tricia Kennedy. I have described Paul’s new book as a Trojan horse. While it dispels myths it more importantly provides the tools for critical thinking which will allow you to tackle new myths as they appear. Pau’s bio: Paul Gibbons is an author, academic, speaker, and business consultant He has authored numerous books, including and The Science of Successful Organizational Change, He lives in the Denver area with his two sons and enjoys playing poker, chess, and other mind sports. Paul’s Website: Email: Paul@paulgibbons.net Facebook – Twitter – YouTube – Philosophyfirst LinkedIn – Paul G Gibbons The interview with Paul was huge, so no Re-read Saturday News this week. We will be back next week. In the interim, buy a copy and catch up. Use the link to buy a copy of by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais. Previous Installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 757 will begin an arc on critical thinking. The interview in this week’s podcast has caused me to begin to explore critical thinking and why the idea is important for agile coaches. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast.

SPaMCAST 755 features an essay on the relationship between engagement, hierarchy, and fatalism based on a discussion of the topic between the SPaMCAST Columnists. The ideas of hierarchy, engagement, and fatalism struck a nerve within the SPaMCAST family. To a person, the prevailing attitude is that hierarchy has value, but only to a point. Jon M Quigley joins the cast in the second slot this week with a discussion about making mistakes. Learning from mistakes is important but making the same mistake over and over is not a sign that you are learning. Re-read Saturday News! This week we finish the re-read Chapter 5 of by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais. As noted last week, Chapter 5 is a powerhouse. This week, let's examine some of the behaviors that the four fundamental team topologies exhibit. Understanding how teams structured in this manner should behave will also be useful for understanding which team type delivers the most value to the organization in a specific context. Buy a copy and read along! - Previous Installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 756 will welcome back Paul Gibbons. In this visit we discuss his new book which he co-authored with Tricia Kennedy. The book gives you the tools to sort the sense from the nonsense -- and there is a lot of nonsense in the change management field.

Today I would like to introduce you to the Software Process and Measurement Cast’s newest columnist, Keis Kostaqi. Keis is a scrum master and coach. She will bring a Scrumban flavor to the podcast. Keis has experience with teams with complicated work input patterns. Today we get to know Keis - and get some interesting ideas along the way. Keis Kostaqi is a passionate Agile Coach with years of experience in healthcare, information services, and technology. Currently serving as a Program Manager for the Agile Transformation Team at Northwestern Medicine, she enables individuals and teams to be successful through continual learning and growth and facilitates self-managed continuous improvement. Keis serves at the Greater Illinois Chapter of HIMSS Board of Directors as an Educational Programs Director, where she plans and implements the chapter's programs and educational activities. She is also a Woman in Agile member focused on building mentor-mentee relationships that help the Women in Agile community unlock their full potential. She holds an MBA and is also a Certified Scrum Master and Product Owner. Other interests include traveling, food lover, writing novels, volunteering, and binge-watching TV shows. Contact Information: Re-read Saturday News! This week we re-read Chapter 5 of by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais. Chapter 5 is a powerhouse. This chapter lays out the four fundamental team topologies with examples. I read this chapter twice during my first read of the book and I read it twice this week. We will approach thinking through the re-read over two weeks. This week we start with a little practice identifying the four basic team topologies. Buy a copy and read along! - Previous Installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 755 will feature an essay on the relationship between team design, flow, and behavior. Organizations passionately espouse the need for increasing productivity and process improvement but rarely tackle the problem of team design. Let's look that scary idea straight in the eye. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who will regale us with wisdom in his Alpha and Omega of product development column.

SPaMCAST 753 features our essay on the impact of hierarchies on engagement and fatalism. Like most things in life, the relationship is not straightforward. Hierarchies giveth and taketh away. If you don’t get the balance right you can say goodbye to engagement, innovation, and fun at work. We also have a visit from Tony Timbol who brings his insights on the life cycle of user stories to the podcast in his To Tell A Story column. In this installment, we talk about the “Wall of Confusion.” When stories are created and then tossed over the wall to another team even high-performing teams slip into the slow lane. Re-read Saturday News! This week we re-read Chapter 4 of by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais. The title of Chapter 4 is Static Team Topologies. One of the underlying messages in the chapter is that team topologies should not be static. However, not being static isn’t the same as playing musical chairs. Buy a copy and read along! - Previous Installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 754 introduces Keis Kostaqi. Keis is a scrum master and coach. She will bring a Scrumban flavor to the podcast with a column on agile teams with complicated work input patterns. Keis begins her column with a bit of an introduction and a bucket load of experienced-based advice.

SPaMCAST 752 features our interview with Laura Bell Main. We discuss the confluence of fast-growing companies and security. Maybe I should say collision instead of confluence. Note: Laura provides an incredible amount of wisdom in the interview; however, due to a user error (mine) I lost the first minute of the interview. The abrupt start of the interview means we hit the ground running with very little preamble. Laura Bell Main specializes in securing some of Australia and New Zealand’s fastest-growing organizations. She has over twenty years of experience in software development and information security. It's her mission and passion to bring security into organizations of every shape and size. Laura is the founder and CEO of SafeStack Academy, an online education platform offering flexible, high-quality, and people-focused, secure development training for fast-moving companies, with a focus on building security skills, practices, and culture across the entire engineering team. SafeStack is a value’s driven company on a mission to make cybersecurity accessible for everyone and any organization. “To protect each one of us, we must protect all of us” Connect With Laura Bell Main: mobile.twitter.com/lady_nerd l Re-read Saturday News! Chapter 3 of by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais is titled Team First Thinking. Using teams to get work done in all walks of life is undeniable. Whether the idea of “team” emerged a century ago or last week is less important. What is important is the knowledge that very little work happens without teams. Team-first thinking makes simple sense. Buy a copy and read along! - Previous Installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 753 we will return to our discussion of fatalism to examine the relationship between hierarchy, fatalism, and engagement. We will also have a visit from Tony Timbol who will bring his To Tell A Story column to the podcast.

I have been considering the relationship between privilege and fatalism. Boiling down the impact of privilege to a single word, we find power. Whether it is the ability to make decisions about the work you will do, the power to direct others to do work, or even just to be heard, privilege is power. That power can generate fatalism in those without the power privilege delivers. In SPaMCAST 751 we discuss! Jeremy Berriault brings his QA Corner to the podcast. Mr. Berriault and I discuss why continuous improvement is important. Our discussion ties neatly into the essay on privilege and fatalism. We all have to commit to getting better every day or risk becoming irrelevant. Re-read Saturday News! Chapter 2 of by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais is a deep dive into Conway’s Law both forward and backward (the Reverse Conway Manuver). Conway’s Law states simply: the way people are organized influences software architecture. Buy a copy and upgrade your coaching skills - Previous Installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3 - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 752 features our interview with Laura Bell Main. We will discuss the confluence of fast-growing companies and security. Maybe I should say collision instead of confluence.

SPaMCAST 750 marks the return of Evan Leybourn to the podcast. Evan and I discuss the different domains of business agility, the relationship between behavior and culture, and whether Taylorism still has a place in the world. Evan is the co-founder of the Business Agility Institute; an international membership body to both champion and support the next generation of organizations. Companies that are agile, innovative, and dynamic - perfectly designed to thrive in today’s unpredictable markets. Evan is also the author of Directing the Agile Organisation (2012) and #noprojects; a culture of continuous value (2018). Website: Re-read Saturday News! This week we tackle Chapter 1 of by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais. The authors open Chapter 1 with a quote from Naomi Stafford, Guide to Organizational Design. “Organizations should be viewed as complex and adaptive organizations rather than mechanistic and linear systems” The quotes set the tone for . Chapter 1 is titled The Problem With Org Charts. In this chapter, the authors point out problems in how organizations describe and organize themselves. Buy a copy and upgrade your coaching skills - Previous Installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 751 will feature an essay on the collision of fatalism and privilege. Let's just say…it isn’t pretty. Jeremy Berriault will bring his QA Corner to the podcast. Mr. Berriault and I will discuss testing, Quality, and evolving behavior.

In SPaMCAST 749, we discuss the attributes of good work input/entry. There is no perfect approach to bringing work into an organization or team. Arguably since people are involved, perfect may not be something that can exist in the real world but instead, there are good approaches. There are nine key concepts for good work entry. Good work entry requires that these nine have to be present in some form regardless of whether you are using Scrum, Kanban waterfall, or some mix of frameworks. We want to be crystal clear, deciding to forego any of these characteristics other than for the briefest moment will set you on the path to the ninth circle of work entry hell. We also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast. Susan and I diagnose why some organizations think that a product owner can also be a scrum master. Re-read Saturday News! Today we begin the re-read of by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais. The book contains front matter, including a foreword and preface (22 pages), 8 chapters, a conclusion (190 pages), and end matter (glossary, recommended reading, references, notes, index, acknowledgments, and about the authors). Today we tackle the approach to the re-read and the front matter. Buy a copy and upgrade your coaching skills - Previous Installments: Week 1: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 750 will mark the return of Evan Leybourn to the podcast. Evan and I discuss the different domains of business agility and whether Taylorism still has a place in the world.

SPaMCAST 748 features our interview with Bob Galen. Bob and I discuss Extraordinary . With the interview, we wrap up the re-read and then moved on to talk about improving coaching and the agile industrial complex. Bob Galen is an Agile Practitioner, Trainer & Coach based in Cary, NC. In this role, he helps guide companies and teams in their pragmatic adoption and organizational shift towards agile methods of working. Bob has been doing that since the late 1990s, so he’s deeply experienced. He is the Director of Agile Practice at Zenergy Technologies, a leading business agility transformation company. Bob is also President and Head Coach at RGCG a boutique agile coaching firm. Bob regularly speaks at international conferences and professional groups on topics related to agile software development, testing, scaling, and organizational leadership. He is a Certified Enterprise Coach (CEC), Scrum Alliance CAL trainer, and an active member of the Agile & Scrum Alliances. He’s published four agile-centric books: The Three Pillars of Agile Quality and Testing in 2015, Scrum Product Ownership, 3’rd Edition in 2019, Agile Reflections in 2012, and Extraordinarily Badass Agile Coaching in 2022. He’s also a prolific writer & blogger (at - www.rgalen.com and www.agile-moose.com) and podcaster (at www.meta-cast.com ) Bob may be reached directly at: bob@rgalen.com or networking via: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bobgalen Re-read Saturday News! This week we conclude our re-read of Extraordinary . Extraordinary Badass Agile Coaching is my new go-to coaching reference. It will be the book I recommend to anyone playing a coaching role in an agile environment. As we know a wide variety of organizational roles such as team leads, Scrum Masters, managers, and of course agile coaches coach. Coaching is dynamic and complex. What would you expect? There are people involved. Bob and his co-authors provide the tools to help a coach go from meh to badass. Buy a copy and upgrade your coaching skills - Previous Installments: Week 20: - Week 19: - Week 18: - Week 17: - Week 16: - Week 15: - Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 749 we will discuss the attributes of good work input/entry. We have discussed patterns and anti-patterns. We explore what makes good work entry, good. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast.

This week we continue our exploration of fatalism’s impact on change in organizations (listen to Part 1 in ). Fatalism does not have to be permanent. How that transition away from fatalism can be made varies depending on context. In this installment of the series, we will look at a few approaches to tackling this problem. We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley. Jon and I discussed succession planning and why planning needs to be more diverse to support organizational health. Re-read Saturday News! This week we re-read Chapter 20 of Extraordinary . Bob notes that Stephen Covey’s seventh habit in his classic, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, is sharpening the saw. This is a reminder that who and where we are today can’t be who or where we are tomorrow. This habit is a prescription for balanced self-renewal. This is the last chapter of Extraordinary Badass; next week we will discuss the afterword and final thoughts. Buy a copy and upgrade your coaching skills - Previous Installments: Week 19: - Week 18: - Week 17: - Week 16: - Week 15: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 748 features our interview with Bob Galen. Bob and I will discuss Extraordinary and wrap up the re-read.

This week we discuss the Manifesto for Organizational Agility with Jeff Bubolz and Chad Beier. Jeff and Chad developed the manifesto to help organizations get agile and stay agile. Many organizations rush into agile finding early success that turns sour a few months or years down the road. This pattern is indisputable. The Manifesto seeks to highlight the core issues that lead to this pattern (you will also want to listen to the interview with Bob Galen on SPaMCAST 748 due to be posted on 26 March). You can read the Manifesto for Organizational Agility at http://bit.ly/3mOnBaU Chad and Jeff’s Bios: Chad is an organizational agility advisor and external change agent with Wisconsin Agility and Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) with Scrum.org. He promotes organizational agility and positive pressure for change through speaking, advising, coaching, and training. Jeff is a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) with Scrum.org, organizational agility advisor, podcast host, and speaker. Jeff brings storytelling, a broad array of experience, along with a collaborative approach to teaching and speaking. Contact information and More: Wisconsin Agility: Agile Wire Podcast (one of my favorites): Chad Beier: Chad Beier’s Agile Songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrE4EJKhiUtc3j5aAnRlskg Jeff Bubolz: Re-read Saturday News! Chapter 19 of Extraordinary is titled “ Setting Up a Badass Agile Coaching Community of Practice.” I have strong opinions about Communities of Practice (CoP). They can be a very valuable tool, when done well, for supporting movements within an organization. As Mr. Galen points out, a CoP, is a place for learning and feedback. Done poorly they are invasive and harmful. CoPs will get like-minded people together to learn, support each other, interact, and become a community. Buy a copy and upgrade your coaching skills - Previous Installments: Week 18: - Week 17: - Week 16: - Week 15: - Next SPaMCAST We will continue our exploration of fatalism’s impact on change in organizations (listen to the essay in SPaMCAST 745). Fatalism does not have to be permanent. How that transition away from fatalism can be made varies depending on context. In the next installment in this series, we will look at a few approaches to tackling this problem. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who will bring his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the podcast.

Fatalism stops process improvement and agile transformations in their tracks. One of the definitions of fatalism is the belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable. Just accepting the status quo because it is the status quo isn’t pragmatism it is stagnation. We also have a visit from Tony Timbol who brings his To Tell A Story column to the podcast. Sign up for his free newsletter () and get a copy of the ebook on agile requirements we discussed. Re-read Saturday News! Chapter 18 of Extraordinary is titled “Dojo Practice for the Badass Agile Coach.” The coaching dojo in Chapter 18 has a much smaller footprint than other dojos I have participated in and is easily implementable. I ran two this week and have plans for several more. Buy a copy and upgrade your coaching skills - Week 17: - Week 16: - Week 15: - Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature a conversation with Jeff Bubolz and Chad Beier. We discussed their Manifesto for Organizational Agility ( Agility.) - a new manifesto for the dynamic world of work.

This week Nikhil Nandagopal and I talked about building teams. Teams are the heart and soul of software development in all of its many aspects. Nikhil provides pragmatic advice for organizing people into teams. We also discussed the democratization of coding that low-code platforms deliver. Nikhil Nandagopal, a co-founder of Appsmith, leads the development of the company’s product – the first open-source low-code platform for developers. He is a software engineer and entrepreneur with 10 years of experience building apps. Nikhil’s Website: Nikhil’s Profile: Twitter Re-read Saturday News! Chapter 17 of Extraordinary is titled “The Badass Agile Coach’s Guide to Starting Your Day” which provides a structure or ritual for beginning each coaching day. I almost see this as a macro planning arc that Bob has recommended for all coaching sessions. Thinking about Christmas presents for your coaching friends? (302 days from today!) Buy a copy and beat the rush - Week 16: - Week 15: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation, knowledge, and building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, I want to talk about one of the great enemies of change - fatalism. Phrases like “that's not our culture” or “that won’t work here” are discussion killers. We will also have a visit from Tony Timbol who brings his To Tell A Story column to the podcast.

This week, we take a detour thanks to Extraordinary Badass Agile Coaching. Over the past two chapters, the book has drilled us on recognizing and adapting to situational nuances as a crucial skill for effective coaching. I will admit that my first few years of coaching were formulaic. I did not spend the needed time to understand and address nuances of context or differences in individuals' journeys through life. I do not remember when I learned that roles and situations change the trajectory of coaching, as does the starting point of the person or persons you are coaching. At some point, I got the point. In this chapter, diversity is an omnibus term used to describe inclusiveness across a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, life experiences, and more. Galen-Personick focuses on four specific areas. Rather than recounting the four, what struck me during this read was the impact privilege has on both delivering and being coached. That’s what I discuss in today’s podcast. Jeremy Berriault brings his QA Corner to the podcast. This week we communicated on the topic of communication. Re-read Saturday News! Chapter 16 of Extraordinary is titled Situational Awareness as a Badass Agile Coach. This chapter is written by Rhiannon Galen-Personick and focuses on diversity awareness. The author uses four areas of diversity to help coaches think through their biases, the biases of the people they are coaching, and the biases of the teams around them. This is in an effort to teach all of us to be better coaches and, dare I say, people. Week 15: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation, knowledge, and building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, Nikhil Nandagopal and I talked about building teams. Teams are the heart and soul of software development in all of its many aspects.

This week, Jorgen Hesselberg discusses the efficacy of assessments in helping to guide an agile journey. Assessments are a tool to help coaches coach and to answer the question of where are we in our journey toward being more agile. Jorgen last appeared in SPaMCAST 557 in 2019 (). Jorgen Hesselberg is the author of Unlocking Agility and co-founder of Comparative Agility, a leading agile assessment, and continuous improvement platform. A proven thought leader of numerous successful enterprise transformation efforts since 2009, Jorgen provides strategic guidance, executive counsel, and coaching to some of the world’s most respected companies, both as an internal change agent and an external consultant. He has trained thousands of people on agile and Scrum, disruptive innovation, and enterprise transformation strategy. Contact Information Email: jorgen@comparativeagility.com LinkedIn: Comparative Agility: Re-read Saturday News! Chapters 14 and 15 of are titled Badass Role-Based Coaching and Context-Based Coaching. Written by Jennifer Fields, the chapters explore role-based and context-based coaching dynamics. The two chapters are intertwined; I view roles as a specialized type of context. Jennifer presents several scenarios in both chapters on how she would approach coaching events for different roles and contexts. Week 1: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation, knowledge, and building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, we continue our journey into the use of flow metrics to plan work. Next week we will tackle something more complex. We will also return to the QA corner with the regular version of Mr. Barriault’s column.

Planning is an important component of getting work done. Planning is not, however, creating and delivering work. Minimizing the amount of time spent planning but not under planning is almost mind-numbingly difficult. Flow metrics are tools to maximize the value of planning while minimizing the time spent on planning. Over the next few entries in the Software Process and Measurement Blog, we will explore several examples of using flow metrics in planning. We also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast. Susan provides guidance on navigating environments that are not pristinely agile in a pragmatic fashion. Re-read Saturday News! Chapter 13 of is titled Badass Pair-Coaching. Over the years I have had many opportunities to participate in pair coaching, although fewer over the past few years. I miss pair coaching; it pushes me to expand my horizons and up my game. What about you? Week 13: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Jorgen Hesselberg returns to the podcast to discuss the efficacy of assessments in helping to guide an agile journey. Assessments are a tool to help coaches coach and to answer the question of where are we in our journey toward being more agile. Jorgen appeared in SPaMCAST 557 in 2019 ()

Today we begin year 17 of the Software Process and Measurement Cast with a presentation that Jeremy Berriault did at IdeaFest 2020. The presentation covered using supply chain concepts in an agile environment. When I originally recorded the session, I felt the idea was interesting but not very useful. But I am a bit of a packrat; I don’t throw anything away. Last week I listened to the presentation again. This time I could see that the idea of using supply chain concepts is a great approach to implementing value chains and mirrors why flow metrics are such a valuable concept. Jeremy was just a bit ahead of the rest of the world. Note, the recording is not perfect. There is some external noise from unmuted microphones in the feed. I think the bit of interference does not diminish the message. The content is great; stay with it and you will have a lot to think about. The slides: (see www.spamcast.net Jeremy’s website: https://berriaultandassociates.com/ Re-read Saturday News! This week Chapter 12 of focuses on language. Language is both essential and a deterrent for creating understanding. This is a provocative statement, but the truth of the statement is not open for debate. Week 12: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Using flow metrics to plan in Kanban and Scrum environments. Flow metrics are incredibly useful metrics for value streams and value chains. They are equally useful at the team level — and in some cases even more powerful. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast.

Today we revisit the topic of empathy as we mark the last show in year 16. As coaches and leaders, we are taught that being empathetic is critical. However, the blanket statement that we need to walk a mile in someone else's shoes is not all rainbows and kittens. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast. Jon and I continue our conversation on flow and its importance for teams and leaders. Re-read Saturday News! This week Chapter 11 of looks up. Even if you focus your agile coaching practice on teams you will need to coach up the managerial and executive hierarchy of the team. Week 11 - - http://bit.ly/3ZWo6z1 A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Using flow metrics to plan in Kanban and Scrum environments. Flow metrics are thought of as incredible metrics for value streams and value chains. They are equally useful at the team level — and in some cases even more powerful. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault who brings his QA Corner column to the podcast.

Luis Gonçalves returns to the Software Process and Measurement Cast to discuss his new book, Product First. We also talked about organizational mastery and change. Become a beta reader of Product First at Luis last joined us on , we discussed OKRs. 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 transform their traditional project-oriented companies into modern digital product companies. OKR Guide: Website: Website: Podcast: https://adaptmethodology.com/podcast/ LinkedIn: Re-read Saturday News! This week Chapter 10 of enumerates the four meta-skills in the Coaching Growth Wheel. They are: Leadership, Change Artistry, Inspiration, and Role Modeling. These four skills underpin the model and I strongly recommend a close reading of the chapter. A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Using flow metrics to plan in Kanban and Scrum environments. Flow metrics are thought of as incredible metrics for value streams and value chains. They are equally useful at the team level — and in some cases even more powerful. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast.

A funny thing happened on the way to this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast, I was asked about managing risk in Agile. In preparation for answering the question, I reviewed and updated some of my work on the topic. So instead of flow metrics, we have an essay on risk. That is just the chance you take when you ask me a question. Note -- I have a great question on risk to ask Susan Parente, @techriskmanager, the next time we record. We also have a visit from Tony Timbol. Tony discusses agile requirements in an installment of his To Tell A Story column. Check out Tony at http://tonytimbol.com/ Re-read Saturday News! This week we tackle Chapters 8 and 9. These chapters of are titled An Agile Coaching Story, Parts 1 and 2. They are written by Mark Summers of Beliminal and provide great advice on how to prepare and execute coaching events. Week 9 - - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Luis Gonçalves is back to discuss his new book! Luis and I had a great time talking about shifting from projects to product thinking, organizational mastery, and more!

Today we share our year-end panel discussion with the SPaMcast contributors and occasionally our dogs (once one gets going everyone needs to get in on the action). The topic this year is engagement. Is being on two calls at once, engagement? Does just being present tick the engagement box? Patterns and antipatterns abound, but Is engagement really that important? The panelists for this installment are: Jeremy Berriault Jeremy Willets Susan Parente A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Using flow metrics to plan in Kanban and Scrum environments. Flow metrics are thought of as incredible metrics for value streams and value chains. They are equally useful at the team level -- and in some cases even more powerful. We will also have a visit from Tony Timbol who brings his “To Tell A Story” column to the podcast.

Over the years we have explored a wide range of books on Saturdays. Sometimes our re-reads reflect the real world outside software development. For example, in 2018 we re-read by John Carreyrou, the story of Theranos and Elizabeth Anne Holmes. This year Ms. Holmes went to prison. While I don’t expect prison sentences for the subjects in the books we read in 2022, I expect the knowledge in the books we tackled to have a broader impact on the world. In the past year, we have re-read 3.4 books – 40% is the progress on the current book according to Kindle. Links to all of the read entries can be found in the show notes. I am looking forward to reading and learning with all of you in 2023. This week we also have a visit from Susan Parente and her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. Susan and I discussed how a newly minted Scrum Master can get up to speed quickly. A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Every year I host a panel discussion with the columnists and other SPaMcast contributors. We will cap 2022 with a spirited discussion on the importance of engagement. Is it all that its cracked up to be or not?

While preparing for this week’s podcast I ran across a recording of a presentation I did at IDEAfest 2020. The topic was the seven macro trends driving software development behavior. The presentation was crafted just at the beginning of the Covid19 pandemic but the topics are still relevant, perhaps even more relevant than they were in March 2020. So to make a long story short, I re-edited the recording and decided to share the talk with those that weren’t at IDEAfest 2020 or have blanked the last two years from their memory. I will also post the presentation in the feed for your pleasure and to spark conversation. Re-read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 6 of (Amazon Associate Link - buy a copy or two and give them to friends). Chapter 6 of is titled, Badass Agile Coaching Operating System. There are several important concepts to explore in this chapter all wrapped into the metaphor of a computer operating system. Previous Entries in Our Re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 735 feature an essay on using flow metrics to plan either an epic or a sprint. Simply put the process generates a ton of knowledge and is dead simple . . . why aren’t you using it now? We will also have a visit from Susan Parente and her Not A Scrumdamentalist column

The SPaMCAST 733 features a reflection on a reflection. As I was reading Chapter 5 of (check out the re-read at ) and retrospecting on my own behavior, I replayed some past coaching experiences. The point today is less the linkage to our current re-read than the confluence of continued learning and reflection. We also have a visit from Mr. Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy and I talk about coaches who let their own biases run away with them. Re-read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 5 of (Amazon Associate Link - buy a copy or two and give them to friends). Chapter 5 is titled Badass Agile Coaching Arcs. Coaching and conversations are highly intertwined activities. I am at a loss as to how I would coach without actively interacting with people. I think the idea of a conversation arc is something I naturally understood or perhaps the concept percolated in my mind from sales training (haven’t I strongly suggested sales training?). The idea of an arc to a coaching conversation makes perfect sense. Previous Entries in Our Re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 734 will feature a lightly edited version of the SPaMCASTs annual holiday panel. We are going to talk about engagement and whether being engaged is as important to organizations as it is to all of us in the agile and lean consulting industry.

The SPaMCAST 732 features our interview with Robert Cooke. Robert and I discussed the role of software development in delivering value in non-software product organizations. Robert Cooke is the Founder and Principal Architect at 3Forge, a New York-based provider of data virtualization and visualization technology. 3Forge has achieved significant growth over the years as a result of increasing demand for its award-winning, web-based browser AMI platform. Today, AMI is deployed at three of the five largest global banks, and nearly 20 percent of global equities flow through the platform. 3Forge also has provided its services to hedge funds, broker-dealers, and other financial services firms. The company is the leading provider of “performance at scale” data management systems. Robert’s accomplishments have spanned electronic trading, middle and back office, regulatory reporting, compliance, and risk management. Website: LinkedIn: Re-read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 4 of (Amazon Associate Link). Chapter 4, Badass Agile Coaching Agreements, focuses on the need for and structure of…coaching agreements (hence the name of the chapter :)). I use coaching agreements on a regular basis. They are an excellent idea. Galen states, “My point being: never, ever coach without establishing an agreement.” Previous Entries in Our Re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 733 continues our answer to the question: if one product owner is good, aren’t two, three, or four better? We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault who brings his wide-ranging QA corner to the podcast.

The annual Thanksgiving holiday in the US was a few days ago providing space to reflect and give thanks to everyone involved in the 16-plus years history of the Software Process and Measurement Cast blog and podcast. There is a lot to be thankful and grateful for, this week we put the spotlight on everyone that makes the SPaMCAST possible. Also, Jon M Quigley brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the podcast. Jon and I discuss the idea of flow. Re-read Saturday News This week we are taking a break from our re-read of (Amazon Associate Link). Previous Entries in Our Re-read: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 732 features our interview with Robert Cooke. Robert and I discuss the role of software development in delivering value.

The SPaMCAST 730 features our conversation with Ramzi Marjaba. Ramzi and I discussed the role of a sales engineer. The role solves customers' problems and is a bridge between customers and technical teams. With all that going for it, why is it a forgotten job path for people with deep technical acumen? Ramzi is an established Sales Engineer and the Founder of We The Sales Engineers and found his calling in helping people change their lives for the better, either by breaking into the difficult world of Sales Engineering or upskilling their current skill levels to get that pay raise and promotion. Contact Information Website Ramzi’s LinkedIn Profile Email Podcast Twitter Re-read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 3 of (Amazon Associate Link). In Chapter 3, Agile Coaching Framework, the authors create a line in the sand stating “professional badass agile coaching needs to support and model a multivariate framework that supports all aspects (stances) of our craft.” Week 4: - Previous Weeks: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 731 continues our answer to the question: if one product owner is good, aren’t two, three, or four better? We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast.

This week we go back to basics and answer a listener’s question (name and a bit of the context changed to protect the involved parties). In the essay this week we discuss why it is a rotten idea to have a functional product owner and a technical product owner. When it comes to product owners the old adage, “the more the merrier," does not hold. Also, we have an installment of Tony Timbol’s “To Tell A Story” column. In this installment, Tony discusses how to synchronize team-level agile with a waterfall requirements process. This is one of those scenarios that when you run into it you will need to find a way to deal with it until more of the organization embraces agile. Re-read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 2 of (Amazon Associate Link). Chapter 2, The Mindset of the Badass Agile Coach, focuses on the most important part of a coach's arsenal of superpowers: their mindset. This Week: Week 3: - Previous Weeks: Week 1: - Week 2: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge, building to establishing a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 730 features our interview with Ramzi Marjaba. Ramzi and I discussed the role of a sales engineer and why this is a forgotten job path for people with deep technical acumen.

SPaMCAST 728 features a discussion with Anjali Leon and Nadezhda Belousova. We discussed their new model, Product Leadership Stances. One of my takeaways was how powerful the model was in helping to develop an understanding of product leadership and then highlighting gaps in how the role is practiced in organizations. Anjali and Nadezhda’s Bios! Anjali Leon is an Agility, Product, and Professional Coach, Collaboration Facilitator, and Trusted Strategic Advisor. Through her boutique coaching and consulting practice, PPL Coach, She brings her years of experience in technology, leadership, and Agile to help her clients adapt, innovate, and thrive in the new-normal business environment - where the meaning of ‘winning’ is quickly being redefined as integrating better business outcomes and our collective well-being. You can experience Anjali’s authentic head, hearts and hands approach to product, people, and personal leadership through one of her unique value-driven and values-based coaching programs, workshops, and training. Anjali is an accredited trainer through ICAgile and ProKanban, is a trained co-active coach and is a committed lifelong learner. She is recognized as an inspiring speaker, conference organizer, and community leader. She is co-creator of Product Leadership Stances™, co-founder of HitRefresh – a resilience-building practice, founder of Empowering South Florida Women in Agile, and member of the advisory board for . Anjali’s Profile Website (Company) Twitter Nadezhda Belousova is an Integral Master Coach™ and an independent Enterprise Business Agility Strategist who deeply cares about high-performing scalable businesses with human-centric approach and sustainability at heart. She brings a combination of psychology, multiple professional coaching approaches (ORSC, Solution-Focused coaching, Clean Language, etc.), years of extensive hands-on consulting experience in various industries, and a can-do-all mindset. Nadezhda sees organizations holistically as living systems and enables them to unleash their potential – to evolve, to re-invent themselves, to thrive. She runs a boutique organizational coaching and management consulting practice serving her clients worldwide from Berlin, Germany. Nadezhda is a mentor, speaker and a passionate contributor to a number of professional communities (European Organizational Design Forum, Agile Alliance, Business Agility Institute, etc.). LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadezhdabelousova Product Leadership Website: Re-read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 1 of (Amazon Associate Link). Chapter 1, , is an overview of the book including thoughts on how to read it and a whole lot more. This Week: Week 2: - Previous Weeks: Week 1: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST In the SPaMCAST 729 let's go back to basics and discuss why it is a rotten idea to have a functional product owner and a technical product owner. Tony Timbol will also bring his “To Tell A Story” column to the podcast.

In SPaMCAST 727 we discuss the assumptions behind Little’s Law and Neglected WIP. Some of the assumptions you can cheat to generate useful conversations but there are limits and you need to be upfront about what you are doing. We also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the cast. In this installment, Susan answers a listener's question about the complications of a team with 2 developers and 5 managers. Re-read Saturday News This week we begin our re-read of (Amazon Associate Link – buy your copy soon and start reading). This week we begin with a few notes on the logistics of the read and then review the two Forewords. Week 1: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Please email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 728 we will feature our discussion of product leadership stances with Anjali Leon and Nadezhda Belousova. Developing an understanding of product leadership stances will highlight product leadership gaps and strengthen your product focus. .

In SPaMCAST 726 Mr. Allan Kelly returns! We discussed the fact that backlogs often become dumping grounds. Allan suggested an energetic solution. We also discussed OKRs and whether they are related to backlogs. Are OKRs the chicken or the egg? Allan Kelly advises and mentors managers and teams in using agile approaches and OKRs to accelerate delivery, meet deadlines and execute against strategy. He believes these approaches benefit businesses and create more fulfilling work environments. Allan is a keynote conference speaker and author of several books including "Succeeding with OKRs in Agile", "The Art of Agile Product Ownership" and "Business Patterns for Software Developers". He blogs at and can be contacted there or on Linkedin, Re-read Saturday News We complete our re-read of the classic this week with a few final thoughts. I view as a tale of two themes. The first is a book of philosophy and the second is a how-to book full of techniques. The full value of this book requires two readings. The first time I read the book, I took the how-to path. This time the philosophies of agile coaching were more important to me than any individual technique. Next week we start our re-read of (Amazon Associate Link – buy your copy soon and start reading). This will be less of a re-read than it will be me trying to stay one or two chapters ahead because I am reading the book for the first time. We will begin with a few notes on the logistics of the read and then we will review the front matter. Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: r - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: Week 13: - Week 14: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. Interested? Email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 727 we will discuss the assumptions behind Little’s Law and Neglected WIP. Some of the assumptions you can cheat on and still get valuable information. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the cast.

One of the most common problems teams face is starting more work than they complete. Neglected WIP is the gap between all the work you say you are working on and the stuff you are doing. The natural vagaries of office life can cause an item to get stuck due to someone being out sick or because your co-worker hit the lottery - stuff happens. A little might be ok, but more is bad. When neglected WIP passes that hurdle, real flow time will increase and velocity will slow. The combination of getting less work done and taking longer at it is a prescription for your stakeholders to start looking for torches and pitchforks. We also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault who brings his QA Corner to the podcast. In this installment, we discussed the QA Lead’s role in agile teams. So just what does a QA Lead do in an agile team . . . Jeremy has some ideas. Re-read Saturday News I am going to combine the conversation of Chapters 12 and 13 of this week because there is a common core in these two chapters. Chapter 12, When Will I Get There?, discusses when will you know that you have become an Agile Coach, and Chapter 13, It’s Your Journey, discusses the journey several coaches have taken to get there. Chapter 12 plots the journey and Chapter 13 provides several travelogues. Remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! Logistics Note: Next week we will wrap up Coaching Agile Teams and then on to (Amazon Associate Link – buy your copy soon and start reading). Buy a copy now and start reading. Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: r - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: Week 13: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. We recently delivered the workshop at the 2022 Path to Agility in Columbus, OH to rave reviews. Interested? Email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 726 we will chat with Mr. Allan Kelly. I missed talking to Allan so we covered a wide range of topics including OKRs, Product Backlogs, and remote working. Allan brings incredible insight to the podcast.

This week we feature an interview with Indus Khaitan, Founder & CEO at Quolum. A few of the topics covered include: Why do organizations need help in consuming SaaS at scale efficiently? How can looking carefully at how you are using Saas save organizations tons of money? How can organizations refocus on delivering value rather than on overhead? What does it take to take a vision and make it a going concern, more than once? Indus Khaitan is the founder of Quolum. Quolum helps companies manage their SaaS spend. He started Bitzer Mobile, a mobile security startup that Oracle acquired. Earlier, he led growth at Chargebee. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Indus’ Profile: Websites: (AngelList Profile) (Company) Email: khaitan@gmail.com Twitter: Podcast: Re-read Saturday News This week we reread Chapter 11 of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate link ). Chapter 11, Agile Coach Failure, Recovery, and Success Modes, begins Part 3 of Coaching Agile Teams. Part 3 titled “ Getting More for Yourself.” Chapter 11 hits the topic of failure head-on, sharing both failure and success modes. Anyone that has been in the business of agile coach (coach, Scrum Master, manager, or others) for more than a few years and has pushed the boundaries of culture will have failures on their CV. Coaching is hard, training and continuous learning are important but not enough. A coach without experience is a trainee. A wide range of experience, which opens the door to successes and failures, is a learning opportunity that classes and webinars can’t deliver. Remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! Logistics Note: We will combine the discussion of the last two chapters in this book and then follow that with a recap before starting. (Amazon Associate Link – buy your copy soon and start reading). Buy a copy now and start reading. Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: r - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12 A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. We recently delivered the workshop at the 2022 Path to Agility in Columbus, OH to rave reviews. Interested? Email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 725 we delve deeper into the concept of neglected WIP highlighting the calculation and a quick case study’ette so you can see the concept in action. We will also have a visit from

SPaMCAST 723 features our essay on neglected WIP. Work that has been started and is now just sitting around is neglected. Running a team or organization above their natural level WIP for any length of time causes flow velocity (throughput) to slow and flow time (cycle time) to increase. When there is too much work, people try all sorts of techniques to get work done. Multitasking is the grandfather of them all and we all know how that turns out (need a hint – badly). In the end, all approaches to trying to do too many ends up with some things being juggled and ignored. That is neglected WIP. We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development Column. In this column Jon and I discuss time. Speaking of time, this is a lost episode…we started the episode discussing snow, last year's snow. We talked last week and were discussing when the first snow will be this year. Sometimes time flys and sometimes it doesn’t. Re-read Saturday News This week we reread Chapter 10 of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate link ). The chapter is titled Coach as Coordination Conductor. The two most important items for me during this read of chapter 10 are found in the first part of this chapter. Reflecting back on my previous cover-to-cover read, I think that the number of great facilitation techniques in this chapter caused me to overlook two very important concepts. The first is an approach for differentiating collaboration and coordination. The approach is simple but very powerful. Why would any coach care about observing the difference? Because the two concepts are different and are useful in different scenarios. Logistics Note: We have three more chapters in this book which we will follow with a recap before starting. (Amazon Associate Link – buy your copy soon and start reading). Buy a copy now and start reading. Remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: r - Week 9: - Week 10: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. We recently delivered the workshop at the 2022 Path to Agility in Columbus, OH to rave reviews. Interested? Email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Next week we will feature an interview with Indus Khaitan, Founder & CEO at Quolum. Indus and I talked about SaaS, controlling SaaS spending, and serial entrepreneurship.

We are back with new content this week! The bears did not eat us as we trekked in three national parks. We did see bears but kept a respectable distance from them. Today the SPaMCAST 722 features an interview with Scott Showalter, Agile Career Accelerator. We discussed the definition of an agile coach. Building on that definition we wrestled with how to scale the business of agile coaching. Note - I mispronounced Scott’s name at the beginning of the interview, rather than re-record the faux pax, it triggered a great story so I left it in. Scott is an active enterprise agile coach working in the trenches with execs and leaders at a Fortune 10 organization, and what he has learned throughout the journey of his career is that what feels impossible only becomes achievable once we shift our perspective. Scott has a passion for helping people design, grow and automate their products and their lives so that they can focus on what's truly important and have a greater impact on this planet. He coaches IT professionals and entrepreneurs on income growth and career advancement, and on the weekends he has been known to perform laugh-out-loud stand-up comedy. Scott’s LinkedIn Profile Website (Personal) Twitter Re-read Saturday News During the last few weeks, I have read and reread Chapter 9 of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate link ). The chapter titled Coach as Conflict Navigator talks about the value and danger of conflict. What stuck with me was the model of levels of conflict and how at a certain point there can be no constructive outcome. Teams aside, scary thoughts for the world we live in. Remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: r - Week 9: - Week 10: - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. We recently delivered the workshop at the 2022 Path to Agility in Columbus, OH to rave reviews. Interested? Email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Next week SPaMCAST 723 will feature an essay on neglected WIP. Work that has been started and is now just sitting around is neglected. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development Column.

The SPaMCAST is on a three-week hiatus. We will be back with new programming on September 25. In the interim, I asked the SPaMCAST columnists (Jeremy, Jon, Susan, and Tony) for a couple of favorite columns they delivered. Today we have: Jeremy Berriault from SPaMCAST 571 Jiu-Jitsu and Teams, Want to listen to the full podcast? Susan Parente from SPaMCAST 556 Agile In Name Only, Want to listen to the full podcast? Tony TImbol from SPaMCAST 692 Agile Requirements, Want to listen to the full podcast? Enjoy! Do you have questions that you would like Susan, Jon, Jeremy, Tony, or myself to answer? Leave a voice message at 01.440.668.5717 or an email at . Re-read Saturday News I am packaging this show well ahead of time therefore all I can say for sure about the re-read is to remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate link ) and read along! A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. We recently delivered the workshop at the 2022 Path to Agility in Columbus, OH to rave reviews. Interested? Email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Next week we are back…unless bears have eaten me (I've been hiking in the Rockies). SPaMCAST 722 will feature an interview with Scott Showalter, Agile Career Accelerator. We discussed the definition of an agile coach. Building on that definition we wrestled with how to scale the business of agile coaching.

The SPaMCAST is on a three-week hiatus. We will be back with new programming on September 25. In the interim, I asked the SPaMCAST columnists (Jeremy, Jon, Susan, and Tony) for a couple of favorite columns they delivered. Today we have: Jon M Quigley - SPaMCAST 397 – Project Strategy - Want to listen to the full podcast? (Note: this was Jon’s debut column and he doesn’t know I am slipping this in.) Susan Parente and Jon M Quigley- SPaMCAST 585 - Most Agile Transformations Ignore Technical Skills - Want to listen to the full podcast? Enjoy! Do you have questions that you would like Susan, Jon, Jeremy, Tony, or myself to answer? Leave a voice message at 01.440.668.5717 or an email at . Re-read Saturday News I am packaging this show well ahead of time therefore all I can say for sure about the re-read is to remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. We recently delivered the workshop at the 2022 Path to Agility in Columbus, OH to rave reviews. Interested? Email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Next week we feature more of Jeremy Berriault, Susan Parente, and Tony Timbol.

The SPaMCAST is on a three-week hiatus. We will be back with new programming on September 25. In the interim, I asked the SPaMCAST columnists (Jeremy, Jon, Susan, and Tony) for a couple of favorite columns they delivered. Today we have: Jeremy Berriault - Your Scrum Master Is Not Yout Team Admin from SPaMCAST 705 Want to listen to the full podcast? Tony Timbol - Agile Requirement Lifecycle from SPaMCAST 709 - Want to listen to the full podcast? Susan Parente - Virtual Agile from SPaMCAST 589 - Want to listen to the full podcast? Enjoy! Do you have questions that you would like Susan, Jon, Jeremy, Tony, or myself to answer? Leave a voice message at 01.440.668.5717 or an email at . Re-read Saturday News I am packaging this show well ahead of time therefore all I can say for sure about the re-read is to remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. We recently delivered the workshop at the 2022 Path to Agility in Columbus, OH to rave reviews. Interested? Email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Next SPaMCAST Next week we feature Jon M Quigley and Jon and Susan Parente together (a Jon and Susan-polza?)

Earlier this year I attended Agile 2022; It was a fantastic conference. One of the undercurrent themes was the use of OKRs (objectives and key results for the uninitiated) to enable agility, align organizations, and cure Covid. There is no such thing as a silver bullet, especially with the wide range of interpretations of what an OKR is and how to apply them. Luis Gonçalves retunes to the podcast to set us straight. 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 transform their traditional project-oriented companies into modern digital product companies. OKR Guide: Website: Website: Podcast: https://adaptmethodology.com/podcast/ LinkedIn: Re-read Saturday News This week, Chapter 7 of by Lyssa Adkins. While observing and facilitating might be the most prolific coach activities, at times teaching takes front and center. Teaching encompasses a wide range of behaviors, but the goal is always the same - to elevate the person or team you are teaching. Teachers are there to help PEOPLE to become better at something. Remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: r - A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available), which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. We recently delivered the workshop at the 2022 Path to Agility in Columbus, OH to rave reviews. Interested? Email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Do you have questions that you would like Susan, Jon, Jeremy, Tony, or myself to answer? Leave a voice message at 01.440.668.5717 or an email at . Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST will be on a three-week hiatus. We will be back with new programming on September 25. In the interim, I asked the SPaMCAST columnists (Jeremy, Jon, Susan, and Tony) for a couple of favorite columns they delivered. For the next three weeks, we will serve you the best of the best.

Flow Load has a special place in flow metrics, it is a leading indicator of value delivery as exhibited in flow velocity (throughput) and flow time. We review one experiment and propose another. In the end, you either control work entry or it controls you. A quick advertisement: Controlling work entry requires preparation and knowledge building to establish a path to control work entry (magic wands are normally not available) which is why Jeremy Willets and I have developed a work entry workshop. We recently delivered the workshop at the 2022 Path to Agility in Columbus, OH to rave reviews. Interested email us at tcagley@tomcagley.com or willetsjm@gmail.com Also this week we are joined by Tony TImbol and his To Tell A Story column. In this installment, Tony focuses on the impact of delayed requirements on agile teams. Do you have questions that you would like Susan, Jon, Jeremy, Tony, or myself to answer? Leave a voice message at 01.440.668.5717 or an email at . Re-read Saturday News Chapter 6 of is titled Coach as Facilitator. As a coach, I suspect I spend more time facilitating and observing than playing any other sub-role. Chapter 6 provides a number of gems that piqued my interest more during this read than in the first. Remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 718 features our most recent discussion with Luis Gonçalves. Luis and I talked about OKRs. We will cover the gamut; the good, the bad, and the OMG they’ve turned into annual reviews all in one session! Luis last appeared on the cast in .

This week Jeff Perry and I discussed learning how to consciously guide your technology career. We are all problem solvers, and Jeff provides a ton of hard-won advice. We also wrestled with the difference between a series of jobs and a career. Jeff’s Bio: Jeff Perry is the founder of More Than Engineering and serves as a leadership and career coach for engineers and technology professionals. His innovative programs and coaching help people take a mindful, intentional, and purposeful approach to career transitions, leadership, and personal development goals. Listeners of the SPaMCAST can find some free resources including the Career Clarity Checklist at . They can also find and follow Jeff on LinkedIn at . Do you have questions that you would like Susan, Jon, Jeremy, Tony, or myself to answer? Leave a voice message at 01.440.668.5717 or an email at . Re-read Saturday News Chapter 5 begins Part 2 of and is titled Coach as Coach-Mentor. During my initial reading of this book, I found Part 2 the most immediately useful. During this re-read, I reflect less on techniques to engage people and teams and more on engagements that I have had and where my remit and my behavior took me off track. Remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 717 we will focus on why Work in Process, flow load, is the leading indicator of flow metrics. We will also be joined by Tony TImbol who brings his To Tell A Story column to the podcast.

A funny thing happened on the way to the essay this week. I was distracted by feedback from a colleague on a workshop Jeremy Willets and I developed and delivered this week. We discuss why the phrase work entry describes how work gets to teams and organizations, and why “work intake” masks problems in the real world. We also have a visit from Susan Parente and her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. This month Susan answers a listener's question about whether it makes sense for a Scrum Master to also play other roles on a team. Do you have questions that you would like Susan, Jon, Jeremy, Tony, or myself to answer? Leave a voice message at 01.440.668.5717 or an email at . Re-read Saturday News Chapter 4 of , discusses the idea that a team, individual, or organization follows a path from a learner to mastery to a teacher using the Shu Ha Ri metaphor. The concept of Shu Ha Ri represents a continuum of learning. In martial arts or any demonstrable activity, practitioners must learn and practice before they can take the next step forward. Carol Dweck, in her book Mindset, postulated that even the most gifted athletes need an open mindset to succeed in the long run. To progress across the continuum of learning everyone needs to put in the work. I suspect that for many, the Shu state is the hardest to accept because we all want to believe we are special and we are all impatient to meet the prize of mastery. Remember to buy a copy of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line ) and read along! Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 716 features our interview with Jeff Perry. Jeff and I talked about consciously guiding a career in technology. We also wrestled with the difference between a series of jobs and a career. Jeff delivers a ton of hard-won advice.

Today Jonathon Wright will shift us…right? After decades of listening to the mantra shift left, you probably think you are entering the twilight zone. Maybe, but not on our account! Jonathan and I talked about putting customers first, testing AI, quality, and leadership. is the Chief Technology Evangelist and heads up Solution Engineering (R&D) for Eggplant a company. He is a strategic thought leader and distinguished technology evangelist. He specializes in emerging technologies, innovation, and automation, and has more than 25 years of international commercial experience within global organizations. Jonathon combines his extensive practical experience and leadership with insights into real-world adoption of Cognitive Engineering (Enterprise A.I. and AIOps). Thus, he is frequently in demand as a speaker at international conferences such as TEDx, Gartner, Oracle, AI Summit, ITWeb, EuroSTAR, STAREast, STARWest, UKSTAR, Guild Conferences, Swiss Testing Days, Unicom, DevOps Summit, TestExpo, and Vivit Community. Jonathon also hosts the QA lead (based in Canada) and is the author of several award-winning books (2010 – 2022) the latest with Rex Black on ‘AI for Software Testing. Podcast: LinkedIn: Twitter: @Jonathon_Wright Webpage: Upcoming Events Jeremy Willets and I have been accepted as speakers for this year’s Path to Agility! Our workshop is titled “Managing Work Entry: How the Mushy Middle is Killing Your Agility.” I’m very excited to be part of this wonderful conference and hope to reconnect with long-time colleagues at a fabulous venue — The Ohio Union at The Ohio State University. See you soon Columbus! August 1 - 2 in Columbus, Ohio Register Today: Re-read Saturday News I am still recovering from a Covid infection I picked up at or getting to Agile 2022. All in all I have been lucky (and prepared) and have weathered a mild brush with this disease. My chest still feels like I was mugged, but every day I am getting better. The lack of self-awareness that I was getting sick until things were full-blown is fairly startling. It was more startling when I was re-reading Chapter 3 of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line - buy a copy) again this week in preparation to write this essay. Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Next SPaMCAST We will map the attributes of flow explored in SPaMCAST 708 to a basic palette of flow metrics. This will complete the circle defining flow, establishing basic attributes, and then identifying how to measure flow through its attributes. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who will bring her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the cast!

Today’s cast is a very short podcast. Over the past week, I spent an amazing week at Agile 2022. My goal was to be re-radicalized. I reconnected with friends, made new friends, learned a new set of personal pronouns (while not for me, they really work well), picked up a bunch of swag, learned a ton, got re-energized and re-radicalized, and got Covid19. I could have done without the latter. I will get better, but right now it is moving up on my personal least fun thing to do list. I told Jeremy Berriault (you will hear from him later) that Covid is somewhere between the sixth and seventh least fun thing I've ever been involved with. It was a solid #7 yesterday. With luck, things will be back to normal soon. All that aside, the money shot presentation (for me) was given by Bethany Andres-Beck, titled “A Radical Culture of Culture Building.” Zie rocked it. The combination of small group influencing techniques combined with anarchist meeting design, community activism from the civil rights era, and the women’s movent was simply brilliant. Better yet, none of it was pie in the sky theory but the relating of an experience report. I need to talk hir into appearing on the podcast. This presentation was worth the price of admission for me. I will share more in the near future. This week we return to the QA Corner with Jeremy Berriault to discuss who is responsible for quality. In many organizations quality is on QA’s shoulders, should it be? Upcoming Event Jeremy Willets and I have been accepted as speakers for this year’s Path to Agility! Our workshop is titled “Managing Work Entry: How the Mushy Middle is Killing Your Agility.” I’m very excited to be part of this wonderful conference and hope to reconnect with long-time colleagues at a fabulous venue — The Ohio Union at The Ohio State University. See you soon Columbus! August 1 - 2 in Columbus, Ohio Register Today: Re-read Saturday News We WILL be back next week barring any catastrophes. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST Next week we will feature our interview with Jonathan Wright. Jonathan and I will discuss shifting right. If, after decades of listening to the mantra shift left, you just experienced whiplash, I understand.

Jim Benson has a new book titled, The Collaboration Equation. Jim states that collaboration “is the base of the human condition, we need other people in order to live, but always seem to be at odds with each other.” Jim also states that unless you are striving for improvement, you are unprofessional. I really like talking to Jim; Jim is a force of nature. Jim’s career path has taken him through government agencies, Fortune 10 corporations, and start-ups. Through them all, his passion has remained consistent – applying new technologies to workgroups. In each case asking how they can be leveraged to collaborate and cooperate more effectively. Jim loves ideas, creation, and building opportunities. He loves working with teams who are passionate about the future, pushing boundaries, and inclusion. His goal with all technologies is to increase beneficial contact between people and reduce the bureaucratic noise which so often tends to increase costs and destroy creativity. Jim is the author of the Shingo Research Award-winning book (use the link to buy a copy and support the podcast). He is a noted expert in business process, personal work management, and the application of Lean to personal work and life. Jim believes that the best process is the least process necessary to achieve goals. He has zero tolerance for process waste. All said, Jim enjoys helping people and teams work out sticky problems, an advocate of people actually seeing their work, and inventing new ways to work at the intersection of Lean thinking, brain science, and leadership. Contact Jim Twitter: LinkedIn: Personal Kanban: Modus Cooperandi: Re-read Saturday News We are talking the week off on our re-read Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line - buy a copy). I was traveling to Nashville for Agile 2022 (let me know if you are here). Next week we will be back on track but in the interim remember to buy a copy of and read along. Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST We will map our basic flow metrics palttet a simple organizational hierarchy. Some metrics tell us where we were and some tell us where we are going. This essay reflects work that Jeremy WIllets and I are exploring. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault who brings his QA Corner to the Software Process and Measurement Cast.

This week we make a quick side trip. Earlier this week I was asked why I “did” the Re-read Saturday column. Today, I offer a short explanation and highlight the experiments I am running as part of our re-read of . We also have a visit from Jon M. Quigley. In this installment of his Alpha and Omega of Product Development, Jon and I discuss the role of the team lead in agile teams that have coaches, scrum masters, and just might be self-organizing. There is a role but it is not the classic version that is in common use. Why Do I “Do” Re-read Saturday. Re-read Saturday is a long-running column featured on my blog (tcagley.wordpress.com) and at tomcagley.com. The books selected for the column are nominated and then voted on by readers. Because most books are selected by the acclaim from readers of the blog, the re-read is sometimes actually the first read for me. During the re-read we read, discuss, and highlight concepts chapter by chapter. There are three major reasons for the column. One, the column draws eyes. A blog without readers is a diary. Over the years, many of the top 10 annual posts have been from the re-read feature. A second reason, and perhaps the original reason was that I had not read some of these books before and really needed to read them. For some of the other books we have re-read, the re-read drove home the point that memory erodes over time. For example, I am embarrassed to say I had forgotten the story of Herby (check out the re-read of The Goal). Reason two is that the re-read is a forcing function to guide behavior. The books we read and re-read help shape how we behave. The third reason is that the column generates a lot of interaction. I have heard from readers and authors with ideas and opinions. The interactions have certainly improved my understanding of how work is done and how to improve. The level of interaction suggests that the readers get similar benefits. Recently, I decided to run weekly experiments based on the chapter I am reading. The weekly experiment is another forcing function. Doing the activity drives home a point so it is harder to forget. For example from the re-read of Chapter 2 of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins titled Expect High Performance I am focusing on using metaphors to guide behaviors. As an experiment, I am establishing a metaphor for myself. The goal is to see whether having a metaphor changes my behavior. The concept of the weekly experiment might end up being the best reason for me to “do” Re-read Saturday and perhaps the best reason for you, the reader, to participate. PS -- I am not convinced that the person that asked was really looking for this much information. I actually think they we asking why read books at all when you watch videos which lead us to a different discussion which I will share another day. Finally, have you downloaded the book referenced in last week's interview? Check out Seeing Money Clearly at Re-read Saturday News This week, Chapter 2 of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line - buy a copy). The chapter’s title is Expect High Performance. As a coach, you need to have high expectations of yourself and those you are coaching. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST Jim Benson has a new book titled, The Collaboration Equation. The first sentence in the description of the book is: “It is the base of the human condition, we need other people in order to live, but always seem to be at odds with each other.” We went from there,

Daniel Doiron's new book Seeing Money Clearly challenges Agile Centers of Excellence to view decision-making through the lens of Throughput Accounting. Throughput Accounting is a lot of things: An accounting system, A financial application, A process of ongoing improvement (POOGI), and First and foremost, the decision-making arm of the Theory of Constraints. Daniel’s Bio “I am the only CPA in the world - negative assurance provided - to give a one-day Throughput Accounting class to a CPA chapter (Québec) within the scope of their mandatory Professional Development Program. A few CPA chapters in the world give diluted Throughput Accounting classes in a recorded format and ignore the Five Focusing Steps, thereby disqualifying them from the spirit of Throughput Accounting”, states Doiron. “For Agile CoEs (Center of Excellence), I wrote the only Throughput Accounting book dealing exclusively with Knowledge Work. It has received rave reviews from the top minds in Throughput Accounting as I have brought numerous novelties never thought of before.” In short, Seeing Money Clearly: Teaches CPAs how to make more money now and in the future. Teaches Agile CoEs how to mint money. Download Seeing Money Clearly at and reach out at daniel_doiron@hotmail.com and on Twitter @AgileAgonist Re-read Saturday News This week, Chapter 1 of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line - buy a copy). The chapter tackles more than just the question embedded in the title exploring why a coach is needed, the path to becoming a coach, and both the mindsets and skills a coach needs. Read all of Week 1’s entry and next week we will cover Part 1, Chapter 1: Will I Be A Good Coach. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Next SPaMCAST We will map the attributes of flow explored in SPaMCAST 708 to a basic palette of flow metrics. This will complete the circle defining flow, establishing basic attributes, and then identifying how to measure flow through its attributes. We will also have a visit from Jon M. Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the cast!

Definitions provide several benefits. The first is that once a definition for an object or concept is agreed upon, it is far easier to have a discussion without getting confused. A second and equally important benefit is that definitions provide a platform for establishing attributes that can be used to describe the object or idea. Attributes are critical because even with a definition we need to communicate and measure nuances. Just think if you only had one word to describe rain or hot; a lot would be lost. Today we identify four basic attributes of flow. We will also have a visit from Tony Timbol who brings his “To Tell A Story” column to the podcast. In this installment, Tony and I talk about agile requirements. They really exist…really! Re-read Saturday News This week we began our re-read of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Adkins (SPaMCAST Amazon affiliate line buy a copy). I am re-reading my Kindle version of the book. The front matter includes Forwards by Mike Cohn, Jim Highsmith, Acknowledgments, Introduction, and a section titled, About the Author. The main body of the book is in three parts comprised of 13 chapters. It is indexed -- useful for reference books! I estimate 16 or 17 weeks to complete the re-read depending on my travel. Note: The Kindle edition of the book has not been updated and will not run on the Paperwhite Version 10 models, so we will re-read it on the iPhone and Laptop -- I did not have a happy chat with Kindle support on this issue. Wake up, Addison Wesley! Read all of Week 1’s Entry and next week we will cover Part 1, Chapter 1: Will I Be A Good Coach. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. If you are still catching up on the re-read of are are all of the links”: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: s - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Next SPaMCAST Daniel Dorion returns to the podcast next week to talk about his new book, Throughput Accounting - Seeing Money Clearly. Daniel begins the Prologue of his new book with the statement “My aim is to have you think differently and lose your reflexes and cognitive biases that are the fabric of society.” You will have a lot to think about after you listen!

107 podcasts ago (just a little over two years ago) on I interviewed Brian Weaver of Torch.AI about leadership. Lots of things have happened since then, a pandemic, Europe in flames again and Torch.AI thriving. It was great to touch base with Brian to talk about how his perspective as a leader has changed. While not needed for this interview, I highly recommend listening to either before or after. Brian serves as CEO of Torch.AI and has more than 20 years of experience leading mission-driven, high-growth, technology-focused companies. Torch.AI helps leading organizations leverage artificial intelligence in a unique way via a proprietary enterprise data management software solution. Today, Torch.AI supports clients like H&R Block with fraud detection and mitigation and the U.S. Department of Defense with machine learning-enabled background investigations for all federal employees, supporting the determination of an individual’s trustworthiness and security credentialing. LinkedIn: Torch.AI – Re-read Saturday News Completing a re-read is always bittersweet. Today we say goodbye to a friend, . The final chapter is the Epilogue and interwoven are our final notes. Next week we lay out the logistics for our re-read of Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Arkins . Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: s - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Next SPaMCAST Everyone has a set of attributes they use to describe and measure flow. Let's narrow the field to the most important few and start from there. We will also have a visit from Tony TImbol and his To Tell A Story Column.

In SPaMCAST 707 Susan Parente and I discuss the difference between leadership and management in her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. These two concepts are related but not the same. The votes are in! The next three books for Re-read Saturday are: Coaching Agile Teams by Lyssa Arkins Extraordinarily Badass Agile Coaching by Bob Galen Team Topologies by Matthew Skelton, Manuel Pais, and Ruth Malan Re-read Saturday News This week, we are revisiting (and re-editing) the conclusion of the first re-read to tide you over to the completion of Why Limit WIP. I have been backpacking, glamping, and visiting my father for the past eight days. That in its own right would not have precluded completing our re-read, but I also forgot the power cord for my laptop. Next week we will conclude our re-read of . Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: s - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST Brian Weaver returns to the Software Process and Measurement Cast to discuss the impact of AI on business, leadership, and development.

SPaMCAST 706 features a conversation with Tom Henricksen. Tom makes a strong case that ignoring soft skills will limit your ability to deliver real value. Tom says, "Humans Are Hard, Code Is Easy." Tom’s Bio: Tom Henricksen is a problem-solving technology professional. He has worked in various roles in technology for over twenty years. Tom has learned how to solve challenging issues in technology and lead technical teams. He can help you develop those skills too! URL: LinkedIn: Twitter: @tomhenricksen Re-read Saturday News The bottom line to Chapter 10 of is simple (assuming you have been re-reading along): too much WIP interferes with learning. Without the time or inclination to experiment, the best scenario is learning by accident. In Chapter 10, the author discusses how knowledge workers learn. Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: s - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 707 it is back to flow basics with a discussion of the attributes of flow. Scott Ambler described two attributes of flow as smoothness and scent. We will discuss. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who will bring her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast.

In the SPaMCAST 705 we stay with the basics and define the term flow. I recently listened to a conversation where the term flow was used 30ish times in 30 minutes. Each use of the term meant something different. Today we draw a line in the sand to improve communication. We also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault from the QA Corner. Jeremy and I discussed the mistaken belief that Scrum Master and Coach can be translated to administrative assistant. Re-read Saturday News In Chapter 9 of , the author extols the virtues of transparency. The Kanban board provides a platform for everyone (I am not being hyperbolic) to understand how much work is in process. Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: s - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 706 we have a visit from Tom Henricksen. We walked about programmers and soft skills… like communication. As Tom says, "Humans Are Hard, Code Is Easy."

In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 704, we talk leadership with Stuart Leo Founder & CEO of Waymaker.io. One of the reasons I enjoy interviews is that I often stumble across great stories. Stuart’s entrepreneurial origin story includes golf balls, icy Tasmanian lakes, and scuba divers -- I will remember this story until I die. Stuart is a global thinker in strategy, systems, and leadership development. As the founder of Waymaker.io he has led the creation of Waymaker’s Leadership Curve - a revolutionary way of building clarity, alignment, and remarkable results for any organization. LinkedIn Company Website Blog Twitter @stuartleo Re-read Saturday News This week’s chapter of opens with a quote from The Dalai Lama linking effective self-discipline with awareness of consequences. The chapter, titled Awareness, speaks to me of redemption. Awareness is a precursor to shedding helplessness and ignites the desire to act. I have spent a large part of my career participating, influencing, and/or leading change. Struggle is a common thread in nearly all of these efforts when entrenched leaders push back against ideas that bubble up from teams or other levels of the organization. Whether from fear or myriad other reasons, there are consequences for everyone involved. Learned helplessness, as noted in Chapter 7, or a dawning awareness that there are other possibilities creates an impetus for change. Whether change creates better processes, products, relationships, or changes in the workforce (that means people leaving) boils down to agency. Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: s - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST In the SPaMCAST 705 we define the term flow. I listened to a conversation last week. The term flow was used 30ish times in 30 minutes. Each use of the term meant something different. Let's draw a line in the sand to improve communication. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings another fabulous installment of Not A Scrumdamentalist to the podcast.

In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 703, we wrestle with one of the basics of agile. What is the power of making a commitment? Making and keeping commitments are core components of professional behavior. It is a promise to perform. Whether Agile or Waterfall, commitments are used to manage software projects. They are used to drive the behavior of teams. We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast. Re-read Saturday News Chapter 7 is one of my favorites in . One of the chronic problems I help teams deal with is the perceived need to start everything that comes to them, generating huge amounts of WIP. Many of the items sit in an on-hold status until something else happens. The iron-willed self-discipline of starting is great at creating on-hold items and crap at getting work done. There is a gap in understanding the impact of the consequences. Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: s - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST In the SPaMCAST 704, we talk leadership with Stuart Leo Founder & CEO at Waymaker.io. Leadership is incredibly important and requires constant attention.

In SPaMCAST 702, Matthew Stibbe and I talk about the impact of leadership when building a technology-driven business. Mathew shared stories about learning to type, how he has reinvented himself numerous times, and why he blogs at . Note: I have not edited out the parts of the interview just before I welcome Matthew to the podcast. Mr. Stibbe told a couple of very endearing stories that help set the tone for the entire interview. He agreed to allow me to share them. MATTHEW STIBBE is a serial entrepreneur, marketing maven, writer, pilot, and wine enthusiast. But not necessarily in that order. He created marketing strategies, content, and campaigns for clients including Microsoft, Google, LinkedIn, and HP and contributed to Wired, Forbes, and Popular Science. Currently, he is CEO at Articulate Marketing, a UK marketing agency specializing in the technology sector. Also, his geek credentials are strong. Previously, he was founder and CEO at Intelligent Games, a 70-person computer games company where he designed games for LEGO and produced two games based on Dune. Matthew also has his commercial pilots license and an advanced wine diploma. (Have you seen the film Somm? Like that!) At some point in the previous millennium, he studied history at Oxford University. These days, he blogs about modern management at www.geekboss. com, about marketing at www. articulatemarketing.com and wine at www.vincarta.com Re-read Saturday News This week, we talk about Healthy Constraints in . Many years (think decades) ago a friend of mine, Danny Bailus, had a cool mini-bike. He rode it around our neighborhood in Howland, Ohio all summer. It was the third coolest (text me the first two) thing that held my attention that summer. That was until Danny decided that it did not go fast enough and removed the governor from the small engine. He removed the constraint from the system and the engine burned out. His father was not very happy, Danny was not very happy, and I was very happy I was not riding it when it happened. In this chapter, Mr. Benson discusses the difference between healthy and unhealthy constraints. Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: s - Next SPaMCAST We continue on the basics with an essay on Teams and team design. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who will regale us with tales of the Alpha and Omega of Product Development.

With SPaMCAST 701 we go back to basics. Whether you call that quick meeting to coordinate the day the Daily Scrum, Stand-up, or a huddle is not material. Daily coordination is phenomenally powerful and useful unless it isn’t. Just making teams meet without benefit is a really bad idea. What else can be done? We also have a visit from Tony Timbol with another installment from his Tell A Story Column. In this installment, Tony discusses agile requirements. Getting work done in agile is not just user stories and a cloud of dust. Re-read Saturday News The chapter of this week is titled, Creating An Economy. In the past decade, certain words have become toxic. Words like process, waterfall, and output have become taboo in certain corners of software-related industries. Add the word productivity to the mix and many people would grab torches and pitchforks. The vilification of these words (or any words – it is sort of like burning books in my mind) makes it difficult to talk about systemic improvement. As a Kanban practitioner, I focus on flow. But not just flow, I advise my clients that they should keep their eye on continuously improving the flow. Continuous improvement yields better outcomes. Organizations, teams, and individuals that overextend and exceed their WIP limit are not improving their delivery of outcomes but rather in Jim Benson’s words “disrespecting your ability to create amazing things.” More bluntly they are neither effective nor efficient. Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST Next week, Matthew Stibbe and I talk about the impact of leadership when building a technology-driven business.

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. Twitter: Website: Re-read Saturday News The chapters of 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. Because humans don’t have multiple cores and processors instead of multitasking we bounce between things. Each bounce requires shifting context – this takes time and effort. Remember that the author established earlier that things that are not done are sitting in the back of your mind sucking up capacity and an occasional conscious thought (another contest switch). Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST Back to basics, whether you call that quick meeting to coordinate the day the Daily Scrum, Stand-up or a huddle is not material. Daily coordination is phenomenally powerful and useful unless it isn’t. Just making teams meet without benefit is a really bad idea. What else can be done? We will also have a visit from Tony Timbol with another installment from his Tell A Story Column.

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 in Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science. His academic research focuses on the intersection of Machine Learning, Computational Linguistics, and Network Science (Graph Theory). He has a specialization in public policy and economics, helped launch Carnegie Mellon’s Silicon Valley Campus, and founded its Entrepreneurial Management program. A frequent keynote speaker, he has presented at venues including the engineering schools of MIT, Stanford, and Harvard. Daimler studied at Stanford University, the University of Washington-Seattle, and Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned his PhD in its School of Computer Science. Contact Information Twitter: @ead LinkedIn: Website: Re-read Saturday News Multitasking is the first or second greatest LIE in the modern business world. The best description of multitasking would include thrash, waste, and hubris. The problem is that EVERYONE thinks they are special and can multitask their way to the effective delivery of value. Chapter 3 of blasts away at multitasking (another take on the topic from 2015: Multitasking Yourself Away From Efficiency | Software Process and Measurement ). Multitasking is bad, don’t do it. Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - Week 4: - Upcoming Events: Final Call! Free Webinar When Prioritization Goes Bad April 19, 2022 11 AM EDT to 1230 EDT Next SPaMCAST Next week for SPaMCAST 700 we will feature our interview with Slater Victoroff. Slater presents an alternate definition for AI. Compare and contrast to Dr. Daimler’s definition?

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 or on LinkedIn at Re-read Saturday News Week 3 of our re-read of 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 great “Not A Scrumdamentalist” podcast columns described the same scenario. Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: Previous Entries Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: - https://bit.ly/3usMiLm Upcoming Events: Free Webinar When Prioritization Goes Bad April 19, 2022 11 AM EDT to 1230 EDT Special Call to Action If you are a team lead I need your help! I believe the TL role is the least understood and least talked about in agile. It is time to change that. I am working on testing a model of TL behaviors in agile. I need examples of REAL TL job descriptions to map into the model. The glittering generalities that you find on the web don’t match what really happens in the real world. I do not need anything sensitive like salary or product details. I will happily share the first cut of the model with anyone that helps and sponsor a virtual meeting to discuss the model with all participants. If you have a TL job description you can share please email me at Next SPaMCAST Next week we will feature our interview with Matthew Stibbe. Matt and I discussed how leadership (or the lack thereof) contributes to projects in wide a range of environments (software and marketing).

This week we talked with Jardena London. We discussed her book . 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, “l” 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 of organizational transformation. Jardena has also served as co-founder and CEO of Rosetta Technology Group since 1997. Websites and Contact Information LinkedIn: Upcoming Events: Free Webinar When Prioritization Goes Bad April 19, 2022 11 AM EDT to 1230 EDT Special Call to Action If you are a team lead I need your help! I believe the TL role is the least understood and least talked about in agile. It is time to change that. I am working on testing a model of TL behaviors in agile. I need examples of REAL TL job descriptions to map into the model. The glittering generalities that you find on the web don’t match what really happens in the real world. I do not need anything sensitive like salary or product details. I will happily share the first cut of the model with anyone that helps and sponsor a virtual meeting to discuss the model with all participants. If you have TL job description you can share please email me at Next SPaMCAST We are finally going to tackle the difference between prioritization and sequencing. Sequencing is the forgotten cousin of prioritization, HOWEVER, just because you know the priority isn’t enough because if you don't get the order right value will be lost. We will also have a visit from Susan “Not A Scrumdamentalist” Parente.

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 (buy a copy using our Amazon Affiliate link get reading) along with us. The written version: 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.org/Webinar-Live-Register?id=1954 April 19, 2022 11 AM EDT to 1230 EDT Next SPaMCAST Next week we will talk with Jardena London. We will discuss her book Cultivating Transformations - A Leader's Guide to Connecting the Soulful and the Practical. We will also explore why being soulful in the workplace is critical for facilitating change.

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: Twitter: j LinkedIn: 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 (buy a copy using our Amazon Affiliate link get reading) as we run a poll to select the next of books for the series. Previous Installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5 - Week 6 - Week 7 - Week 8 – Week 9 - Week 10 - Week 11 - Next SPaMCAST Next week, are sequencing and prioritization different sides to the same coin or are they different coins entirely. Is a keystone topic when wrestling with work entry. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault and the QA Corner.

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 . 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 while we run a poll to select the next books. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5 - Week 6 - Week 7 - Week 8 – Week 9 - Week 10 - Next SPaMCAST Next week, Julianna Lamb, co-founder and CTO at STYTCH. We talked agile, start-ups, security, and more.

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 to learn more about him. Plutoshift: 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 completed (thanks to Laurie and Todd for use of their condo). We will be back next week. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5 - Week 6 - Week 7 - Week 8 – Week 9 - Next SPaMCAST Next week, we revisit the role of the team lead and the concept of self-organizing teams. Can they co-exist? We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast.

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! Re-Read Saturday News Week 9 of our re-read of 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 busting techniques again (we are back to situational context). I am going to try again this week and I am also going to experiment with calculating the ratio of defined important words to total important words in conversations that people are trying to generate commitment. Amazon Affiliate Link Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5 - Week 6 - Week 7 - Week 8 – Week 9 - Next SPaMCAST More AI with a conversation with Prateek Joshi. Mr. Joshi and I talked about the definition of AI, machine learning, and how to test AI (this was just the tip of the iceberg). AI is in your future and it won't be the Matrix or Skywarn (or will it).

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 Website: Re-Read Saturday News Week 8 of our re-read of concludes our read of Chapter 5 addressing the ‘Why Conversation’. This week we spent time tackling the concepts of joint design and urging organizations to train team leads in decision making. They are not second class citizens My experiment of the week: Last week I proposed the experiment of creating a position-interest chart during the week. I actually used the technique to help frame an essay for the Software Process and Measurement Podcast within 12 hours of proposing the experiment. I also used the ideas in the approach to reframing several discussions (looking for the positions behind stated positions) during the week. This week I will try to find a scenario to apply the concepts of joint design (no eggs will be harmed). Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5 - Week 6 - Week 7 - Week 8 - Next SPaMCAST What would you call a person with little training, a lot of responsibility, and little to no real authority? This is not a Dad Joke. I suggest the answer is often a team lead. Also, Mr. Tony Timbol is back to talk about user stories in his To Tell A Story column.

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 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 of exposing and mitigating fears shifted perspectives nicely. Interestingly, what was hard was tying the fears and mitigations to an espoused norm. In conversations afterward, it became apparent that it is hard to admit that your behavior is or was at odds with the norms of the team and organization. It will be worth another conversation to make sure the link is clear. Next week, I am going to explore building a position-interest chart. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5 - Week 6 - Week 7 - Next SPaMCAST Next week Kevin McKeel will visit the SPaMCAST to talk about AI and software estimation tools. Is this the end of the world for the software estimating profession or the beginning of a golden age?

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: Twitter: Company Website: https://www.pyze.com/ Re-Read Saturday News Week 6 of our re-read of continues on Chapter 4: The Fear Conversation. We discussed two of the three major concepts in Chapter 4 last week, but we did not consider the fear conversation and more specifically the fear chart. Many years ago I worked with a manager, Rich Hisrich at BancSystems/EDS. I was the QA manager at the site. It was through my interaction with RIch that I learned the value of whiteboards and visualization. The fear chart is a visualization tool I can see having great value. My experiment of the week: I am going to double down and commit to creating a fear chart. Whether an opportunity for a fear conversation presents itself, we shall see. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5 - Week 6 - Next SPaMCAST Next week we continue an essay refining how we are using Flow Metrics in 2022 to … manage flow (surprise) rather than micromanaging tasks or kidding ourselves with relative sizing techniques. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault and his QA Corner.

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. 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 tackles Chapter 4: The Fear Conversation. Fear has a significant impact on what we think and how we behave. The changes that fear drives don’t stop at the individual, the behavior changes ripple through organizations. My experiment of the week: Update on last week’s experiment. I was able to use some of the ideas from the trust conversation this week. I actually used the statement, “the story I am telling myself is . . .” in a real conversation twice. The first time it felt contrived; it is much easier to state something as fact than to admit it might not be true. For both conversations, I had created a conversation analysis sheet to record the conversation. I need conversation analysis practice. Also, both conversations would have gone better with a copy of the trust ladder close at hand. This week’s experiment. I would like to try to generate a fear chart and have a fear conversation. I am still considering what type of job aids will be most useful. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5 - Next SPaMCAST Next week Prabhjot Singh and I talk about AI. If you are a developer or entrepreneur, AI (however you define it) is in your future. You need to be ready! Mr. 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. 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. 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 tackles Chapter 4: The Fear Conversation. Fear has a significant impact on what we think and how we behave. The changes that fear drives don’t stop at the individual, the behavior changes ripple through organizations. My experiment of the week: Update on last week’s experiment. I was able to use some of the ideas from the trust conversation this week. I actually used the statement, “the story I am telling myself is . . .” in a real conversation twice. The first time it felt contrived; it is much easier to state something as fact than to admit it might not be true. For both conversations, I had created a conversation analysis sheet to record the conversation. I need conversation analysis practice. Also, both conversations would have gone better with a copy of the trust ladder close at hand. This week’s experiment. I would like to try to generate a fear chart and have a fear conversation. I am still considering what type of job aids will be most useful. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5 - Next SPaMCAST Next week Prabhjot Singh and I talk about AI. If you are a developer or entrepreneur, AI (however you define it) is in your future. You need to be ready! Mr. 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.

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: 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: TeamForm: Email: LinkedIn: Martin’s Bio Martin is a senior consultant at TeamForm. His passion is working with organizations that are transforming themselves to cross-functional team structures, with all the nuances, benefits, and challenges that this brings. With his past experience as a product owner and engineer, he enjoys bringing data into the people conversation. Re-Read Saturday News Week 4 of our re-read of tackles Chapter 3: The Trust Conversation. Trust is a requirement for people to work together toward a common goal. Misters Squirrel and Fredrick define trust as aligned stories. My experiment of the week: First an update on my experiment from last week. I found that I need to create a job aid for conversational analysis in order to practice the R’s from Chapter 2. I must admit that not preparing for conversational analysis creates a scenario where I am looking back and trying to remember conversations, which makes them more susceptible to bias. This week I am going to create a job aid for trust conversations, then find two or three scenarios to practice. Practice will include the R’s from Chapter 2. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Next SPaMCAST Next week our first essay of Year 16 with thoughts on flow metrics and why focusing on flow is powerful, important, and causes people to run around like their hair is on fire. Hopefully, we can dampen the blaze down a bit.

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 Web: Jon M Quigley Web: https://www.valuetransform.com/product-development-tools/ Kevin Rush Twitter: @ Chris Hurney Web: Twitter: Participating in spirit (they were on part one last week) Susan Parente Susan Parente Twitter: @TechRiskManager Jeremy Willets Blog: Re-Read Saturday News Week 3 of our re-read of tackles s. Chapter 2 begins the heavy lifting of improving conversations. This is a chapter I strongly suggest reading at least twice while you are putting the ideas into practice. The authors spend the first part of the chapter building a case for why conversations are so powerful. The authors state that through conversation “we are able to create and believe in shared fictions.” There is a ton to think about and practice! My experiment of the week: First an update on my conversation experiment from last week. Last week I wanted to review my conversations to determine if I was correctly assessing scenarios using the Cynefin Framework. There was at least one conversation where I misjudged the complexity. Whereas the participants viewed the scenario being discussed to be complicated (the solution being a framework or best practices), I viewed the scenario as complex or possibly chaotic. The differences in mental models made the conversation tense and ungratifying. In my mind, my failure was not recognizing the issue until I was reviewing the conversation after the fact (one of the Four Rs in Chapter 2). I think a better approach, for me, will be to assess the complexity of the scenario before the conversion in the future. Perhaps a form of conversational premortem. This week I am going to use the conversational analysis process on two or three different types of hard conversations – my weeks are always interesting. One of the areas I am interested in contemplating is whether different kinds of conversations have different question ratios. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST Next week we have an interview with Martin Foster. Mr. Foster and I wrestle with the question, “Why don’t most agile transformations deliver tangible business value?” A valuable start to year 16 and 2022!

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 Web: Susan Parente Web: http://www.s3-tec.com/ Jon M Quigley Web: https://www.valuetransform.com/product-development-tools/ Kevin Rush Twitter: @ Jeremy Willets Blog: Re-Read Saturday News Week 2 of our re-read of tackles . The idea that software development and maintenance fit a factory model in which people are fungible and that processes are deterministic is a thing in 2021 (as it was when this book was written). I have always been hard-pressed to buy the factory/manufacturing model. I have worked on an assembly line. One of the jobs I had was building tires for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company at their plant in Memphis. That job was one of the reasons I made sure I went to university. Whether the assembly line model was truly appropriate even for tire manufacturing would be interesting to debate (the plant is gone, no amount of scientific management could save it). At the very least, software development and maintenance are better served by team-based collaborative approaches. Words like team-based and collaboration require communication (something that did not happen on the assembly line, except when we had union meetings) so that rigid processes and micromanagement can be minimized. My experiment of the week: I originally planned to begin experimenting with the ideas from with Chapter 2; however, Chapter 1 reminded me of the need to take a mindset-centered approach to change and to incorporate the ideas from Cynefin. I will review my decisions this week to assess whether I am getting lazy and assuming that situations are more deterministic than complex, and therefore not putting myself in the right place to collaborate. (Affiliate Link) Week 1: - Week 2: - Next SPaMCAST Next week features a second panel discussion with some of the same people (and a new mixer) with a focus on hopes and aspirations for 2022 and beyond. Next week will spike the ball on year 15 of the Software Process and Measurement Cast.

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 struggling through a website issue and a switchover of hardware, I am currently planning years 16 and 17. Happy New Year, and now back to our regularly scheduled programming with Tony Timbol and his To Tell A Story column. This installment tackles product owners and work entry. Re-Read Saturday News Starting a re-read is a great way to start the new year. Today we start into by charting the predicted course of the re-read and touching on the introduction. The version of the book I am reading is the paperback version copyrighted 2020 by IT Revolution. The book consists of an introduction, seven numbered chapters, a conclusion, and 20 pages of end matter. All of this is over 223 pages. It is my intent to cover this book over 9 weeks using the chapters as pacing. This book has similarities with in that this book demands action. Therefore like that re-read, as we get to chapter 2 I will begin identifying how I will experiment with the knowledge each chapter delivers. As I have discovered over the years reading technical and self-improvement books, if you do not experiment with ideas they fade quickly regardless of their value. Week 1: Logistics and Introduction - Next SPaMCAST Next week features part 1 of a 2 part panel discussion (both parts have slightly different participants), discussing the world of knowledge work circa 2021 and pontifications about the shape of work in 2022.

Ben Woznicki and I talk about the book and ideas inside the covers of . 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: Email: Re-Read Saturday News We have just completed our re-read of t ( - Amazon Affiliate link). Next week we begin our re-read of – (affiliate link). Catch up on previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST Next week we begin 2022 with a reflection on the economic rationale for breaking work down into smaller pieces. We will also have a visit from Tony Timbol and his To Tell A Story Column.

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 t to a close as well (buy a copy and dive into the book - 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: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST Next week, we will have a special show. Ben Wozniki and I talked about team topologies (the idea and the book). Ben and I have worked together, hosted a video podcast together, and more -- this was more of a conversation than an interview.

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 t (buy a copy and re-read the book with us 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 installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Next SPaMCAST Next week, more on work entry and prioritization (it is at the top of my priority list unless I don’t have control over my work entry). We will also spend time with Susan Parente and her I Not A Scrumdamentalist column.

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 Brazilian and multinational organizations. As a second career, he now does pro-bono work as a hypnotherapist. Christine is the founder of IP by Green, senior consultant, and past president of IFPUG. Re-Read Saturday News This week, Chapter 8 of t (Amazon Affiliate Link). The chapter is titled . I was presented with a scenario this week in which product, UX, development, testing, and security operated within their own boundaries with their own goals and tools — silos. Chapter 8 has something to say about the impact of silos. Catch up on previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Next SPaMCAST Next week we will continue our exploration of the team lead’s role in agile frameworks. As with anything that involves humans and hierarchies the role is not straightforward. We will also return to the QA Corner to visit Jeremy Berriault

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 (Amazon Affiliate Link). We will be back next week to talk about the problems caused by role and tool disconnection across the value chain (silos). Catch up on previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST Next week Mauricio Aguliar 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 will be provocative and enlightening.

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 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 (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: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST Next week an essay on the role of the team lead in Scrum. As Mellisa Greller points out, the role of the TL is often overlooked. When a role is overlooked it causes friction. Unless you are starting a campfire, friction is not a great idea. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley (i know I said that last week but this week we recorded the next few Alpha and Omega of Product Development columns).

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) (Personal Website) (Company Website) @KitMerker (Twitter) Re-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 6 of Project to Product (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 between flow items (features, defects, risks, and debts). Catch up on previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST Next week an essay on the role of the team lead in Scrum. As Mellisa Greller points out, the role of the TL is often overlooked. When a role is overlooked it causes friction. Unless you are starting a campfire, friction is not a great idea. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley.

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 out Agile as part of his leadership practice, he has developed unique insights around how Agile fits within the broader context of business management. Contact information: Re-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 5 of Project to Product (Amazon Affiliate Link). As the previous chapters have highlighted, we can measure the flow items that enter and exit a value stream. There are a number of suitcase words (words that have many ideas packed in them) in that statement, such as value streams and flow items. connects flow items and metrics to business results. The integrated view is where the real power of the model is found (but only if you bite the bullet and understand the value streams in the organization). Catch up on previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST Next week, another interview takes center stage. 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.

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: 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. (Amazon Affiliate Link). We will be back next week. Catch up on previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST Next week we will 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.

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 Re-Read Saturday News This week, we dive into Chapter 4 of Project to Product titled Capturing Flow Metrics. (Amazon Affiliate Link). Why capture flow metrics? The four components of the flow distribution reflect the investment pattern within the value stream. That pattern is a direct reflection of the value delivered by an organization. Catch up on previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST Next week another essay, perhaps even the promised Why Pragmatic Has Become Code For Half-assed. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente with her I Am Not A Scrumdamentalist column.

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 Re-Read Saturday News This week, we are taking a break from Project to Product. Remember to buy a copy today (Amazon Affiliate Link) and we will be back next week. Previous Week’s Installment: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - https://bit.ly/3lqJTwd Next SPaMCAST Kyle Siemens returns to the podcast to talk about certifications and running a testing business. Kyle does not shy away from hard topics in a world that is certification crazy.

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: LinkedIn: Upcoming Events The Agile Online Summit! The clock is ticking! 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 Re-Read Saturday News One of the most influential books in my career was Peopleware by Tom DeMarco and Tim Lister. One concept in the book was the concept of flow state, being fully in the zone so that a problem or piece of work can be focused on and delivered. Flow maximizes the amount of value delivered. Demarco and Lister’s introduction to flow paved the way for my interest in The Flow Framework. Chapter 3 of Project to Product introduces the Flow Framework. Buy a copy today This Week’s Installment: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - https://bit.ly/3lqJTwd Next SPaMCAST Next week we have an essay titled, What is Agile? There are a few things that just need to be said. For example, just because you are doing ceremonies doesn’t make you agile and might just make you fragile. In addition, Tony Timbol brings his To Tell A Story column to the cast! In this installment, the product owner’s role is under the microscope.

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 ). 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 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 the Summit, the early bird pricing on those options is nearly gone. Please join the premier Agile Online Conference from October 25th to 27th, 2021, Register at Re-Read Saturday News In Chapter 1, The Age of Software, Kersten established that we were at or just past a turning point; those that do not embrace change will face grave difficulties surviving to the next cycle. As a consultant, I work with companies wrestling with trying to transform. Not all succeed for a variety of reasons. In this chapter, the author highlights and compares the lessons derived from his visit to the BMW plant, his study of the development of the Boeing Dreamliner, and the transformation failures at Nokia and a large bank. Buy a copy today This Week’s Installment: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST Next week, Jonathan Lee and I discuss Disciplined Agile. DA is an approach to scaling agile development. We will discuss how DA is different from other approaches and when Johnathan would recommend using DA.

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 is considered a ‘must-read’ for everyone in the software development industry. 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 the Summit, the early bird pricing on those options is nearly gone. Please join the premier Agile Online Conference from October 25th to 27th, 2021, Register at Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 1 begins Part 1 of Project to Product (there are 3 parts to the book). This part of the book introduces the Flow Framework, the core of the book. The graphic showing the whole model is the first thing you see when you open this part of the book which anchors the importance of the model for the rest of the book. Buy a copy today This Week’s Installment: Week 1: - Week 2: - Next SPaMCAST Next week, an essay titled, What is Agile. There are a few things that just need to be said. For example, just because you are doing ceremonies doesn’t make you agile and might just make you fragile. In addition, Susan Parente will bring her I’m Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast.

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, Register at Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin our re-read of Mik Kersten’s Project to Product. I am reading from my Kindle version published by IT Revolution (buy a copy). Today we are tackling the front matter which includes the Foreword by Gene Kim (author of the DevOps Handbook) and the Introduction, which is titled the Turning Point. In past re-reads, I have argued strongly that jumping immediately to the core of a book is a mistake, I again urge you not to make that mistake. Buy a copy today This Week’s Installment: Week 1: - Next SPaMCAST Next week we discuss the ADAPT Methodology with Luis Gonçalves. We discussed how using a framework can help leaders stay relevant. Based on the discussion of long-wave economic models in this week’s Re-read Saturday, Mr. Gonçalves’ ideas provide a useful framework for building a more robust change model as we approach a more competitive part of the long-term cycle. It is exciting to see the explosion of new ideas synthesizing practical experience and theory coming to market. A Luis points out, perhaps the lockdowns during the pandemic have a silver lining.

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: 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 Re-Read Saturday News Next week we will begin to read Mik Kersten’s Project to Product. I will be reading from the Kindle version of the book published by IT Revolution. The book includes a foreword, introduction, nine numbered chapters, a conclusion, and resources (we will not re-read this section). This works out to be 342 numbered pages for the Kindle Version. I have read this book twice, most recently during a book club (I hang around with geeks), and actively leverage the ideas from the book in my practice. Buy a copy today Whether you are just beginning fall or spring, I look forward to reflecting on Project to Product with you starting next Saturday. 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 Next SPaMCAST Next week we discuss transactive memory. My wife remembers things like special events and then clues me in…if she is around. Coaches and Scrum Masters often act as the official process memory for teams until they don’t. When they move on, the team more often than not forget and revert back to other ways of working. Transactive memory is efficient, a team is more than the accumulation of memories they all share, but has risks. I missed calling my father’s on his birthday this year - a failure in so many ways but also a failure of transactive memory. Jeremy Berriault will also bring his QA Corner to the podcast.

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 . 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 been highly recommended. Therefore I would be happy to read them with you rather than re-read them with you. I will close the poll when I leave radio silence on August 28th’ish. This week we highlight our re-read of the Goal by Ely Goldratt. Check out the reposting of one of the most popular entities and then grab your copy and read along will all of the entries. 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 Next SPaMCAST Next week, the SPaMCAST will be the second week of our summer holiday. We will feature another interview from the archives. Show 37 was my first interview with Ed Yourdon. I have titled the interview, “Collaborate or Die!” A bit over the top you say, well Denis Waitley once said, “online or in the bread line." I think I was right. Ed died in January 2016 as he was pursuing his love of photography.

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 g with the Afterword and some final thoughts. This book received my highest accolade for non-fiction books, “Very Useful.” I will have to read the book again in a year or so to see what nuances I missed. I think putting the ideas in the book to use every week drove the ideas home and exposed where I had misinterpreted the book during my first read. In this week’s experiment, I was able to move the phone further from the bed (I need to buy an alarm clock to move it outside of the room). Did I sleep more? I am not sure, but I am sure I was able not to look at the phone until I got up for the day which is a step. I also was able to make sure I used my standing desk more which helped my energy level near the end of the day (and made my feet sore -- shoes maybe?). The poll for the next book in the series has begun! Note there are two books in the list I have not read yet that I am going to read and have been highly recommended. Therefore I would be happy to read them with you rather than re-read them with you. I will close the poll when I leave radio silence on August 28th’ish. Mik Kersten - Project to Product Charles Duhigg - The Power of Habit Tony Bouzón - The Mind Map Book Chris Voss - Never Split The Difference Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick - Agile Conversations Karin Tenelius and Lisa Gill - Moose Heads on the Table This week’s Re-read entry: Week 10 - - Previous Entries in Week 1 – – Week 2 – – Week 3 – – Week 4 – – Week 5 – – Week 6 – – Week 7 – – Week 8 – – Week 9 - - Upcoming Events The Agile Online Summit! The Premier Agile Online Conference! October 25th to 27th, 2021, Live and recorded Next SPaMCAST Next week, the SPaMCAST will be on summer holiday. In lieu of new content, we will present an interview released on December 27, 2015, with Gerald (Jerry) M. Weinberg. We discussed quality and how quality is related to value. A talk with Jerry is always profound; however, 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.

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: Website: Email: Twitter: Re-Read Saturday News This week we focus on Chapter 7 of g. This chapter is titled “Recharge Creative Thinking.” This chapter really is about the self-care needed to be both effective and creative. There are a number of ideas in this chapter that if you’re not familiar with them are frankly just really good ideas. Many of the ideas in this chapter I have been using for years and some of the inferred issues I am still working on. As my experiment for this week, I would love to say that I am going to sleep more. What I will do is to move my phone away from the bed so I can’t get to it easily after I lay down. I will also work to have an equal mix of sitting and standing. Next week we will complete our re-read of Monotasking covering the Afterword from the book and some closing notes from me. We’ll also start the poll to pick the next book in the series. The entries for the weeks of August 28th and September 5th will feature reprints. I am going backpacking and turning off all communication devices. As we prepare for the next book, is there a book you think we should “re-read”? If you have ideas please let me know and I will add them to the list of current possibles: Mik Kersten - Project to Product Charles Duhigg - The Power of Habit Tony Bouzón - The Mind Map Book Chris Voss - Never Split The Difference Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick - Agile Conversations This week’s Re-read entry: Week 9 - Recharge Creative Thinking - Previous Entries in Week 1 – – Week 2 – – Week 3 – – Week 4 – – Week 5 – – Week 6 – – Week 7 – – Week 8 – – Next SPaMCAST Next week we dive into one of the aspects of the attributes of Teams. Teams don’t live in a vacuum. Every team is an intersection of boundaries 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.

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 g. 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 to do in order to satisfy the goal of the task (the agile definition of simplicity). I am contemplating how to build the idea of operacy into how I approach and talk about user stories. This week, I am going to focus on using more deliberative communication as a way to help guide conversations. This Week Week 8 - - Previous Entries in Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 - - Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Next SPaMCAST We talk with Sunny Han, CEO and Founder of Fulcrum. Sunny and I talked about entrepreneurship and building an ERP system from scratch. That sounds way too tame -- we talked motivation, we talked agile development, and we talked about what it takes to see a vision through to reality.

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 constructing LEGOs with his kids or walking his dogs. Email: mike@rewind.io Web: Twitter: @mikepotter Upcoming Events Using the TMMi accelerates the value of DevOps Fri, August 6, 2021 -- This Friday! 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT This is a free TMMi America Webinar featuring Rex Black (SPaMCAST is a proud media sponsor of the TMMi America ) Register at About this event In this webinar, we will address how DevOps testing benefits through TMMi How TMMi’s higher Process Areas drive defect prevention, Shift Left, and CI/CD build and test pipelines Address the benefits of how DevOps Organization benefits from using the TMMi. Leveraging TMMi to focus DevOps test process improvements Re-Read Saturday News This week we focus on Chapter 5 of g. This chapter focuses on incrementalism. How are you breaking work down? An update on my continued experiment using Monotasking. This week I have succeeded in turning off all my interruptions (Slack, Text, Teams, Twitter, email, and others) as I am doing my monotasking sessions, a type of incrementalism . . . at least in the morning. I do pop many of those apps back on briefly at the end of each panorama session to make sure no emergencies have occurred. Afternoons are tough due to meetings and other hardscape activities, therefore I moved as many of my focus activities earlier in the day (as a morning person, this suits me) when I can quietly timebox. This Week Week 7 - - Previous Entries in Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 - - Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - Next SPaMCAST Next week we present our essay spinning deeper into the nether regions of poor prioritization. Knowing the potential issues that can occur in prioritization is the first step toward fixing them. We also have a visit from Tony Timbol who brings his To Tell A Story column to the podcast.

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 or at 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 media sponsor of the TMMi America ) Register at About this event In this webinar, we will address how DevOps testing benefits through TMMi How TMMi’s higher Process Areas drive defect prevention, Shift Left, and CI/CD build and test pipelines Address the benefits of how DevOps Organization benefits from using the TMMi. Leveraging TMMi to focus DevOps test process improvements Re-Read Saturday News This week we focus on Chapter 4 of g. The chapter this week is titled, Never Procrastinate. If you have not read the entry, do it NOW :) An update on my continued experiment using Monotasking. My intent was to carve (not crave - I caught the spelling error a little late this week, it was not procrastination) out an hour in which I could turn off Teams, Slack, email, and text to allow for focus. Frankly, I failed. I was able to achieve a quiet zone only one day during business hours. I regularly turn off all notifications when writing before my day begins, but during the “work” day being unreachable is more difficult. I am still looking for the right formula of schedule blocking and advanced notification to make this work. Previous Entries in Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 - - Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Next SPaMCAST Next, we feature our interview with Mike Potter, CEO of Rewind. We talked 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.

In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast, I speak with Rob Rastovich, CTO of . 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 , 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: LinkedIn: 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 media sponsor of the TMMi America ) Register at About this event In this webinar, we will address how DevOps testing benefits through TMMi How TMMi’s higher Process Areas drive defect prevention, Shift Left, and CI/CD build and test pipelines Address the benefits of how DevOps Organization benefits from using the TMMi. Leveraging TMMi to focus DevOps test process improvements Re-Read Saturday News This week we focus on Chapter 3 of g. The chapter this week is titled, Focus on One Task Now. An update on the continued experiment using Monotasking. In Chapter 2, Staffan describes how to create a short list of five items and then to push everything else to the “grass catcher” list. I have been working on using this approach this week with a special focus on capturing the date an item was added to the list and the stakeholder for the item. In the past, I trimmed my list on a quarterly basis. I use the dramatic approach of starting a new list saving only those items on my short list. This week I tried Staffan’s weekly approach, trimming off a few older items on a weekly basis. The date added is useful but what I found more useful was asking myself the question, “am I really going to do this or is this an aspirational item?” Cue the chainsaw; even though I started a new list on July 1st I was able to remove several items from my new grass catcher list. This Week Week 5 - - Previous Entries Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 - - Week 4 - - Next SPaMCAST 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. We will 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.

In this episode, we feature our interview with Christiano Gherardini. Chris and I talk about the impact of using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages on businesses and as importantly, the impact of packages and consultants as a tool to influence the direction of software development in a firm. Christiano Gherardini is the President/Owner at Turnkey Technologies Inc. Turnkey offers end-to-end professional services including design, project management, implementation, application maintenance, integration services, development, analytics, training, and support services for Microsoft Dynamics solutions. Upcoming Events Making Shift Happen July 13 at 12 CDT (1 PM EDT) I will be facilitating a panel for the discussing Agile Transformation. Our panelists will discuss their personal experiences going through agile transitions and offer some tips for moving your organization towards Agile. Panelists include 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 media sponsor of the TMMi America ) Register at About this event In this webinar, we will address how DevOps testing benefits through TMMi How TMMi’s higher Process Areas drive defect prevention, Shift Left, and CI/CD build and test pipelines Address the benefits of how DevOps Organization benefits from using the TMMi. Leveraging TMMi to focus DevOps test process improvements Re-Read Saturday News Finally, we have reached Chapter 2 of , titled, Cut Down On Tasks To Do. I think it is ironic that a failure in my ability to control WIP in my personal life led to a two-week delay in delivering the re-read of this chapter. All the hand wringing aside, the delay has allowed me to reflect more on the chapter and to hone my use of the short list and panorama cues and sessions. Long swaths of meetings still give me trouble but getting the short list down to tasks that I missed in my first read of Chapter 2 has made a ton (imperial or metric) of difference. This Week Week 4 - - Previous Entries Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 - - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast, I speak with Rob Rastovich, CTO of . We will talk about AIoT (not a typo), and how applications and developers must evolve. Skynet or Deep Thought?

The Software Process and Measurement Cast features an essay on prioritization. We prioritize in order to establish what to work on and when to do it. There is often a difference between assigned priority and the real priority based on when teams start and complete a piece of work. This essay is part of the overall conversation on controlling work entry and answering the question: Are we working on the most important thing? We also have a visit to the QA Corner with Jeremy Berriault. Mr. Berriault and I discussed how testing is integrated into the Agile Performance Holarchy. Re-Read Saturday News June and early July are a busy period, this year more so (several birthdays, an anniversary, and family visits). That is a long way around to rationalizing why I am not delivering chapter 2 of . I am still working with shortlists (chapter 2 has helped my implementation approach. Meetings (part of the busyness fallacy discussed in Chapter 2) are making using the techniques of panorama cues and panorama sessions difficult once back-to-back meetings begin. We will be back with new content next week with two articles on prioritization and Chapter 2 of Monotasking on Saturday. This week we revisit another favorite from the Re-read archive, the Conclusion of Carol Dweck’s : The New Psychology of Success. This Week - Previous Entries Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 2 - - Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature my interview with Christiano Gherardini: President, Owner & CEO at Turnkey Technologies. Christiano and I talked about the impact of using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages on businesses and software development organizations.

In this podcast, I talk with Søren Pedersen. We talk about teams, value streams, and leveraging agile to improve how teams deliver value. We started with the definition of a team and then got into the practical nitty-gritty of defining value streams and coaching teams. Bio: SØREN PEDERSEN is a co-founder of BuildingBetterSoftware, a strategic leadership consultant, and an international speaker. With more than fifteen years of software development experience, Søren knows how to help businesses meet their digital transformation goals. Using Agile methodologies, he helps leaders achieve organizational efficiency, alignment, and performance improvement while building team empowerment so that they feel confident in engaging with leadership, find managerial balance, and can focus on building better software. Søren has spoken at DevOps Days London, is a contributor for The DevOps Institute, and is a Certified Scrum Master and Product Owner. Website: Email: Twitter: @perdersen_on_sw LinkedIn: Re-Read Saturday News This week...I am hiking in the woods without my laptop, albeit I do have my copy of . I am continuing to focus on using shortlists, which has been a fairly easy transition and also implementing both the panorama cues and panorama sessions. The panorama cues and sessions have been useful up to the point that my dairy becomes wall-to-wall meetings. I am trying to devise an approach for using panorama sessions in this scenario. Suggestions? While I am out in the woods I have re-published the summary of one of the most popular Re-reads, The Goal. We will be back to next week. This Week Previous Entries Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 2 - - Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature an essay on prioritization. The order work is done is a reflection of priority. There is often a difference between assigned priority and the real priority based on when teams start and complete a piece of work. We will also have a visit to the QA Corner with Jeremy Berriault.

In Software Process and Measurement Cast 656 we stay with an agile product and entrepreneurship theme with a conversation with Rahul Aggarwal. We discussed building a business and products to support the gig economy and entrepreneurship. Rahul provides excellent advice on recognizing market needs, experimenting, pivoting when necessary, and building a business. Bio: Being awarded as the Rising Entrepreneur of the year 2019 and Entrepreneur 35 under 35 in 2020, and Asia’s Most Promising Business Leaders 2021 by Economic Times, Rahul Aggarwal has co-founded Designhill and created a unique online marketplace to overcome the challenges faced by the business owners in outsourcing high-quality creative solutions and designers who have been looking for creative freedom. He’s a serial entrepreneur, passionate marketer, investor, advisor, and a firm believer in the concept of constant learning and growing. His astounding digital knowledge and impregnable business skills have led Designhill to be acknowledged as the Creative Startup Of The Year 2019 by Entrepreneur Magazine DesignHill: LinkedIn: Re-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 1 of titled Monotasking In A Nutshell. This chapter lays the foundation for translating the Five Axioms of Monotasking into a simple and straightforward approach. Catch up on my experiment using the concepts on as part of the re-read. This week I am going to work on using shortlists and implementing both the panorama cues and panorama sessions. Week 2 - - Previous Entries Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Upcoming Events! ISMA 18 Virtual Conference, June 24th, 2021 8 AM EDT to 11:15 EDT I will host the event. The event will have a host of great speakers on great topics! ISMA 18 will be free for both IFPUG members and non-members. IFPUG members are eligible for 1 credit at the CFPS Extension Program (CEP) and also attract 3 Technical PDUs in the PMI Talent Triangle®, both by attending the full conference! Register: Real Value of TMMi (SPaMCAST is a Friend of TMMi America) Free webinar from TMMi America featuring Mark Summers June 25th, 2 to 3 PM EDT This webinar will explore the common usages of the TMMi Test Process Improvement framework. We will dive into how: You can leverage this framework to transform the way your organization delivers software. The model can transform your career. Next steps to take on your journey to becoming a Test Process Improvement superhero. The real value of the TMMi is to help you dramatically change the frequency and quality of your software delivery. Register at Next SPaMCAST In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, I will talk with Søren Pedersen. We talked about teams, value streams, and leveraging agile to improve how teams deliver value. We started with the definition of a team and then got into the practical nitty-gritty of defining value streams and coaching teams.

This week we dive into what is often viewed as arcane science by the development community, pricing. Pricing can make or break any product. Everyone in the value chain has to have a good understanding of how pricing decisions are made and how they can impact what should be built and when. One critical part of the conversation focuses on whether there is an ideal pattern for product and development to work together? If not, what are the consequences? Our conversation just skims the surface of Ajit Ghuman’s new book which hit the book stands in April. Ajit is currently Head of Product Marketing at Narvar, an enterprise-grade customer engagement platform that helps retailers inspire loyalty beyond reason by enabling seamless post-purchase experiences. A SaaS Product Marketing veteran, he has helped companies such as Medallia, Helpshift, and Feedzai differentiate their products, grow revenue, and win. Ajit is an expert in software pricing and his upcoming book, Price to Scale, covers an end-to-end approach to packaging and pricing for high-growth technology companies. He is an avid writer and routinely shares his insights as a member of the Forbes Communication Council, the Bizjournals Leadership Trust, and at Sharebird.com. He is an executive member at Revenue Collective, the leading network of commercial leaders working in the fastest-growing companies worldwide. Web LinkedIn Twitter Re-Read Saturday News This week we tack the introduction to . The introduction is titled The Five Axioms of Monotasking.; Staffan takes us directly into the deep end. As I noted last week, I will take at least one concept/idea for the charter we are reading forward and try to apply it in my life. As I re-read the introduction, I identified two potential behavior changes based on the five axioms. They are: Resume doing daily retrospectives (focused on Axiom 5) Quiesce Teams and Slack (focused on Axiom 2) I am going to resume daily retrospectives which I stopped doing early last year as I adjusted my work life after I stopped leaving the house on a daily basis. Option 3 would have the biggest impact but will require more groundwork given expectations of instant availability. Has anyone experimented with quiescing chats in Team and Slack (or other similar tools)? Week 1 - - Week 2 - - https://bit.ly/2TXVfwt Upcoming Events! ISMA 18 Virtual Conference, June 24th, 2021 8 AM EDT to 11:15 EDT I will host the event. The event will have a host of great speakers on great topics! ISMA 18 will be free for both IFPUG members and non-members. IFPUG members are eligible for 1 credit at the CFPS Extension Program (CEP) and also attract 3 Technical PDUs in the PMI Talent Triangle®, both by attending the full conference! Register: Real Value of TMMi (SPaMCAST is a Friend of TMMi America) Free webinar from TMMi America featuring Mark Summers June 25th, 2 to 3 PM EDT This webinar will explore the common usages of the TMMi Test Process Improvement framework. We will dive into how: You can leverage this framework to transform the way your organization delivers software. The model can transform your career. Next steps to take on your journey to becoming a Test Process Improvement superhero. The real value of the TMMi is to help you dramatically change the frequency and quality of your software delivery. Register at Next SPaMCAST In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, we stay with an agile product theme with a conversation the Rahul Aggarwal. We discussed building products to support the gig economy and entrepreneurship. Anyone thinking about a side hustle or starting a business will want to listen to Rahul’s sage advice.

This week is a doubleheader (baseball term for two games played by the same teams on the same day against each other). We begin our re-read of and we have my interview with Staffan. Several years ago I read Staffan’s book on Pomodoro which changed how I work. Monotasking might be even more useful and impactful. We discussed how to apply the ideas in the book to improve focus, productivity, and quality of life. Staffan Nöteberg is an enterprise agility coach with years of experience in improving personal productivity. He is also the author of Pomodoro Technique Illustrated (2009) and teaches seminars on monotasking to companies in North America, Europe, and East Asia. Twitter: Website: Re-Read Saturday News We start our re-read of . The book is 237 pages published by Racehorse Publishing (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) and was released in English on June 1, 2021. For most of the readers of the blog and listeners to the podcast, this will be an initial read. The book’s contents include a Preface, Introduction, 7 numbered chapters, an Afterword, and then other stuff like index and more (we will not cover the other stuff but I am glad for the index and endnotes). Now the fun part. Instead of a straight re-read and discussion. I am going to read a chapter, highlight the parts I am going to implement in the next week, tell you what I am going to do, and then the following week admit how well I performed. Week 1 - - As a reminder, all of the entries from , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller are available! Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12 - - Week 13: t - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16 - - Upcoming Events! ISMA 18 Virtual Conference, June 24th, 2021 8 AM EDT to 11:15 EDT I will host the event. The event will have a host of great speakers on great topics! ISMA 18 will be free for both IFPUG members and non-members. IFPUG members are eligible for 1 credit at the CFPS Extension Program (CEP) and also attract 3 Technical PDUs in the PMI Talent Triangle®, both by attending the full conference! Register: Real Value of TMMi (SPaMCAST is a Friend of TMMi America) Free webinar from TMMi America featuring Mark Summers June 25th, 2 to 3 PM EDT This webinar will explore the common usages of the TMMi Test Process Improvement framework. We will dive into how: You can leverage this framework to transform the way your organization delivers software. The model can transform your career. Next steps to take on your journey to becoming a Test Process Improvement superhero. The real value of the TMMi is to help you dramatically change the frequency and quality of your software delivery. Register at Next SPaMCAST In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, we talk with Ajit Ghuman, Head of Product Marketing at Narvar. Ajit and I talk pricing, marketing, product engagement/ownership, and development. Is there an ideal pattern for product and development to work together? If not, what are the consequences?

Work Entry: An Introduction, focuses on what work entry is and why it is the single most important part of determining whether a team is dependable, predictable, and even remotely agile. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development. Jon and I discuss, wrestle, and chew on how the idea of a product backlog can exist in a project environment. Re-Read Saturday News We have read or re-read by Todd Miller and Ryan Ripley cover-to-cover if you don’t count the index at the back of the book (and I certainly do not). As a wrap-up, I briefly consider three points that came to mind during the re-read. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? Next week we will start our re-read of by laying out an approach. I am contemplating combining the re-read with experience reports as I try to put the ideas in the book to use. More on that next week. This Week’s Installment Week 16 - - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12 - - Week 13: t - Week 14: - Week 15: - Next SPaMCAST Speaking of , in the next podcast, we will feature the interview I did with Staffan covering the book that we are about to re-read. We discussed how to apply the ideas in the book to improve focus, productivity, and quality of life.

Intellectual property protection impacts almost everyone whether they are aware of it or not. Trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets are all part of a wide-ranging discussion of IP protection in the software environment. Rick provides great insight into a rapidly evolving field. Rick Martin is the owner and founder of Martin IP Law Group which is based in Evansville, Indiana but serves clients throughout the United States. He is a graduate of the Purdue University School of Industrial Engineering and the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. Prior to beginning his career as an Intellectual Property Attorney, Rick worked as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Rick has obtained hundreds of patents for inventors in a variety of fields, including timing systems, mine safety devices, broadband antennas, RFID, electronics, ranging, oil & gas, semiconductors, and other mechanical and electro-mechanical devices. For over 25 years, he has been helping entrepreneurs and businesses protect their ideas, inventions, and identities through patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and related contracts, licenses, and agreements. Email: Website: LinkedIn: Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 15 in , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, covers the retrospective. The retrospective, I think, is the most important part of Scrum. Helping it to work well is important. Next week we will conclude our re-read with a few closing remarks. Make sure I have your input on what to re-read next by voting in the poll that can be found in the show notes. Don’t like polls? Email me your choice at . If you have noT bought your copy of -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 15: - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12 - - Week 13: t - Week 14: - Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature a longer essay titled, Work Entry: An Introduction. This essay brings together a number of concepts to focus on what work entry is and why it is the single most important part of determining whether a team is dependable and predictable. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development.

This week Dr. Eric Cole and I talk cybersecurity and entrepreneurship. Most of you will have been on the edge of your seat while you tracked the news of the ransomware attack on the . Security can not be an afterthought. Remember this is not a drill; this not hype. Also, preorder Dr. Cole’s new book which will be released on June 1st. Dr. Cole is a world-renowned cybersecurity entrepreneur and founder of , Eric understands the dangers of cybersecurity and knows how to build successful companies. Today, Dr. Cole shares the many lessons learned from overcoming adversity and staying committed to your purpose. Dr. Cole focuses on security and innovation with a mission to make cyberspace safe in a world where it can be an unrecognized danger and threat. Website: LinkedIn: The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit which starts tomorrow! The First Global Scrum Master Summit Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 14 in , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, shines its spotlight on the Sprint Review. This event is geared to generating feedback to help the team and organization deliver value. We are getting close to the end of the book and I would like your input on what to tackle next. There is a poll in the show notes to collect your ideas! If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 14: - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12 - - Week 13: t - Next SPaMCAST In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, I talk with Rick Martin about intellectual property, and why everyone involved in software needs to understand how IP law can impact the value they deliver. Copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets are all part of protecting intellectual property.

Work entry, in its simplest form, is the steps needed for work to be triaged to ensure that it is the right work, that it is ready to be worked on, and the priority of the work. This week we talk about five common patterns. On Tuesday I will include the PDF in the feed to see if I can spur a discussion about other patterns. We also have a visit from Tony Timbol with his To Tell A Story column. In this installment we discuss different forms of user stories and when to use them. The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 13 in , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, discusses the concept of a deployable product increment and done. What we deliver is a big deal, getting it right is the difference between satisfaction and all sorts of stress. We are getting close to the end of the book and I would like your input on what to tackle next. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 13: t - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12 - - Next SPaMCAST In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, we talk to Dr. Eric Cole. We talk cybersecurity and entrepreneurship. If you did not understand the potential impact of security, just find any major newspaper for Sunday, May 9th, and read about the ransomware attack on the . This not a drill, this not hype.

Experimentation is a dirty word in many organizations, however, it can be a powerful tool to drive and guide change. Tammy Gretz shares how she adopted experiments in her practice and how she uses them to change the behavior and culture of people and organizations. I am occasionally asked why I enjoy meet-ups so much. Meeting people like Tammy is a major part of the reason. Thanks to the for the great introduction which lead to this interview! Tammy’s bio: Tammy is an “Agile Coach Making Shift Happen” “I exist to generously collaborate, embrace tension and use it to make shift happen.” I have been influencing change through servant leadership, elbow grease, and lattes for over 20 years. I am a massive maker and the majority of my education comes from experimenting and the relentless pursuit of understanding team dynamics, embracing tension, and using it to fuel innovation and change in the workplace and beyond. The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 12 in , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, talks about the daily scrum. The daily “meeting” might be a ubiquitous feature of corporate life but it can be better! If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 12 - - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST In the next SPaMCAST, we will chew on work entry patterns. There are 5 basic patterns which are you? Why is one better than another (some are downright not useful for agile). We will also have a visit from Tony Timbol bringing the story on user stories to the Software Process and Measurement Cast listeners

Alex Omeyer and I discussed defining, tracking, and measuring technical debt. Technical debt generates a liability that every organization must deal with. As Alex states, “tech debt might not be the sexiest topic” but if teams and organizations don’t address their liabilities it will be difficult to deliver the value customers need and expect. We also talk about the practicalities of pivoting life ambitions and entrepreneurship. Alex is the Co-founder and CEO of Stepsize. Alex personally spends most of his time speaking to the best software development teams in the world about how they handle technical debt. Hit him up to talk tech debt. He loves to share what they taught him. Alex and his co-founders are building Stepsize—a free tool for engineering teams to track and prioritize technical debt. Stepsize’s mission is to make software development more accessible, efficient, and powerful. Website: LinkedIn: Twitter @ The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. Last call! The DevOps Online Summit is nearly here! During the week of April 26th – 30th Tom Henricksen and crew will deliver the third summit. The goal is to bring together 5000 DevOps professionals. Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 11 in , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, talks about the sprint backlog. The sprint backlog is the work teams do on a day-to-day basis. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 11: - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Next SPaMCAST In the next SPaMCAST, we talk to Tammy Gretz. Experimentation is a dirty word in many organizations. Tammy explains how she uses powerful experiments to change the behavior and culture of people and organizations. Thanks to the for the great introduction!

The majority of work entry problems are caused by . The eight problems often occur in clusters and are a reflection of organizational culture. Knowing that there are eight problems is useful when they can be recognized. Unless people wear their motivations on signs hung around their neck, recognition requires conversation and observation. Fixing any problem starts with recognizing that problem. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her, Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast. Today Susan and I discuss the concept of Hybrid Agile and the new book Hybrid Project Management that Susan wrote with Mark Tolbert The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. Next Week! The DevOps Online Summit is nearly here! During the week of April 26th – 30th Tom Henricksen and crew will deliver the third summit. The goal is to bring together 5000 DevOps professionals. Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 10 in , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, dives into planning. Sprint planning is one of the major events in Scrum. All sprints should start with planning (not planning is one of the silliest, but a common antipattern). If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 10: - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Next SPaMCAST In the next SPaMCAST, Alex Omeyer and I talk about technical debt. Everyone uses the term and sometimes they even mean the same thing! Mr. Omeyer describes why tech debt is such an important concept, how we can agree on a definition, and how to measure it.

In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 646, Albert Ahdoot and I focus on discussing the impact of strong off-premise infrastructure on the delivery of value, the impact on the bottom line, and the mitigation of risk. Albert Ahdoot is a successful entrepreneur focused on building IT businesses through meaningful relationships. His flagship company, Colocation America, was founded to serve as the premier data center provider for IT solutions looking for a secure and scalable IT. Albert is a highly respected business development expert who has helped many technology companies achieve great success. Albert received his Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UCLA and his masters in Bio-Technology from NYU. Albert A.’s Profile Website (Company Website) Email albert@colocationamerica.com Twitter The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. Tick Tock! The DevOps Online Summit is nearly here! During the week of April 26th – 30th Tom Henricksen and crew will deliver the third summit. The goal is to bring together 5000 DevOps professionals. Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 9 in , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, addresses the ubiquitous concept of sprints. I have observed teams using weekly sprints and have even run into a team doing 6-month sprints (it did not end well). Everyone is sprinting; Todd and Ryan address some of the more critical antipatterns in this chapter. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 9: - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST Broken record time, work entry is the single most important process for any team’s health. Teams with little to no control of work entry will always be running around like their hair is on fire...which actually might be more pleasant. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her, Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast.

The headlines of 3 and 4 April 2021 are stark - the data of 533 million Facebook users available on the web (change your password now). You have 533 MILLION reasons to take Paul Katzoff’s message on data security to heart. () For almost a decade, Paul has worked with technology companies seeking manageable growth and brand loyalty/expansion. His career has ranged from being an integral part of a new business start-up team to becoming a key driver in the business enabling it to become both sustainable and profitable. Currently, Paul serves as the CEO of -- a data security company used by 44 of the fortune 100 companies. As a leader in the data security industry, Paul would love to chat about how to mitigate any potential data breaches with work-from-home becoming the new norm. The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. DevOps professionals throughout the world come together and share their learnings here at the DevOps Online Summit. This coming April 26th – 30th we are having our third summit. Our goal is to bring together 5000 DevOps professionals. Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 8 in , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, tackles management. The gap between labor and management is an age-old problem. I am sure that the artisans and workers that constructed the pyramids had their own version of Dilbert. The focus on the team, a core tenant of agile and Scrum, is perceived as exacerbating the management versus worker dichotomy. By identifying anti-patterns and proposing approaches to solving those issues this chapter is useful for bridging the gap. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 8: - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 646, Albert Ahdoot and I ocus on discussing the impact of strong off-premise infrastructure on the delivery of value, the impact on the bottom line and the mitigation of risk.

In the SPaMCAST 644, we talk teams. At the core of agile is the belief that the team is the fundamental building block of work. Because they are so important, organizations put tons of effort into helping and guiding teams. The problem is not that teams aren’t important or that we aren’t working hard to make them better, teams are still chronically messed up. We discuss a framework for guiding support for teams. We also have a visit from who brings his QA Corner to the podcast. Jeremy and I discuss the differences between static and dynamic testing. Understanding the definition of each is an important step in improving quality. The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. DevOps professionals throughout the world come together and share their learnings here at the DevOps Online Summit. This coming April 26th – 30th we are having our third summit. Our goal is to bring together 5000 DevOps professionals. Re-Read Saturday News In made the startling statement that a Scrum Master will be your next CEO. Chapter 7 in , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller echoes the power of that statement by emphasizing the definition of a scrum master. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 7: - Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST Next up is data security. We live in frightening times in the cyber world. Paul Katzoff and I discuss why data security is more important than ever and what we can do to make the cbyer-world less scary. Everyone in the value chain is responsible for data security.

This week, Caleb Woods, CEO and Senior Software Craftsman at RoleModel Software joins the podcast. Caleb and I talk about the role of craftsmanship in developing and maintaining software (or really anything else). Caleb Woods - RoleModel’s CEO - Caleb is a proven leader with extensive experience evaluating technology trends, leading teams, and implementing best practices. As CEO, Caleb promotes continuous improvement while cultivating a collaborative work environment. Caleb is a technologist who understands and solves complex business problems. He has a passion for software craftsmanship and producing sustainable software and has become the visionary leader of the next generation of RoleModel Software. Caleb began his software career as a web developer at an academic coaching company, where he gained experience in infrastructure migrations, team leadership, and business analysis. He’s continued that dedication to technology advancement. At his previous position as Chief Technology Officer for RoleModel, Caleb led the expansion of the company's technical and design craftsmanship capabilities. That background helps Caleb effectively develop and evaluate RoleModel's technology landscape. Caleb sets the vision for the company's strategic full-stack architecture and is an expert at putting together high-performance teams and matching them to clients/projects’ needs. Caleb also applies the ideas of continuous improvement to his personal life through effective micro habits and is a big believer in intermittent fasting. He also enjoys playing disc golf, cycling, and watching Michigan State football and basketball. He and his wife, Kimberly, have three young kids. LinkedIn: Websites: (calebwoods.com) (RoleModel Software) Twitter The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. DevOps professionals throughout the world come together and share their learnings here at the DevOps Online Summit. This coming April 26th – 30th we are having our third summit. Our goal is to bring together 5000 DevOps professionals. Re-Read Saturday News This week we read Chapter 6 of , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller. This chapter discusses some of the antipatterns for the second role in Scrum, the development team. The development team covers the people that aren’t the scrum master or product owner — the group of people that actually takes an idea and converts it into something tangible. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST Next, we will revisit the topic of teams and what constitutes a team. Putting six people together (in-person or virtually) and assigning a manager does not a team make. In order to get work done effectively and efficiently, we need to get this right!

Vasco Duarte returns to the podcast to discuss the Scrum Master. Scrum Masters are the face of agile in many organizations. Helping team facilitators get the role right benefits not only the agile community but every business they are involved with! Vasco has been working in the software industry since 1998 and has learned the hard way what works (most of the time) and what does not work (almost never). His goal is to help our industry evolve. We can’t become better without trying out new and innovative approaches to software development. The majority of our businesses run on software. We owe it to our society to get better at an activity that affects so much our lives and our countries’ economies. Vasco consults companies that understand software is a key component of their business model. Get in touch via twitter: @duarte_vasco; or on his company’s web-site: http://www.oikosofy.com/. Check out the Scrum Master’s Toolbox Podcast: https://scrum-master-toolbox.org/ The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Coming Soon. Sign-up to be notified when registrations open Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. DevOps professionals throughout the world come together and share their learnings here at the DevOps Online Summit. This coming April 26th – 30th we are having our third summit. Our goal is to bring together 5000 DevOps professionals. Re-Read Saturday News This week we read Chapter 5 of , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller. Chapter 5 dives into fixing the antipatterns that hover around the product backlog. This chapter reinforces that a team and product owner are only as good as the backlog they are working from. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST Next week we will talk with Caleb Woods, CEO and| Senior Software Craftsman at RoleModel Software. Caleb and I talk about the role of craftsmanship in developing and maintaining software (or really anything else).

In the podcast this week, we discuss the Agile Coaching Code of Ethics and the process of building an ethical foundation. Shane Hastie and Craig Smith have been leading the effort to craft a useful Agile Coaching Code of Ethics for the past year. These two thought leaders have helped to pull together a diverse group of coaches, and then guide that herd of cats in order to create a new force to guide agile coaches of all stripes. In May 2017 Shane Hastie joined ICAgile as the Director of Agile Learning Programs, tasked with ensuring the learning objectives remain valid and useful, supporting the various communities that make up the ICAgile ecosystem, and seeking ways to advance the state of agile learning. In November 2019 he moved into the Director of Community Development role, building and supporting the global community of thought leaders, members, instructors, and certification holders. Shane’s Profile - Email - Twitter - Craig Smith has been active in the IT industry for over 15 years. He has been an Agile practitioner for over 10 years and is a Certified Scrum Master and a member of both the Scrum Alliance and Agile Alliance and as an Agile Coach, he has worked on a number of high-profile technical and business projects. He regularly conducts Agile training and has presented at a number of Australian and international conferences. He is also an Agile Editor for InfoQ and co-hosts an Agile podcast called The Agile Revolution. Craig’s Profile - Websites (Blog) (Podcast) (Company Website) Email - Twitter - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the Global Scrum Master Summit. The First Global Scrum Master Summit Coming Soon. Sign-up to be notified when registrations open Week of May 17th, 2021, Live and Recorded Organized by the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. DevOps professionals throughout the world come together and share their learnings here at the DevOps Online Summit. This coming April 26th – 30th we are having our third summit. Our goal is to bring together 5000 DevOps professionals. Re-Read Saturday News This week we read Chapter 4 of , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller. I have argued that the role of the Product Owner is the hardest in Scrum. The role is difficult for many reasons, Todd and Ryan tackle seven of the most pernicious antipatterns of product ownership in Chapter 4, , of Fixing Your Scrum. Compromising Scrum by accepting any of these antipatterns will need other compromises which will increase the overhead needed to deliver value. That, in turn, will hurt the business. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? Previous Installments Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - https://bit.ly/3qpKvSn Next SPaMCAST Next week, Vasco Duarte returns to the podcast to discuss the Scrum Master. Scrum Masters are the face of agile in many organizations. Helping team facilitators get the role right benefits not only the agile community but every business they are involved with!

The idea of Communities of Practice is thrown around alot in organizations, often without thinking about the goals of a CoP. Why? Organizations are increasingly becoming more diverse and distributed, while at the same time pursuing mechanisms to increase collaboration between groups and consistency of knowledge and practice hence the rapid growth of Communities of Practice. Let's explore the goals of a CoP. This week also marks the premiere of Tony Timbol’s new column, “To Tell A Story.” In this week’s installment, we begin to explore the nuances of User Stories. Tony is a practitioner, consultant, entrepreneur, and science fiction author -- Tony does it all. Email: tony.timbol@agileready.net Web: Interested in Mikolaj Pawlikoski’s book, I have discount codes for the listeners of the Software Process and Measurement Cast, ping me @ and I will share them with you! The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. DevOps professionals throughout the world come together and share their learnings here at the DevOps Online Summit. This coming April 26th – 30th we are having our third summit. Our goal is to bring together 5000 DevOps professionals. Re-Read Saturday News This we continue our re-read of , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller with Chapter 3 titled . You can make a good argument that values shape behaviors. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST Next week, the Agile Coaching Code of Ethics takes center stage with Shane Hastie and Craig Smith. Shane and Craig have been leading the effort to craft a useful Agile Coaching Code of Ethics for the past year. The two have helped to pull together a diverse group of coaches, and then guide that herd of cats in order to create a first draft of the code.

Chaos Engineering comes to the Software Process and Measurement Cast this week delivered (chaotically) by Mikolaj Pawlikoski. Miko and I talked about the definition of chaos engineering, why chaos is not scary, and most importantly his new book . One of the most important side effects of chaos engineering is uninterrupted sleep caused by things not going bump in the night! Mikolaj Pawlikowski is a recognized authority on chaos engineering. He is the creator of the Kubernetes chaos engineering tool PowerfulSeal, and the networking visibility tool Goldpinger. https://mikolajpawlikowski.com/ I have discount codes for the listeners of the Software Process and Measurement Cast, ping me @ and I will share them with you! The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. Not to put too fine a point on it, one of the best ways to get your message heard is to speak. The crew at the DevOps Online Summit provides a phenomenal platform to network with fellow practitioners from all over the world. Start the journey to speaking at the DevOps Online Summit 2021 by submitting at Re-Read Saturday News Today we dive into the main part of , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, published in 2020 by The Pragmatic Programmers. In this installment of Re-read Saturday, we tackle both Chapter 1: A Brief Introduction To Scrum and Chapter 2: Why Scrum Goes Bad. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 1: - Week 2: - Next SPaMCAST Next week, we will explore the goals of Communities of Practice. Organizations are increasingly becoming more diverse and distributed, while at the same time pursuing mechanisms to increase collaboration between groups and consistency of knowledge and practice hence the rapid growth of Communities of Practice. What are their goals? Also, Tony Timbol brings his brand new column to the podcast. “To Tell A Story” will explore the nuances of User Stories led by a practitioner, consultant, entrepreneur, and science fiction author. Tony does it all.

This week we connect with Paul Clayson to talk about cybersecurity in the IoT space. When you are dealing with extreme constraints being secure is complicated and doing nothing is a really bad option. Paul also weighs in on the CMMC (new security model) and serial entrepreneurism. Paul’s Bio: CEO of . 98% of IoT devices are currently unsecured. On average a data breach costs $8.2 million. AgilePQ was born to address these issues. AgilePQ has raised a total of $10M. Paul has extensive experience in launching and growing early-stage companies. He has launched four disruptive technology companies and served as CEO to five early-stage companies in nanotechnology, automotive, graphene, carbon nanotube, PCB, microprocessor, and other advanced technologies. Connect with Paul at The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. Not to put too fine a point on it, one of the best ways to get your message heard is to speak. The crew at the DevOps Online Summit provides a phenomenal platform to network with fellow practitioners from all over the world. Start the journey to speaking at the DevOps Online Summit 2021 by submitting at https://bit.ly/3syp2c5 Re-Read Saturday News Today we begin the re-read of , by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, published in 2020 by The Pragmatic Programmers. Over the next 14 or 15 weeks we will have fun exploring the concepts in the book and sharing ideas on how to use the information Ryan and Todd deliver. If you have not bought your copy -- what are you waiting for? This Week’s Installment Week 1: - Next SPaMCAST In the next podcast, I talk to Mikolaj Pawlikowski. Mikolaj and I discuss his new book from Manning Publications, Chaos Engineering, Site reliability through controlled disruption. Our discussion covered the definition of chaos engineering and how it can be applied to improve value and reliability.

This week the Cast features our essay titled, “.” The improvement imperative is driven by the need to stay competitive at a holistic level. One would expect that continuous process improvement or continuous improvement would be discussed earnestly at every staff meetings at every level of an organization, and at every meeting. It isn’t. Jon M. Quigley returns with an installment of the Alpha and Omega of Product Development. Jon and I completed an arc on product quality with a discussion of the cost of poor quality. The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. Not to put too fine a point on it, one of the best ways to get your message heard is to speak. The crew at the DevOps Online Summit provides a phenomenal platform to network with fellow practitioners from all over the world. Start the journey to speaking at the DevOps Online Summit 2021 by submitting at https://bit.ly/3syp2c5 Re-Read Saturday News On November 28, 2020, we began the reread of by Jeff Dalton. Since jumping over quite a few chapters last week I have received a few emails asking what was up. For the record, I have not had any significant traumas falling during my daily runs and walks (I was asked – I think tongue in cheek). During the re-read, we primarily focused on the chapters that revolve around the Agile Performance Holarchy (APH). I chose not to focus on the almost encyclopedic listing of techniques that is an important feature of the book, but not most groundbreaking. The listing of techniques is useful even if not using agile methods. For example practices such as continuous integration or arc of conversation aren’t dependent on using a specific framework. Next week, we will begin (it is time to buy a copy). This week’s installment can be found at Previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Next SPaMCAST In the next podcast, I talk to Paul Clayson. We talked about serial entrepreneurism and cybersecurity in the IoT space. Cybersecurity in the IoT space is complicated not only by the sheer number of devices and but also by available storage and processing constraints. It is hard, and Paul provides penetrating advice!

Tony Timbol of Agile Ready joins the Software Process and Measurement Cast this week. Tony and I have worked together in a past life, so we had a bit of fun poking at each other as we talked about user stories, Tony's new product, Agile Ready, and entrepreneurship. Tony delivers a number of great tips, some of which I already have put to use. Tony Timbol is an agile coach, trainer, and consultant with a 35-year history in technology and software development. Currently serving as an Enterprise Agile Coach for a large healthcare insurance provider, Tony teaches and coaches agile best practice principles, the SAFE framework specializing in the Product Owner role, and agile requirements authoring processes. Other interests include cooking, writing novels, and binge-watching sci-fi (no matter how bad). Early in 2018 Tony conceptualized the Agile Ready Platform and began experimentation and preliminary design discussions with trusted friends and colleagues. This eventually led to a commitment to develop and launch the Agile Ready Platform in early 2021. Contact Data: Email: tony.timbol@agileready.net Web: The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. Not to put too fine a point on it, one of the best ways to get your message heard is to speak. The crew at the DevOps Online Summit provides a phenomenal platform to network with fellow practitioners from all over the world. Start the journey to speaking at the DevOps Online Summit 2021 by submitting at https://bit.ly/3syp2c5 Re-Read Saturday News Today we take on Chapter73 of by Jeff Dalton. I read (and re-read) this chapter as two pieces. The first part describes Jeff’s and Broadsword’s (his company) journey up to the point they decided to become agile. The background is important to understand why adopting the agile mindset and then the techniques was a natural step as the organization matured. The second part provides an example of applying the Agile Performance Holarchy. In two weeks, we will begin (it is time to buy a copy). This week’s installment can be found at Previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Next SPaMCAST In the next cast, we are going back to the magazine format for a week. We will feature our essay titled, “.” The improvement imperative is driven by the need to stay competitive at a holistic level. One would expect that continuous process improvement or continuous improvement would be discussed earnestly at every staff meeting at every level of an organization, and at every meeting. It isn’t. We will also have a visit from Jon M. Quigley to talk quality from a product development point of view.

Cue the music . . . Happy Birthday, Software Process and Measurement Cast! Today we begin year 15 with a visit from Johanna Rothman. We talked about her THREE new books: Practical Ways to Manage Yourself: Modern Management Made Easy, Book 1 Practical Ways to Lead & Serve (Manage) Others: Modern Management Made Easy, Book 2 - Practical Ways to Lead an Innovative Organization: Modern Management Made Easy, Book 3 - We of course covered more ground. For example about 2/3rds of the way through we talked about why the word experiment is a dirty word in most organizations. This is a longer interview, but when I grow up I want to be just like Johanna (I am serious). Here is her bio: Johanna Rothman, known as the “Pragmatic Manager,” offers frank advice for your tough problems. She helps leaders and teams do reasonable things that work. Equipped with that knowledge, they can decide how to adapt their product development. With her trademark practicality and humor, Johanna is the author of 18 books about many aspects of product development. Her most recent books are the Modern Management Made Easy series, From Chaos to Successful Distributed Agile Teams (with Mark Kilby) and Create Your Successful Agile Project: Collaborate, Measure, Estimate, Deliver. See all her books, blog, and other resources at jrothman.com and createadaptablelife.com. The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. Not to put too fine a point on it, one of the best ways to get your message heard is to speak. The crew at the DevOps Online Summit provides a phenomenal platform to network with fellow practitioners from all over the world. Start the journey to speaking at the DevOps Online Summit 2021 by submitting at Re-Read Saturday News Today we take on Chapter 7 of by Jeff Dalton. In three more weeks, we will begin (it is time to buy a copy). This week’s installment can be found at www.tomcagley.com/blog Previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST User Stories and Tony Timbol will take center stage. User stories are ubiquitous in agile. Getting them right is really important. Tony gives us some ideas to move the ball forward.

In this edition of the Software Process and Measurement Cast, I talk with Rick Hall, CEO of Aginity. Rick and I talked about analytics, which has been Rick’s lifelong passion. Rick provides insights on how analytics fits in a modern organization and how to staff that group. We also discussed serial entrepreneurship. His advice is, if you don’t have passion for the idea, don’t try it. Rick Hall is a software entrepreneur focused on the analytics market. He has led the development of over a dozen software products and taken several companies from the early stage to an eventual sale. Rick led a group in the purchase of Aginity in March of 2020, and has taken over the CEO role as a result. Aginity was an early innovator in Analytics Management and launched Aginity Pro early last year. The product is off to a fast start attracting 13,000 subscribers in the first nine months and is set to grow by more than 250% through 2021. Reach out to Rick The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud media sponsor of the DevOps Online Summit. Not to put too fine a point on it, one of the best ways to get your message heard is to speak. The crew at the DevOps Online Summit provides a phenomenal platform to network with fellow practitioners from all over the world. Start the journey to speaking at the DevOps Online Summit 2021 by submitting at https://bit.ly/3syp2c5 Re-Read Saturday News As we begin Chapter 6 this week, we have four more weeks of our re-read of by Jeff Dalton. We have three more chapters and then we will conclude with a few final notes before beginning (it is time to buy a copy). Chapter 6 goes into detail on the Performance Circle: Affirming. This is the part of the Agile Performance Holoracy (APH), Affirming asks teams and organizations to continuously evaluate whether they are being effective, and then to take steps to improve. This week’s installment can be found at www.tomcagley.com/blog Previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST Year 14 is a wrap with this podcast, next week we start the next 14! Thank you to everyone that has been part of the first 14 years. The next week the Software Process and Measurement Cast week we begin year 15 with a visit from Johanna Rothman. We talked about her THREE new books, and, as usual, people, agile, and the world. I could not ask for a better start to our podcast year!

The Podcast this week features my interview with Unmesh Srivastava. We talked about organizational culture and disrupting health care through development that is customer-focused. We also spent time discussing the need for empathy in order to find critical business needs. Unmesh points out that many times technologists think with their technology before they think with their hearts. Unmesh is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at P3 Health Partners. Over the years, Unmesh and his teams have helped US healthcare with opportunities to drive innovation and disruptive transformation using digital enablement. He has worked with multiple innovative organizations building and deploying the next generation of healthcare. All the digital enablement projects have been geared towards driving a differentiated provider and patient experience while reducing the cost of care and improving quality of care. The technology products delivered by Unmesh and his teams range from clinical decision support technology for providers, data and artificial intelligence-enabled seamless care experience for patients, and multiple other innovations to drive down the administrative burden on the providers and health systems. Reach out on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/unmeshsrivastava/ Re-Read Saturday News This week it is time for Chapter 5 of by Jeff Dalton. This week we visit the Performance Circle, Crafting. I often state, somewhat tongue and cheek, that this part of agile is where all the stuff that’s required to actually create and deliver quality products and services occurs. If I wanted to be even blunter, I might state that this is where the magic happens – where words become something tangible. This week’s installment can be found at www.tomcagley.com/blog Previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST The next week the Software Process and Measurement Cast completes it’s 14th year with a discussion with Rick Hall. Rick and I talked about analytics and entrepreneurship. Rick is a successful serial entrepreneur who is happy to share his insights.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 632 reprises a panel from the 18th of March 2020 just as things were getting interesting on the working from the home front. Today we discuss what they have learned working with and supporting remote teams versus how it was supposed to work. The panel is: Jeff Dalton, jeff@broadswordsolutions.com Amy McDonough Amy, McDonough@spr.com Sandeep Koorse, Sandeep@koorse.com Christopher Hurney, Christopherhurney@gmail.com Tom Cagley, tcagley@tomcagley.com 2020 was a year of firsts, this week one of those firsts intrudes on the podcast. Some sort of equipment error destroyed the first 8 ish minutes of the recording was lost. Actually lost was not a perfect description, in your mind picture a high-pitched screech. Then it was gone and the rest of the discussion was wonderful. I have chopped out the ear killing screech and we pick up late in the first question with Chris Hurney and go from there! Re-Read Saturday News This week it is time for Chapter 4 of by Jeff Dalton. The Performance Circle, Envisioning, encompasses the behaviors and actions to describe what is required for “high-quality products and services.” This week’s installment can be found at www.tomcagley.com/blog Previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast features my interview with Unmesh Srivastava. We talked about organizational culture and disrupting health care through development that is customer-focused.

This week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast features our interview with Ted Harrington, author of HACKABLE: How to Do Application Security Right. Application security requires planning, coding, and testing. It is not something that you can easily remedy after the fact - it needs to be part of the conversation before you write one line of code. Ted provides insights for developers, C-level executives, and product owners. If you have not bought a copy (), one for you and one for your boss, and listen to the interview together. Ted’s Bio Ted Harrington is the author of HACKABLE: How to Do Application Security Right and the Executive Partner at Independent Security Evaluators (ISE), the company of ethical hackers famous for hacking cars, medical devices, and password managers. He’s helped hundreds of companies fix tens of thousands of security vulnerabilities, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, and more. For his stewardship of security research that Wired Magazine says “wins the prize, hands down,” Ted has been named both Executive of the Year by the American Business Awards and an SD Metro 40 Under 40 entrepreneur. He leads a team that started and organizes IoT Village, an event whose hacking contest is a three-time DEFCON Black Badge winner, representing the discovery of more than 300 zero-day vulnerabilities (and counting). Re-Read Saturday News This week we are talking a break from re-reading by Jeff Dalton. I spent way too much time on Zoom calls enjoying physically distant holidays with family and friends. This week’s installment can be found at www.tomcagley.com/blog Previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast reprises a panel from the 18th of March 2020 just as things were getting interesting to discuss what they have learned working and supporting remote teams versus how supposed it would all work. The panel was comprised of: Jeff Dalton jeff@broadswordsolutions.com Amy McDonough Amy.McDonough@spr.com Sandeep Koorse Sandeep@koorse.com Christopher Hurney Christopherhurney@gmail.com And myself! tcagley@tomcagley.com

In March 2020, as our world was shrinking and words like 'lockdown' and 'zoom-bombing' were becoming a reality, we recorded and aired . Paul Laberge, Susan Parente, Jo Ann Sweeney, John Voris, and I talked about how we could create or preserve interactions leading to serendipity. Remote working was new for many people. This week we discuss what went well and what have we learned from nearly a year of working remotely. As the editor of the SPaMCAST it is my great pleasure to reconvene a group of people that have such great insight into people. The discussion is full of great ideas to improve remote and hybrid working environments, but most of all it is full of ideas to help respect people in tough times or not. Panelist Bios Jo Ann Sweeney FCIM FIIC MCIPR is an engagement and communication consultant. Typically, she acts as change management lead on complex programs, facilitating the development of effective engagement, training, and communication strategies, and then assisting as the strategies are implemented. Clients value her deep understanding of audiences. Jo Ann is known for clarifying the complex and for persuading key stakeholders to get involved and actively support change. You are welcome to download a complimentary copy of Jo Ann’s guide How to Explain Change in 8 Easy Steps at Contact Jo Ann at jo.ann@sweeneycomms.com John Voris is the current leader of AgilePhilly, the local user group in the Philadelphia area for Scrum, Kanban, and Lean Software. () His day job is working on financial applications for Crown Cork & Seal, an essential company with over 100 years of manufacturing food and beverage cans. Prior to Crown, John was an independent software consultant for 30+ years helping both small companies and Fortune 100 large companies with both applications and operating systems. Reach out on LinkedIn: With more than 30 years in the information technology industry, Paul Laberge – CGI Director Consulting-Expert, has a wide range of experience providing IT project management. He enjoys coaching leaders in deploying business technology solutions. His experience in organizational change management spans many different lifecycles including transitions to Agile frameworks (RUP, XP, Scrum, SAFe, Nexxus, LeSS) and incorporating Lean (Kanban) methodologies. Reach out on LinkedIn: Susan Parente is a Principal Consultant at S3 Technologies, LLC and a University Professor at multiple Universities. Mrs. Parente is an author, mentor and professor focused on risk management, traditional and Agile project management. Her experience is augmented by her Masters in Engineering Management with a focus in Marketing of Technology from George Washington University, DC, along with a number of professional certifications. Ms. Parente has 23+ years’ experience leading software and business development projects in the private and public sectors, including a decade of experience implementing IT projects for the DoD. Contact Susan at parente.s3@gmail.com Re-Read Saturday News This week the re-read of by Jeff Dalton dives into Chapter 3. Chapter 3 describes the Providing Performance Circle. Providing is all about the logistics and the culture of the organization. If I were drawing a Venn Diagram, providing and leading (Chapter 2) have a significant overlap. This week’s installment can be found at www.tomcagley.com/blog Previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature our interview with Ted Harrington, author of HACKABLE: How to Do Application Security Right. Security is not something that you can easily remedy after the fact - it needs to be part of the conversation before you write one line of code. Ted provides insights for developers, C-level executives, and product owners. If you have not bought a copy (), one for you and one for your boss. Then listen to the interview together.

This week we are staying with metrics and Manning Publications for a chat with Christopher W H Davis, author of Agile Metrics in Action, How to Measure and Improve Team Performance. Why more metrics? Well first, the M in SPaMCAST is for metrics. Secondly, metrics are important tools for teams and organizations when used wisely. Many in the agile world hear the term metric or measure and run screaming from the room. I asked Chris if he thought combining 'metics' and 'agile' was an oxymoron - he thinks not. After you have listened, buy a copy of Chris’s book using the link Don’t pay full price by using the discount code podspam20 to get a 40% discount code (good for all Manning products in all formats). Chris’s Bio: Christopher Davis has been working as an engineer, manager, author, and consultant focused on innovation since the 20th century. Since coming to Microsoft 4 years ago Chris has been focused on retail innovation with Fortune 500 companies. Prior to that he worked at Nike where he designed the platform behind the Nike+ Fuelband and running apps, helped redesign their ecommerce system, and led their initial push to go cloud native, while writing the influential book on measuring software development teams, Agile Metrics in Action. Currently finishing his Ph.D. in Technical Management designing state of the art working models for human-AI collaboration, Chris also enjoys playing classical guitar and building robots with his kids. Re-Read Saturday News This week the re-read of by Jeff Dalton dives into chapter 2. Chapter 2 begins Part 2 which is focused on the six Performance Circles. Leading is first. Jeff points out that this is the most important of the circles because an organization without strong leadership will not allow teams to self-organize. This week’s installment Week 3: - Previous installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature a reprise of a panel interview originally recorded in March and aired on just as the pandemic was re-writing the landscape of the workplace. Paul Laberge, Susan Parente, Jo Ann Sweeney, John Voris, and I reconvene to reflect on an interesting year and the challenges of today’s workplace.

This week Dave Nicolette, author of Software Development Metrics from Manning Publications, and I talk about pragmatically using metrics. Dave and I talked about the value teams get from measurement regardless of the approach you are taking to deliver value. Measurement is feedback and measurement is leadership for guiding and improving how work is done. After you have listened I think you will want a copy of Dave’s book on metrics. Use the link: Also, yes there is more, you say you don’t want to pay full price? Use the discount code podspam20 to get a 40% discount code (good for all Manning products in all formats). Dave’s Bio: Dave started his career in information technology in 1977 as an application programmer. Since then he has worked in a variety of roles in different industries. Currently, he works as a consultant, coach, and trainer focusing on effective software delivery methods and process improvement. LinkedIn: Dave’s Website: Re-Read Saturday News This week we head into Chapter 1 of by Jeff Dalton. In many organizations, there is a disconnect between the real culture and the stated culture, which is one of the leading reasons organizational change fails. The mind shift of becoming agile exposes gaps between the real and aspirational culture that, if not addressed, cause pain as long as the institutional memory exists. This week’s installment Week 2: - https://bit.ly/2JGpe7l Previous installments: Week 1: - Next SPaMCAST Next week we are staying with metrics and Manning Publications for a chat with Christopher W H Davis, author of Agile Metrics in Action, How to Measure and Improve Team Performance. Combining 'metics' and 'agile' is not an oxymoron.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 627 features our essay on collaboration. Collaboration is a word that gets thrown around A LOT in team-oriented environments. I am not sure everyone means the same thing when they use the term. This week we also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column. Jon and I talked about the idea of fit for use and its connection to quality. Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin the long-anticipated re-read of by Jeff Dalton. The book was published by Apress in 2019. The 356 pages (335 pages in Arabic numbers and 21 pages in Roman) are organized into an acknowledgment, foreword, preface, 73 chapters, appendix, glossary, and an index. I called this long-anticipated because the poll before the last re-read, Tame you Work Flow, had such intense competition between three books, I decided to re-read all three. Fixing Your Scrum will be next. This re-read will be a little different. We will not cover all 73 chapters. This is not to say that all 73 are not important; as matter of fact, the chapters we are not going to cover are the ones that I use the most. I divide Great Big Agile into three parts, part 1 covers the Agile Performance Holoarchy (Jeff breaks this into 2 parts) and includes chapters 1 - 7. The second part is a wonderful explanation of 65 agile techniques which spans chapters 8 - 72. I use these chapters as a reference and have given the book to several clients as gifts for just that reason. The third chunk is chapter 73 which discusses how to use the Agile Performance Holarchy. We will re-read the front matter, chapters 1 - 7 and 73. My intent is to complete the re-read in 10 installments over the next 11 weeks (I assume I will miss one week due to the holidays). This week’s installment Week 1: - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is the proud media sponsor of the live@manning conference: Math for Data Science to be held on 01 December 2020 12:00 - 5:00 pm EST . Register for FREE for a unique chance to learn from statisticians and math masters: #manningontwitch Next SPaMCAST Next week we will talk to David Nicolette, author of Software Development Metrics from Manning Publications. David and I talked about the value of measurement regardless of the approach you are taking to deliver value. Measurement is feedback and measurement is leadership for guiding and improving how work is done.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 626 features our interview with Jacob Glenn. Jacob and I began talking about custom software development and then branched into entrepreneurship and leadership. Finding and enabling people are critical skills for building solutions. Jacob Glenn is a creative and innovative leader with a consistent track record of success leading complex engagements focused on strategy, process, and emerging technologies. As the founder and President of M Genio, he helps lead high-profile, strategic initiatives and creates value at the intersection of business and technology. Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn at Check out M Genio at http://www.mgenio.com/ Re-Read Saturday News We conclude the re-read of by Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron, which we began on Saturday, May 23rd. The world has changed a lot as we worked our way through the book. However, there are important ideas in this book that are far less transitory than the changes we’ve seen in 2020 will be. Today we have a few concluding notes! This week’s installment Week 21: - New to this re-read? Start at the beginning Week 1: – The Software Process and Measurement Cast is the proud media sponsor of the live@manning conference: Math for Data Science to be held on 01 December 2020 12:00 - 5:00 pm EST . Register for FREE for a unique chance to learn from statisticians and math masters: #manningontwitch Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 627 is an essay on collaboration. Collaboration is a word that gets thrown around A LOT in team-oriented environments. I am not sure everyone means the same thing when they use the term. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 625 features our interview with Drew Angell. Drew and I talk about web development, software development excellence, and how to find great developers. Being good is more than just excellence in coding -- listening and problem-solving are also needed which has led Drew to experiment with using GitCommit bounties to get great developers to self-identify. Drew’s Bio Drew is a digital pioneer who loves rolling his sleeves up and identifying software & programming solutions. As owner and lead developer within AngellEYE & GitCommits, Drew's responsibilities include everything from day-to-day business management to the development of web and mobile applications. Drew is heavily involved with PayPal. He is a certified PayPal developer (one of only 13 in the world that reached the ACE Developer status), an official PayPal Partner, and a PayPal Ambassador. He was also given the PayPal Star Developer Award at the developer conferences in 2008, 2009, and 2011. When he's not solving digital problems or consulting, Drew is a board member for the Campaign for Aging Research, the Kansas City Table Tennis Club, and volunteers with a local non-profit, The HALO Foundation – (Helping Art Liberate Orphans). Check out: Re-Read Saturday News Today we tackle the whole of Part 7 which is Chapter 21 and the Epilogue. Next week we will complete our re-read of Tame you Work Flow with concluding remarks. Chapter 21, Patterns to Get Started, is an implementation primer and another one of those very useful features of the book. This week’s installment Week 21: - New to this re-read? Start at the beginning Week 1: – The Software Process and Measurement Cast is the proud media sponsor of the live@manning conference: Math for Data Science to be held on 01 December 2020 12:00 - 5:00 pm EST . Register for FREE for a unique chance to learn from statisticians and math masters: #manningontwitch Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 625 will feature our interview with Jacob Glenn. Jacob and I talked about custom software development in a world that seems to be prone to accepting pre-packaged approaches for solving business problems. Custom software is a useful tool for organizations to help stand out rather than accepting me-too products and services.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 624 is structured a little differently. We begin with the conclusion of a three-column arc on grateful leadership from Susan Parente’s Not A Scrumdamentalist Column. In this installment, Susan and I discuss how servant leadership, commonly practiced by agilists, can combine with grateful leadership to be even more powerful. Catch up on earlier installments of this arc After Susan’s column, we visit the first essay in the four-part series on why teams don’t get stories done when they say they will. The essay names the three usual suspects that cause stories to “escape” sprints. Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 20 of Tame your Work Flow is titled Operational Governance in PEST Environments. Daniel Doiron describes this chapter as an ode to management by exception. There are two threads in this chapter that I highlight. The first is Steve and Daniel’s discussion on the need for different perspectives to identify the constraint in complicated environments. The second major component in the chapter is a discussion of an approach for governance. As I am quoted at the end of the chapter giving this book my highest praise, “this book is very useful.” This weeks installment Week 20: - New? Start your re-read at the beginning Week 1: – The Software Process and Measurement Cast is the proud media sponsor of the live@manning conference: Math for Data Science to be held on 01 December 2020 12:00 - 5:00 pm EST . Register for FREE for a unique chance to learn from statisticians and math masters: #manningontwitch Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 625 will feature our interview with Drew Angell. Drew and I talk about web development and software development excellence. Being good is more than just excellence in coding, listening and problem-solving are also needed.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 623 features my interview with Christian “Dr. Lambda” Clausen, author of Five Lines of Code from Manning Publications. Dr. Lambda delivers advice on why refactoring is a necessity and how to refactor effectively. Clean code is not an option, refactoring is a requirement for being good at coding. Buy a copy of the book at Manning using the code podspam20 The link is Dr. Lambda’s Bio Christian “Dr. Lamda” Clausen works as a Technical Agile Coach teaching teams how to properly refactor their code. Previously he worked as a software engineer on the Coccinelle semantic patching project, an automated refactoring tool. He has an MSc in computer science and five years’ experience teaching software quality at a university level. https://medium.com/@thedrlambda Twitter: @thedrlambda Re-Read Saturday News Cue the eerie sound effects from low budget science fiction movies that signal time travel. After publishing our re-read of Chapter 19 last week, Steve Tendon sent me a message, “where is chapter 18?” I nearly responded right after chapter 17 but a little voice told me to check. Low and behold, I had not addressed Full-Kitting as Ongoing Executive Activity, otherwise known as chapter 18. Today, we go back in time and review the first chapter in Part 6 of by Daniel Doiron and Steve Tendon. Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Week 17: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 621 will feature our essay on why agile coaches need a code of ethics. It's time for coaching to grow up and be a profession. We will also complete the three conversation arc on grateful leadership from Susan Parente.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 622 features my interview with Brian Gill, CEO at Gillware. Brian is a serial entrepreneur in the software and cyber world. We discussed the importance of cybersecurity, real backups, having disaster recovery plans, and the fact that just having data in the cloud is not a security strategy. Brian’s bio Brian is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and angel investor. Brian currently serves as Chairman of Gillware, which provides cyber risk assessments, data recovery, incident response, and digital forensics services. He is a co-founder of Phoenix Nuclear Labs and served on PNL’s board from inception to when it decided to spin-off SHINE Medical Technologies. Those two companies have raised over 100 million dollars of venture capital and employ hundreds of people in Wisconsin. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-gill-68997a38/ Gillware: https://www.gillware.com/ Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 19 of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow. Chapter 19 combines many of the moving parts from the previous chapters into a set of tools for monitoring the execution of work. The authors pick up at the portfolio level developed in Chapter 18. Portfolio items, once committed and placed into flow, can contain many groups of work that Steve and Daniel term Minimal Outcome-Value Effort or MOVEs (). Once in flow (being worked on), a flow manager picks up managing the MOVEs. Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Week 17: - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud sponsor of the following event! Agile Online Summit 2020 The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too. Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 623 will feature my interview with Christian Clausen, author of Five Lines of Code from Manning Publications. We discussed why refactoring is needed, and the rules Christian has developed to get the most value out of refactoring. It's not like you are not spending time refactoring already . . . right?

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 621 features our essay on why agile coaches need a code of ethics. Agile is practiced in nearly every culture. Each culture has its own definition of duty and of right and wrong. Coaches help to establish and address the client’s needs by leveraging approaches that align with the values and principles of the Agile Manifesto. It's time for coaching to grow up and be a profession. We also have part 2 of Susan Parente’s discussion of grateful leadership. Susan discussed how to keep grateful leadership fresh as part of her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. I will play part 3 in SPaCAST 623. Part 1: SPaMCAST 617 - Re-Read Saturday News We are back with Chapter 17 in our re-read of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow. Full Kitting is an important concept! Use the link to buy a copy of the book and support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud sponsor of the following event! Agile Online Summit 2020 The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too. Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 622 will feature my interview with Brian Gill, CEO at Gillware. In the age of hacking and ransomware, we discussed the importance of cybersecurity and data recovery (pssst...its important).

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 620 is something out of the ordinary. Ola Omiyale joined me as a co-host and we interviewed Nalin Parbhu, the Founder and CTO of Infuse, and useMango™. We talked about testing and test automation which is a passion for all three of us. We also explored the future of the role of the manual tester. Nalin Parbhu, Founder & CTO: Infuse & useMango™ Nalin’s passion, mission, and vision is to enable customers to get the most of out their software. He has worked on hundreds of projects across the globe and has over 22+ years of experience in software engineering delivery in a variety of roles. Nalin has a BSc in Statistics, Computers, Operational Research and Mathematics from Queen Mary University of London, and did his postgraduate studies in Advanced Information Technology at London Southbank University. Despite his London education, Nalin proudly states he is a citizen of the city of Leicester. When not evangelizing from the pulpit about modernizing software delivery. Nalin is happily married with 2 children living in Central London. He is also a Rugby coach for Blackheath Rugby Club U11’s. LinkedIn: Infuse website: Ola Omiyale is from a social science background and has started her journey within the software industry. Being a beginner and developing a career in selling test automation solutions, she is eager to learn new information and innovations around software testing. LinkedIn: Re-Read Saturday News I have taken the last two weeks off from Re-Read Saturday. A combination of household duties and work had to be managed. I will be back next week. In the interim, catch up on the re-read. Have you bought your copy of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow? Use the link to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud sponsor of the following events! Women in Tech Conference Learn, be inspired, and connect with others working to advance inclusion in the technology industry with a live@Manning event. The “Women in Tech” online conference will be held on Oct 13, starring women that are rocking the tech boat! Agile Online Summit 2020 The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too. Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 621 will feature our essay on why agile coaches need a code of ethics. Its time for coaching to grow up and be a profession. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who will bring his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the podcast.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 619 features the return of Joe Schofield. Joe and I talked about his new book, Aligning People and Culture for Agile Transformation: A Leadership & Change Story (). During our discussion, we talked about how writing the book changes an author and his hope for how people will use the book to understand and create change. Company: LinkedIn: Email: joescho@cox.net Joe’s Bio: As an enabler and educator: Joe is an Authorized Training Partner with VMEdu, a Scrum Certified Trainer with SCRUMstudy™, and a contributor to the Great IT Professional Webinar Series sponsored by Computer Aid, Inc. Joe has over 80 published books, papers, conference presentations and keynotes—including contributions to the books: The IFPUG Guide to IT and Software Measurement (2012), IT Measurement, Certified Function Point Specialist Exam Guide, and The Economics of Software Quality. He has taught over 100 college courses, 75 of those at the graduate level. Joe has facilitated ~200 teams in the areas of software specification, team building, and organizational planning using lean six sigma, business process reengineering, and JAD. He was a certified instructor for the Introduction to the CMMI for most of the past decade. Re-Read Saturday News I am pretty sure that Steve and Daniel might disagree with me, but I find the concept of full-kitting one of the most important ideas in Tame your Work Flow. Chapter 17 provides more explanation for the concept. My involvement in software development, enhancements, maintenance, package and hardware installation, and configuration has made it very clear to me that flow needs to be a paramount concern. Have you bought your copy of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow? Use the link to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud sponsor of the following events! Women in Tech Conference Learn, be inspired, and connect with others working to advance inclusion in the technology industry with a live@Manning event. The “Women in Tech” online conference will be held on Oct 13, starring women that are rocking the tech boat! Agile Online Summit 2020 The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too. Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 620 is something out of the ordinary. Ola Omiyale and I interviewed Nalin Parbhu, the Founder and CTO of Infuse, and useMango™. We talked about testing and test automation which is a passion for all three of us. It was also a blast for me to have someone co-anchoring the interview.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 618 is a conversation about “process” that I had with two great people, Mike King and Beth Leonard, in March of 2020. Just doing the process to check the box for a rating or certification, whether the CMMI, CMMC, Scrum, or any other framework, destroys legitimacy and trust. Michael King is a technology executive with over seventeen years of experience serving in technology roles supporting the Federal Government. He currently serves as Halfaker and Associates’ Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer (CIO/CISO), where he leads enterprise IT Strategy with a focus on user experience, the information security program, and the Quality Management System with a focus on improving engineering maturity and customer experience. Prior to this role, he served Halfaker’s CTO and COO, as well as completing a five-year tenure at Lockheed Martin in cybersecurity and critical infrastructure security domains. Michael holds degrees in Computer Engineering (Bachelor’s from UVA) and Information Systems (Master’s from JHU) and several professional certifications including PMP, PMI-ACP, SAFe SA, and ITIL. Company: Twitter: Email: michael.king@halfaker.com Ms. Beth Leonard is an award-winning speaker in her field; frequently invited to both local and international-level industry events to speak about such topics as customer satisfaction, organizational statistical analysis and metrics development, CMMI, ISO, management reviews and techniques, as well as quality assurance. She is also a recognized patient advocate and blogger for NET Cancer; supporting several organizations both nationally as well as internationally. Ms. Leonard is a well-respected executive with over 24 years of IT software development and service management lifecycle expertise as well as InfoSec/Cyber management, facility security management, risk and compliance, quality assurance, and process improvement experience across the government contracting industry. Company: https://www.r3-it.com/ Blog: Linkedin: Links: Email: Re-Read Saturday News In Chapter 16 charts a path to support the execution of the work. Execution requires an appropriate mechanism that can signal trouble coming that is information-based rather than gut-based. Have you bought your copy of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow? Use the link to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud sponsor of the following events! Women in Tech Conference Learn, be inspired, and connect with others working to advance inclusion in the technology industry with a live@Manning event. The “Women in Tech” online conference will be held on Oct 13, starring women that are rocking the tech boat! Agile Online Summit 2020 The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too. Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 619 features the return of Joe Schofield. Joe and I talked about his new book, Aligning People and Culture for Agile Transformation: A Leadership & Change Story (). Joe’s book is not a recitation of techniques, but rather a business novel that exposes the human side of change.

The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 617 features our essay on rediscovering productivity. One of the tools I have embraced is Pomodoro. It is a great approach to staying focused and helps unwonkify time in my home office! Also this week, Susan Parente brings her “Not A Scrumdamentalist” column to the Software Process and Measurement Cast! Susan begins a three-part series on grateful leadership. Grateful leadership is so much more than just saying thank you. In between the essay and Susan’s column, we have a promo for the Agile Online Summit 2020. Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 15 of Flow, introduces the concept of a MOVE, which stands for Minimal Outcome-Value Effort. Steve and Daniel use the construct to help define an atomic level of value delivery that is both minimalistic and sufficient. MOVE, while not replacing the myriad Mxx acronyms (e.g. minimal viable product or minimal marketable product), it provides a mental model for defining items in your portfolio backlog that is focused on throughput accounting. Have you bought your copy of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow? Use the link to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud sponsor of the following events! Rust Conference Let’s talk about #Rust! Sep 15, at the live@Manning conference; in one Rust-full day go from ways to learn it, to where and how to use it; from game-dev to aerospace and beyond, right from the pincers of expert Rustaceans. Women in Tech Conference Learn, be inspired, and connect with others working to advance inclusion in the technology industry with another live@Manning event. The “Women in Tech” online conference will be held on Oct 13, starring women that are rocking the tech boat! Agile Online Summit 2020 The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too. Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 618 will feature a discussion I had with Mike King and Beth Leonard earlier this year. We discussed the changing work environment, process, and quality. A hard-hitting discussion with two great minds!

The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too.

The SPaMCAST 616 features our interview with Tom Henricksen. Tom brings the industry two great events the DevOps and the Agile Online Summits. He is also an active thought leader in the agile community. During his recent visit to the podcast, we talked about the exciting changes to this year’s Agile Online Summit. We also chatted about how creating and scaling the summit has changed how he thinks about the world. Tom is passionate about fostering learning and sharpening the saw. Tom suggests that tuning your skills and capabilities has never been more important as the economy struggles to get going again. Web: https://agileonlinesummit.com/ Web: LinkedIn: Twitter: @TomHenricksen Re-Read Saturday News I find Chapter 14 useful in a book of useful chapters. In this chapter, Steve and Daniel explain the foreshadowed idea of full-kitting and introduce two different versions of kanban boards. Have you bought your copy of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow? Use the link to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud sponsor of the following events! Rust Conference Let’s talk about #Rust! Sep 15, at the live@Manning conference; in one Rust-full day go from ways to learn it, to where and how to use it; from game-dev to aerospace and beyond, right from the pincers of expert Rustaceans. Women in Tech Conference We still have a long way to go to achieve diversity, inclusion, and equality in technology. Our contribution is the live@Manning “Women in Tech” online conference, Oct 13, starring the women rocking the tech boat! Agile Online Summit 2020 The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too. (we will have a promo in the feed this week) Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 617 will feature our essay on rediscovering productivity. It begins “I have not worked outside of my home office since mid-April. There are lots of benefits to this change. My commute is really short, I run a lot more, I get to hang out with my wife more, and I have lost 42 pounds. But not everything is unicorns and rainbows — time feels a bit wonky.” Lets unwonkify time! We will hear from Susan Parente who brings her “Not A Scrumdamentalist” column to the Software Process and Measurement Cast!

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 615 features my discussion with Jeff Dalton Jeff and I discussed the new cybersecurity model, the CMMC, and the need for a hyper-focus on cybersecurity. The use of this new model can not be just another plaque on the wall! Jeff Dalton is Chief Evangelist at , a Research and Development organization that studies agile leadership. He is a technology executive with over 30 years of experience as a CTO, CIO, VP of Product Development, and for that past fifteen years has been CEO of Broadsword and AgileCxO. He is an executive agile coach, agile assessor, and instructor, a regular conference speaker, and author of both "The Agile Performance Holarchy: An Operating System for Agile Leaders" and "The Guide to Scrum and CMMI: Improving Agile Performance with CMMI." In his spare time, Jeff is an instrument-rated pilot and plays bass in a jazz band. He has degrees in music and computer science. Jeff on Twitter: @CMMIAppraiser @agilecxo Broadsword Solutions: https://broadswordsolutions.com/ Re-Read Saturday News This week we took a break. I ran a ½ marathon instead of writing, but we will be back next week (I actually have re-read Chapter 14 and taken notes). Have you bought your copy of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow? Use the link to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - The Software Process and Measurement Cast is a proud sponsor of the following events! Rust Conference Let’s talk about #Rust! Sep 15, at the live@Manning conference; in one Rust-full day go from ways to learn it, to where and how to use it; from game-dev to aerospace and beyond, right from the pincers of expert Rustaceans. Women in Tech Conference We still have a long way to go to achieve diversity, inclusion, and equality in technology. Our contribution is the live@Manning “Women in Tech” online conference, Oct 13, starring the women rocking the tech boat! Agile Online Summit 2020 The Agile Online Summit was created for people who couldn’t attend major conferences. This will be its third year, and the main goal is to bring major level agile speakers to people all over the world as well as spotlight some up and coming agile coaches and trainers. October 26th to 30th, 2020, Live and recorded too. Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 616 will feature a discussion with Tom Henrickson on the state of agile and preparations for the Agile Online Summit 2020.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 614 features our interview with Jennifer Bonine. Jennifer and I talked AI, the impact of AI on the future of work, and how to re-skill for the next industrial revolution. This is not science fiction, and the future is not as far away as you might think. Bio Jennifer Bonine is the CEO of AI Appstore, Inc., and was the first female Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) platform tech CEO. AI Appstore specializes in custom subscription technology bundles, leveraging an intelligent platform using a personalized ‘virtual research assistant’ to enhance corporate growth. The company exceeds expectations of integration, testing, delivery, and management with a groundbreaking business model that is fully engaged in the sustainable development goals (“SDGs”) cultivated by the United Nations. Respected as a gifted speaker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Jennifer Bonine addresses the AI industry nationally and internationally, most recently at the World Economic Forum in Davos and for CNNMoney Switzerland. She has held executive-level positions leading teams for Oracle and Target and is a founding board member of the United States bid for a Minnesota World Expo 2027. Jennifer is a 2020 Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal Women in Business honoree, a founding sponsor and member of IVOW AI's Women in History Data Ideation Challenge, and an executive board member of Chad Greenway’s Lead the Way foundation. She is a member of Million Dollar Women, member and mentor for TeamWomen, and a council member of DreamTank, an organization designed to champion young entrepreneurs. Recently named one of the Top 30 Leaders to Watch in 2020 by Silicon Review, Jennifer Bonine was featured at the UN’s AI for Good summit. Jennifer is also developing a series of books to educate children about the power of AI and machine learning. Twitter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-bonine-76552b2/ Website: https://www.aiappstore.com/ Re-Read Saturday News Today, we re-read Chapter 13, titled Portfolio Prioritization and Selection in PEST Environments. Doing the right work is more than just linear prioritization, you need to remember the constraint. Have you bought your copy of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow? Use the link to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 615 will feature the return of Jeff Dalton to talk about the new security model, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Jeff has some strong words for those that don’t think that the barbarians are at our gates.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 613 features our essay on directive and non-directive coaching. DIrective coaches, akin to many athletic coaches, are a hard sell at the team level. Non-directive coaches, akin to mentors, are not always viewed as effective by senior leaders. In reality, it is not cut and dry. Essays in the Directive - Non-directive Series Agile Coaching Techniques: Styles of Coaches - Directive or Non-directive Coaching - Directive or Non-directive Coaching: Why Everyone Needs To Know - In the second spot this week, Jeremy Berriault brings his QA Corner to the cast. We discuss coaching testers. Indirectly we have a discussion about the use of directive and non-directive coaching styles. You can reach Jeremy at Re-Read Saturday News Today, we re-read Chapter 12, titled Drum-Buffer- Rope Scheduling (DBR). The concept of DBR is critical to using the Theory of Constraints in real-world environments. Have you bought your copy of Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow? Use the link to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 614 will feature our interview with Jennifer Bonine. Jenifer and I talked AI and the impact of AI on the future of business. This is not science fiction, and the future is not as far away as you might think.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 612 features a conversation with Woody Zuill and Allan Kelly on the topic of being an agile guide. I have felt that the term coach was overused for more than a few years. Woody and Allan put a voice to a topic that I started writing about earlier this summer describing the term 'agile guide'. Over the past 14 years, there have been a number of conversations that changed how I think and work. This is certainly one of those gestalt moments. Bios: Allan has pioneered techniques such as Value Poker, Time-Value Profiles, and Retrospective Dialogue Sheets. He is the author of seven books including "Continuous Digital", "Little Book of Requirements and User Stories" and his latest book is "Art of Agile Product Ownership." When not writing, Allan consults and coaches, helping companies embrace the agile and digital world, and teams to improve their performance. Links: Me: Blog: Retrospective cards: Twitter: Woody Zuill has been programming computers for 30+ years. Woody is an independent freelance agile guide! He believes code must be simple, clean, and maintainable to realize the Agile promise of Responding to Change. Contact Information Mob Programming: Blog: Twitter: Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle two chapters in Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow. Chapters ten and eleven put our understanding of workflow and process-flow into action in more complex environments. Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Week 10: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 613 will feature our essay on directive and non-directive coaching. It is not as straightforward a dichotomy as you would expect, but as a coach, you do need to pick a position. We will also have a visit to the QA Corner.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 611 features our conversation with Jeff Smith. Jeff and I talked about his new book, . Our conversation branched out to cover DevOps and how writing a book changes your perception of life. The conversation was the most clear-eyed and penetrating conversation on DevOps I have had on the podcast. Jeff challenged all of us to recognize that we can make a difference. Bio: Jeff Smith has been in the technology industry for over 20 years, oscillating between management and individual contributor. Jeff currently serves as the Director of Production Operations for Centro, an advertising software company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Before that he served as the Manager of Site Reliability Engineering at Grubhub. Jeff is passionate about DevOps transformations in organizations large and small, with a particular interest in the psychological aspects of problems in companies. He lives in Chicago with his wife Stephanie and their two kids Ella and Xander. Jeff is currently writing a book with Manning publishing due out in Spring of 2020, but available now via their early access program. He’s also the chapter president of Blacks in Technology where he strives to introduce the community to the different opportunities in the technology field. Contact Information for Jeff Smith: Web: Email: jeffery.d.smith@gmail.com Twitter: @darkandnerdy Re-Read Saturday News This week we transition to Part 4: Maximizing Business Value in Knowledge-Work in Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s Flow. We are approximately 40% through according to the Kindle App on my laptop. (Side note: I would like to talk with anyone in the audience that uses a Kindle to read non-fiction books that they will later use for reference; I am working on a buying decision). Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: – Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: – Week 9: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 612 will break pattern -- again. Recently I had a conversation with Allan Kelly and Woody Zuill about the topic of coaching and how if you bring all of your capabilities to the table you have transitioned to a guide. Allan and Woody are agile guides.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 610 features our essay, An Agile Team In a Waterfall Company – Organizing Around The Product Flow. Focusing on getting features and support for a product to market changes how teams and groups organize to solve business problems. This is a standalone essay that can be read as part of a larger theme covering the trials faced by an agile team in a waterfall company. The four separate essays can be found at: An Agile Team In A Waterfall Company - Postponing Commitment - Values, Principles, and Behaviours - Organizing Around The Product Flow - We also have a visit from Susan Parente with a discussion that I have named, Agile or Traditional, Pick One! Many organizations have to make accommodations for mandated classic project management approaches. Susan provides excellent advice for making these types of scenarios work. Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapters 7 and 8 of These two chapters are a case study that knits together operational and financial throughput. Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 611 will feature our interview with Jeff Smith. Jeff discussed his new book, Operations Anti-Patterns: DevOps Solutions. The conversation was the most clear-eyed and penetrating conversation on DevOps I have had on the podcast.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 609 features our conversation with Dr. David Rico. Dave is returning to the Software Process and Measurement Cast to discuss the concept of agile and collaborative contracts. Contracts and agile don’t often work well together. That does not have to be the case! Dr. Rico has been a technical leader in support of NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army for over 30 years. He has led numerous projects based on Cloud Computing, Lean Thinking, Agile Methods, SOA, Web Services, Six Sigma, FOSS, ISO 9001, CMMI, Baldrige, TQM, Enterprise Architecture, DoDAF, and DoD 5000. He specializes in IT investment analysis, IT portfolio valuation, and IT-enabled change. He has been an international keynote speaker, presented at leading industry conferences, written seven textbooks, published numerous articles, and is a reviewer for multiple systems engineering journals. He is a Certified PMP, CSEP, ACP, CSM, and SAFe Agilist, and teaches at four Washington, DC-area universities. He has been in the field of information systems since 1983. Contact Dr Rico at: Web: davidfrico.com Email: dave1@davidfrico.com Twitter: @dr_david_f_rico Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 6 of Throughput accounting ties a number of threads together for me. The big one is the linkage between getting value from process improvement and the mental models created by cost accounting. Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 610 will feature our essay An Agile Team In A Waterfall Company – Organizing Around The Product Flow. This is another part of a larger essay that we began last week. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente with a discussion that I have named, Agile or Traditional, Pick One! I know which I would pick (and the answer might not be one of the two).

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 608 features our essay, An Agile Team in a Waterfall Company. Teams like this exist, and sometimes even flourish. Our essay explores how that is possible and how teams in this circumstance can help evolve whole organizations. We have a visit from Gene Hughson with his Form Follows Function column. Gene and I talk about how an architect has to avoid bias generated by the expertise that they have spent years developing. Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 5 (this is the beginning of Part 2) of , The chapter is titled “Where to Focus Improvement Efforts.” Part 2 transitions us from improving wait time and flow efficiency and begins a deep dive into the Theory of Constraints (ToC). Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 609 will feature the return of Dr. David Rico. Dave and I discussed contracting and agile. This a crucial real-world topic that is often swept under the carpet and politely ignored. That won’t happen in the SPaMCAST 609.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 607 features our interview with Mark Tolbert and Susan Parente to discuss their new book Hybrid Project Management: Using Agile with Traditional PM Methodologies to Succeed on Modern Projects. Agile hybrids are often pilloried, Mark and Susan make a strong case that hybrids have a place in delivering value. Without hybrids, there are places that can't go! Mark’s Bio Mark has over 30 years of experience in IT, including 27 years at Hewlett-Packard. He successfully managed support programs and projects within HP Services from 1994 through 2007. The programs and projects included a large e-selling program, a multivendor support program for a large telecommunications company, data center relocation projects, and MDM (mobile device management) programs. Reach out to Mark on LinkedIn: Susan’s Bio Susan Parente is a project engineer, consultant, speaker, author, professor, and mentor who leads large complex IT software implementation projects, and the establishment of Enterprise PMOs. She has 23+ years of experience leading software and business development projects in the private and public sectors, including a decade of experience implementing IT projects for the DoD and other federal government agencies. Reach to Susan onLinkedIn: Twitter: @TechRiskManagerWeb: Email: parente.s3@gmail.com Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 4 of , The chapter is titled “Utility of Flawed Mental Models.” The goal of the chapter is to make sure we understand why reducing wait time makes sense and why that reduction has an impact on delivery. Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 608 will feature our essay, An Agile Team In A Waterfall Company. They exist and sometimes even flourish. Our essay explores how that is possible and how teams in this circumstance can evolve. We will also have a visit from Gene Hughson with his Form Follows Function column.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 606 features our interview with Marco Faella, author of Seriously Good Software: Code that Works, Survives, and Wins. Marco and I discussed quality, craftsmanship, and how being a passionate coder and academic mix. Marco Faella teaches advanced programming at a major Italian university. His published work includes peer-reviewed research articles, a Java certification manual, and a video course on Java streams. His contact data is: Homepage: Twitter: Book: I have discount codes (just ask!) Re-Read Saturday News This week we are taking a break from our re-read of to celebrate the 4th of July and my wife’s birthday. We will be back next week. Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) - Week 3: - Week 4: - Announcements! Patterns Podcast: The first full episode of the Patterns Podcast has been posted on YouTube. In the first full episode, Ben Wozniki and I tackle the concept of User Stories. User Stories are a ubiquitous feature of Agile implementations. We have posted the video on our YouTube channel. We would love to have your feedback. I will not throw a 200 mg file in the audio podcast feed again (we might create another feed). Tom Cagley and Associates Website: We are days away from a website that brings everything together, my company, the blog, and the podcast. We will also be kicking off a newsletter in later July. We are still in the design process so I would really like your input on what makes a great newsletter. One of my favorites is Tim Ferris’s . Email me at tcagley@tomcagley.com. Feel free to send a sample. Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 607 features our interview with Mark Tolbert and Susan Parente to discuss their new book on Hybrid Project Management. Hybrid Project Management. Agile hybrids are often pilloried, Mark and Susan make a strong case that hybrids have a place in delivering value.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 605 features our interview with Jodie Kane. Jodie and I discussed involving product owners in retrospectives. Jodie suggests the answer should not be cut and dry but rather context-driven. Jodie is a passionate, value-driven servant leader with a unique, energetic style that brings out the best in people and opens space for teams to be self-organizing high performers focused on delivering customer value and getting things done. She has spent a lifetime honing her servant leadership skills, inviting people to work together, and creating space for human engagement to develop innovative, self-organizing, value-driven teams. Contact Jodie on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodieenglekane/ Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 3, , of is incredibly important for understanding the overall book. In your re-read spend the time needed understanding how the themes noted in the chapter title inter-relate. Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) - Week 3: - Week 4: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 606 features our interview with Marco Faella, author of Seriously Good Software: Code that Works, Survives, and Wins. Marco and I discussed quality, craftsmanship, and how being a passionate coder and academic mix.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 604 features a presentation that I did on the need for organizations to lean into processes improvement as the COVID-19 disaster abates (at least for the time being). Continuous improvement can’t be just a slogan during an economic downturn. We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley with his Alpha and Omega of Product Development Column. Jon and I talked about the definition of quality and whether the concept of quality is a matter of perception. We don’t exactly agree . . . what are your thought? Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 2 in our re-read of by Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron. Chapter 2 continues to explore mental models and focuses on how multitasking robs value from individuals, teams, and organizations. Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 605 feature our interview with Jodie Kane. Jodie and I discuss involving product owners in retrospectives. Jodie suggests the answer should not be cut and dry.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 603 features my interview with Austin Chadwick. Austin and I talked mobbing, but perhaps more importantly to me, Austin talked about the impact of finding joy in everything you do. The latter was one of those serendipitous discoveries that makes the interviews for the podcast so much fun. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. Austin’s Bio: Austin is a passionate full-stack developer, agile/technical coach, conference speaker, and podcast/videocast co-host with experience in several roles (e.g. coach, developer, tester, scrum master, business analyst). He loves mob programming and working with people, technology, and teams to discover product development joy and continuous improvement. A few links: All Mob Mentality links (podcast, youtube, twitter, etc.): Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 1 in our re-read of by Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron. Chapter 1 lays out the four flows which the book explores in detail and begins a deep dive into the power of mental models. The Chapter also touches on one of the great evils of modern times — multitasking (I say that with no attempt at hyperbole). Remember to buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 604 will feature our essay on preparing for software development after the COVID-19 disaster abates. Continuous improvement can’t be just a slogan during an economic downturn. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley with his Alpha and Omega of Product Development Column.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 602 features my interview with Duncan DeVore, the co-author of . Duncan and I talked about reactive design patterns, adopting a reactive architecture, and how writing a book changes your outlook on life. It was a really cool discussion that covered technical and non-technical topics. Note -- I am sorry for missing a week. I did not expect a new laptop (less than a month old) would have its motherboard and SSD fail. I am thankful for backups! Duncan’s Bio: I specialize in the design and implementation of distributed systems using the tenets of the Reactive Manifesto with Scala, Akka, and the Typesafe stack. I believe in responsible design through functional programming with an abundance of test coverage. I love to code, present, and help others work through the challenges of distributed computing. LinkedIn: Twitter: @IronFish Re-Read Saturday News Week 2 of the journey through by Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron finds us discussing the Prologue. The prologue introduces concepts and provides a bridge for readers to this book from the by Eli Goldratt and Steve Tendon, and Wolfram Müller’s book . Next week we start Chapter 1, so buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - Week 2: (The Story of Herbie) - Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 603 will feature my interview with Austin Chadwick. Austin and I talked mobbing, but perhaps more importantly to me, Austin talked about the impact of finding joy in everything you do.

A quick update for readers and listeners: both the blog entries for Saturday and Sunday and the podcast episode scheduled for Sunday, May 31, 2020, are delayed due to issues with my month old laptop. It has decided to no longer boot (second time in one month that this issue has occurred). Since I was traveling this weekend I was not able to pull out the back-up machine until now. Rest assured, I will have things back on track beginning Tuesday.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 601 features my interview with Brian Weaver. Brian is the Founder and CEO of Torch.AI. We covered a wide range of topics, including AI and agile, and the role of leadership in creating an environment where extraordinary results are possible. Brian serves as CEO of Torch.AI and has more than 20 years of experience leading mission-driven, high growth, technology-focused companies. Torch.AI helps leading organizations leverage artificial intelligence in a unique way via a proprietary enterprise data management software solution. Today, Torch.AI supports clients like H&R Block with fraud detection and mitigation and the U.S. Department of Defense with machine learning-enabled background investigations for all federal employees, supporting the determination of an individual’s trustworthiness and security credentialing. LinkedIn: Torch.AI - Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin our journey through by Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron. The book is subtitled: How Dr. Goldratt of “The Goal” would apply the Theory of Constraints to rethink knowledge-work management. The title and subtitle provide a hint to the number of ideas and concepts that we will touch on as we re-read the 357 pages that include a section about the organization of the book, an introduction, a prologue, 21 chapters, and an epilogue. The re-read will focus on identifying the big ideas of operation flow and constraints management in knowledge work environments and how they can be leveraged for continuous improvement. Next week we start Chapter 1, so buy a copy of to support the authors and blog! Week 1: - https://bit.ly/2LWJ3EY Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 602 will feature my interview with Duncan DeVore, the co-author of . Duncan and I talked about reactive design patterns, adopting a reactive architecture, and how writing a book changes your outlook on life. It was a really cool discussion that covered technical and non-technical topics.

SPaMCAST 600, yes 600, features my interview with Sandy Mamoli. We talked about teams and the book she co-authored, . Sandy’s unique perspective as a world-class athlete and Agile Coach allows her to deliver options about forming teams you didn’t know you had! Sandy Mamoli Agile advisor, coach, and author Sandy Mamoli is a former Olympian, international keynote speaker, and author of „Creating Great Teams – How Self-Selection Lets People Excel“. From working with global enterprises in Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Copenhagen to being one of New Zealand’s leading coaches, she brings her practical flair and passionate advocacy for all things Agile to businesses around the world. She has a master’s degree in artificial intelligence and knows quite a lot about Agile. Twitter: @smamol Website: Re-Read Saturday News This is our last installment of our re-read of . I want to thank Nancy Kastl for the great suggestion and everyone that voted during the selection process. This is a useful book. Interestingly during a Heart of Agile get together this week a number of people recommended the book in the chat. I am glad I read it. If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Read previous installments: Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Week 9 - - Week 10 - - Week 11- - Week 12 - - Week 13 - - The next book we will re-read is Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s . I will layout the logistics for the re-read next week. Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast 601 will feature our interview with Brian Weaver. Brian is the Founder and CEO of Torch.AI. We covered a wide range of topics, including AI and agile and the role of leadership in creating an environment where extraordinary results are possible.

Today, a special announcement: I would like to introduce you to the Patterns Video Podcast. Ben Woznicki and I have been working on this project for nearly six months and it is finally time to stop starting and start shipping (that’s an agile joke). Our idea is to share patterns (hence the name) for how teams and organizations can release sooner with higher confidence. Both Ben and I have helped a lot of different organizations. We've seen things that work well, seen things that work poorly, seen some things that do both, and unfortunately some things that would make your hair stand up. The effective patterns are what we are here to share as well as provide space for you to interact and learn. All of the videos will be on the shorter side. Our typical format will include: A brief review of the basic idea that we're talking about. Discuss the problems the idea is trying to solve and introduce any controversy on the topic. Provide an approach to use the concept within specific contexts (think hints and tips) The history of the idea. Finally, common challenges when using the idea and antidotes to those challenges. At least in the short term, we are going to deliver the video content in two ways: SPaMCAST Podcast feed. This will be a medium resolution version that is better for commutes or just listening while you jog. Patterns Podcast YouTube Site. This will be a full 1080p version of the video (those get large) for those interested in the full impact of Ben’s cinematic multicamera video techniques. All of the videos will be short and conclude with a call to action. We will begin delivering every two weeks. While Ben and I like to talk, we want to hear from you because your perspective will help us learn and grow. Contact us at: @tcagley on twitter @benwoz on twitter

SPaMCAST 599 will feature my conversation with Steve Tendon. Steve and I talked about his Tameflow books, the genesis of the framework, the Theory of Constraints, and of course Herbie. Steve provides several profound pieces of wisdom for increasing value. Re-Read Saturday News This week we complete the content portion of our Re-read with Chapter 11 and the Afterword of . Next week we will have a few words to wrap-up this book and warp into the next book in the series. The envelope please . . . the next book we will re-read is Steve Tendon and Daniel Doiron’s . The top three books (Tame Your Work Flow, Great Big Agile, and Fixing Your Scrum) in the pool got more votes than all of the other books we have re-read over the past year. Therefore, my intent is to do something radical: declare that I will read all three of the top three books in order. This should take us through the summer. If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Read previous installments: Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Week 9 - - Week 10 - - Week 11- - Week 12 - - Next SPaMCAST The next Spamcast will feature our interview with Sandy Mamoli. Sandy is a world-class coach. We talked teams, and how high performing teams are formed. As a former Olympic athlete, Sandy has a unique perspective and as an Agile Coach, she has a wide range of experience with many types of teams.

SPaMCAST 598 features our essay titled, Recognizing A Toxic Meeting Culture. Just because you are meeting remotely doesn’t mean meeting culture has been reset. Now even more than when we are all together, getting meeting culture right is critical to maximizing communication. We will also return to the QA Corner with Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy and I talked about continuous learning. Our discussion was taped earlier this year; it was a different time. I left the references to excitement about the new year in the comments to show how fast the world can change. And it can change again! Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 10 of . The subtitle for this chapter is ‘Advice for tough cases.’ In my considered opinion, nothing ever goes perfectly to plan. All conversations are a mixture of things that you’ve run through your head to prepare and parts that are off-script. Having a wide range of additional tactics for hard issues makes it easier to approach crucial conversations with confidence. Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Week 9 - - Week 10 - - Week 11- - We have a few days left before the poll to pick the next book in the re-read series closes. I would like to hear from you! Check out the poll at www.tcagley.wordpress.com If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 599 will feature my conversation with Steve Tendon. Steve and I talked agile, lean, flow, and how all the parts fit together.

The SPaMCAST 597 features a special panel of leaders discussing working from home now and after the initial reaction to being remote has worn off. One of the important points that we discussed was the need to make space for intentional serendipity. The panel is composed of Paul Laberge, Susan Parente, John Voris, Jo Ann Sweeney, and your host. Panelist Bios Jo Ann Sweeney FCIM FIIC MCIPR is an engagement and communication consultant. Typically, she acts as change management lead on complex programmes, facilitating development of effective engagement, training, and communication strategies and then assisting as the strategies are implemented. Clients value her deep understanding of audiences. Jo Ann is known for clarifying the complex and for persuading key stakeholders to get involved and actively support change. You are welcome to download a complimentary copy of Jo Ann’s guide How to Explain Change in 8 Easy Steps at Contact Jo Ann at jo.ann@sweeneycomms.com John Voris is the current leader of AgilePhilly, the local user group in the Philadelphia area for Scrum, Kanban, and Lean Software. () His day job is working on financial applications for Crown Cork & Seal, an essential company with over 100 years of manufacturing food and beverage cans. Prior to Crown, John was an independent software consultant for 30+ years helping both small companies and Fortune 100 large companies with both applications and operating systems. Reach out on LinkedIn: With more than 30 years in the information technology industry, Paul Laberge – CGI Director Consulting-Expert, has a wide range of experience providing IT project management. He enjoys coaching leaders in deploying business technology solutions. His experience in organizational change management spans many different lifecycles including transitions to Agile frameworks (RUP, XP, Scrum, SAFe, Nexxus, LeSS) and incorporating Lean (Kanban) methodologies. Reach out on LinkedIn: Susan Parente is a Principal Consultant at S3 Technologies, LLC and a University Professor at multiple Universities. Mrs. Parente is an author, mentor and professor focused on risk management, traditional and Agile project management. Her experience is augmented by her Masters in Engineering Management with a focus in Marketing of Technology from George Washington University, DC, along with a number of professional certifications. Ms. Parente has 23+ years’ experience leading software and business development projects in the private and public sectors, including a decade of experience implementing IT projects for the DoD. Contact Susan at parente.s3@gmail.com Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 9 of . The subtitle of this chapter is a fair summary of the ideas in the chapter: how to turn crucial conversations into action and results. Let’s face it if you don’t do anything with what you learn in a crucial conversation you are wasting a lot of value. Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Week 9 - - Week 10 - - We are starting the poll for the next book in the re-read series. Crucial Conversations has two more chapters and an afterword left which means we have approximately three weeks to choose what we will read next. I am going to try something a little different this time by focusing on books I’ve read in late 2019 early 2020 and that I carry around with me when I am working. One exception is the inclusion of the runner up from our last poll. If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 598 will feature our essay titled Recognizing A Toxic Meeting Culture. Just because you are meeting remotely doesn’t mean meeting culture has been reset. We will also return to the QA Corner with Jeremy Berriault.

The SPaMCAST 596 features our interview with Tom Henricksen. Tom brings the industry the DevOps and the Agile Online Summits and is an active thought leader in the agile community. We talked about how events like his Summits foster learning and sharpening the saw. Tom suggests that tuning your skills and capabilities has never been more important as the economy struggles to get going again. Web: Web: LinkedIn: Twitter: @TomHenricksen Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 8 of . Arguably the feel of this re-read to date has had a bit of book report feel. Since this is a first read of the book for me, consuming what I have read has tended to be a reflection of how I process concepts. We have approximately 3 weeks left, do you have ideas for the next book? Chapter 8 builds on Chapter 5’s message of establishing safety during a dialogue by adding a new step: exploring the other’s path of action. A quote that hooked me on the chapter was “You will never work through your differences until all parties freely add to the pool of meaning.” Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Week 9 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Upcoming Events (ALL ONLINE) DevOps Online Summit 2020 April 20 - 24 Registration is open at IdeaFest April 21 and 22, 2020 Registration is open at Listen to the Promo after the interview or standalone in the feed! Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 597 will feature a special panel of practitioners and experts to discuss working from home now and after the initial reaction to COVID-19 wears off. The panel was comprised of Paul Laberge, Susan Parente, John Voris, and Jo Ann Sweeney.

Join us to hear great ideas from industry leaders while they share their stories about CMMC, Agile, Transformation, Culture, CMMI V2.0, High Performance, and more! All from the comfort of your couch! Attendance is limited to 100 people, so register today - only $99! Keynote: Ty Schieber, Chairman CMMC Accreditation Body Keynote: Jim Bouchard, The Sensei Leader 16 of your favorite speakers throughout the day - live and virtual! http://www.ideafest2020.org/

The SPaMCAST 595 features our interview with Vladimir Khorikov. Vladimir and I geeked out on unit testing and his new book, . Our conversations covered the gamut with a discussion of writing from first principles, understanding and tuning the signal-to-noise ratio in unit testing, and tests that are better at proving the negative than the positive. Vladimir Khorikov is a software engineer and author of several popular Pluralsight courses. He has been professionally involved in software development for over 15 years, including mentoring teams on the ins and outs of unit testing. He's also the founder of the Enterprise Craftsmanship blog, where he reaches 500 thousand software developers yearly. He started as an adviser on general programming topics, but lately shifted his focus to unit testing with a central message of teaching software developers how to make unit testing painless. The biggest advantage of his teaching style, and the one students often praise, is his tendency to have a strong theoretic background, which he then applies to practical examples. Web: LinkedIn: Twitter: @vkhorikov Manning Publications has kindly supplied the SPaMCAST with a few ebook codes. If you are interested (and you should be) email the Software Process and Measurement Cast at with your favorite quote from this interview and I will randomly draw winners on April 18th. Email not your style? Post your favorite quote on or post the quote on Twitter with #spamcast. Re-Read Saturday News We worked on getting ready to talk, now it is time to get into the meat of a dialogue. Chapter 7 of , is where the rubber hits the road. In many circumstances, this is actually where the wheels actually come off! The authors present five skills for talking when what you have to say could make others feel defensive. Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Upcoming Events (ALL ONLINE) DevOps Online Summit 2020 April 20 - 24 Registration is open at IdeaFest April 21 and 22, 2020 Registration is open at Listen to the Promo after the interview or standalone in the feed! Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 596 will feature our interview with Tom Henrickson. Tom brings the industry the DevOps and the Agile Online Summits and is an active thought leader in the agile community. We talked about learning and sharpening the saw. The idea of tuning your capabilities has never been more important as the economy struggles to get going again.

The DevOps Online Summit 2020 is an online event for DevOps professionals. We will have interviews with DevOps leaders and Ask Me Anything sessions. So wherever you are in the world you can attend these online sessions. It will start Monday, April 20, 2020, and run through Friday, April 24, 2020. I am looking forward to getting my DevOps geek on and hope to virtually see you at xx to the Summit. Check out Tom Henricksen’s audio call to action. Then visit and register for this year’s DevOps Online Summit at https://bit.ly/2UQaupf I am looking forward to getting my DevOps geek on and hope to virtually see you at the Summit. Check out Tom Henricksen’s audio call to action. Then visit and register for this year’s DevOps Online Summit at https://bit.ly/2UQaupf The SPaMCAST is proud to be a media sponsor.

The SPaMCAST 594 features our interview with Dennis Lewis. Mr. Lewis, author of , and I talked about how blockchain and cryptocurrencies are changing all types of software development. Dennis provides great advice for technologists and entrepreneurs that is immediately actionable (without violating social distancing). Dennis is a seasoned digital storyteller and ICO marketing specialist with a proven track record in both Europe and the United States. He has successfully led to market and exited multiple startup companies, and prides himself on his ability to make complex projects easy to understand and relatable. In a marketing landscape increasingly obsessed with shiny objects and overly complicated sales funnels, Dennis still believes that the key to any successful marketing campaign are the words on the page. LinkedIn: Cryptoreneurs Club: Behold the Cryptopreneurs: Re-Read Saturday News While I was preparing for this week’s installment of Re-read Saturday, I got into a “discussion” with my wife about people and organizations profiteering during the COVID-19 disaster. When I began to notice I was becoming heated, I realized that this week’s chapter was an appropriate touchpoint to get the dialogue back on track. Chapter 6 of is about how to gain control of your emotions during crucial conversations and therefore gain control of the conversation. Keeping your emotions under control allows you to think and use all of the tools at your disposal to stay in a constructive dialogue. Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Upcoming Events (ALL ONLINE) DevOps Online Summit 2020 April 20 - 24 Registration is open at IdeaFest April 21 and 22, 2020 Registration is open at I will get more information to you on these two great events later this week. Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 595 will feature our interview with Vladimir Khorikov. Vladimir and I geeked out on unit testing and his new book, . The concepts of unit testing are important for anyone who develops, tests or interacts with people who write code.

The SPaMCAST 593 features my interview with Scott Crabtree. Happiness at work might sound squishy, but happiness has rigorous science behind it. Simply put, happiness yields better outcomes both in terms of value delivered and our own perception of our value. Scott Crabtree helps people apply science to thrive at work. After earning a degree in cognitive science from Vassar College, he went on to lead the design and development of video games and other software. He discovered the science of thriving (positive psychology and other brain sciences) in 2003 and immediately became a passionate student and teacher of that research. He resigned his senior leadership position at Intel in 2011 to found Happy Brain Science. When not presenting the science of thriving at work, Scott enjoys playing music and getting into the Oregon wilderness, especially with his wife and two daughters. Contact Information LinkedIn Happy Brain Science: Re-Read Saturday News Today we tackle Chapter 5, Make It Safe - How to Make It Safe to Talk About Almost Anything, from . This is the next step in the journey to help the reader participate and guide crucial conversations into dialogues by ensuring that the interaction is safe. Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - Week 5 - - Week 6 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Book Club Starting Soon ** Only a few seats left *** Jon M Quigley and I are starting an online book club to read and discuss the classic books that underpin the lean, quality and agile movements. The name of the book club is “Quality, Agile, and Lean Classic Books: Greatness in the Workplace”. The first book is Out Of The Crisis by Deming (don’t have a copy — ) We are starting our dialog on Friday, April 10th and the event will run over 7 sessions (we will avoid as many religious and national holidays as possible). We are only opening 10 seats for each group of sessions. We are changing a one time fee of $3.13 which equates to 4.95 (ish) once Eventbrite factors in their fees to encourage people that sign up to show up. More information and sign up at Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 594 will feature our interview with Daniel Lewis. Mr. Lewis, author of Behold the Cryptopreneurs, and I talked about how blockchain and cryptocurrencies are changing all types of software development. Also, I also have another panel discussion focusing on working from home that should air this week and special video content that should get into the feed over the next few weeks. A little lagniappe because we all deserve it right now.

The SPaMCAST 592 features my interview with Shelisa Bainbridge. We talked about human-centered design and the impact of design on the development process. This approach is core to understanding what the customer wants in a way that influences every line of code. We also talked about how organizations adopt agile and women in agile. Shelisa is a Senior Business Coach with more than 20 years of experience working with some of Canada’s most notable brands. Through her various corporate experiences, Shelisa has come to understand the exponential power that ‘human connection’ has on a company’s bottom line, and the support that businesses need to attain exceptional results through brand loyalty and unwavering internal team trust and collaboration. Shelisa is the Head of Human Centered Delivery (HCD) at one of Toronto’s top Agile Consulting and Coaching groups, Agile by Design. HCD is a complete flow that combines Design Thinking, Agile, User Experience(UX), and validated learning. Shelisa B. helps to arm teams with the skills they need to shift the mindset, culture, and methods required to increase agility. LinkedIn: Web: Re-Read Saturday News This week we focus on Chapter 4 of . The chapter is titled, Learn to Look: How To Notice When Safety Is At Risk. Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - Week 5 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Book Club Starting Soon ** Only a few seats left *** Jon M Quigley and I are starting an online book club to read and discuss the classic books that underpin the lean, quality and agile movements. The name of the book club is “Quality, Agile, and Lean Classic Books: Greatness in the Workplace”. The first book is Out Of The Crisis by Deming (don’t have a copy — ) We are starting our dialog on Friday, April 10th and the event will run over 7 sessions (we will avoid as many religious and national holidays as possible). We are only opening 10 seats for each group of sessions. We are changing a one time fee of $3.13 which equates to 4.95 (ish) once Eventbrite factors in their fees to encourage people that sign up to show up. More information and sign up at Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 593 will feature my interview with Scott Crabtree. Scott and I talked about the impact of being happy at work has on performance and outcomes. Perfect timing for this interview! Also, I may have some special content in the feed over the next few weeks. A little lagniappe because we all deserve it right now.

The SPaMCAST 591 is a very special podcast. On the 18th of March, I convened a panel of luminaries to discuss how they were supporting and working with remote teams. I recorded both the audio and video, today I am releasing the audio version. The panel for this show was Jeff Dalton Amy McDonough Sandeep Koorse Christopher Hurney And myself! We kept the session short but full of practical advice! Next SPaMCAST We will be back with the video soon AND back on Sunday our interview with Shelisa Bainbridge.

The SPaMCAST 590 features my interview with Nancy Kastl. Nancy and I discussed testing and the future of the testing profession. The future of testing is not cut and dry; in the short run more automation and in the long-term more codeless testing and AI might replace entry-level testers. An eye-opening interview! Nancy’s Bio: Nancy Kastl is an accomplished professional with over thirty-five years of experience as a consultant, facilitator, and instructor in software quality and testing. As an entrepreneur and consultant, she brings her expertise in strategic planning, quality management, software testing, process re-engineering, and measurement to every engagement. As the executive director of SPR’s Testing Services, she provides thought leadership to clients, formulates solutions to their needs, and provides daily guidance and oversight to SPRs on-shore testing team in Chicago. She is the founder and President of the Chicago Quality Assurance Association. Nancy is a frequent conference speaker and served as the QUEST conference chairperson for twelve years. She loves photography, being surrounded by nature, and traveling. Reach out to Nancy on LinkedIn at And check out SPR at Re-Read Saturday News This week we continue our re-read of with Chapter 3, Start With Heart. This chapter begins to teach the reader “how” to dialog. Start with heart means that we have to establish our goal before getting involved in a dialog. Week 1 - - Week 2 - - Week 3 – – Week 4 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Book Club Starting Soon Jon M Quigley and I are starting an online book club to read and discuss the classic books that underpin the lean, quality and agile movements. The name of the book club is “Quality, Agile, and Lean Classic Books: Greatness in the Workplace”. The first book is Out Of The Crisis by Deming (don’t have a copy — ) We are starting our dialog on Friday, April 10th and the event will run over 7 sessions (we will avoid as many religious and national holidays as possible). We are only opening 10 seats for each group of sessions. We are changing a one time fee of $3.13 which equates to 4.95 (ish) once Eventbrite factors in their fees to encourage people that sign up to show up. More information and sign up at Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 591 will feature my interview with Shelisa Bainbridge. Shelisa is the Head of Human Centered Delivery (HCD) at Agile by Design. We talked about human-centered design, why design thinking is important, women in tech and agile, and more. This is a powerful interview with a ton of useful ideas. Also, I may have some special content in the feed over the next few weeks. A little lagniappe because we all deserve it right now.

The SPaMCAST 589 features our essay on using clean language to refine requirements. Clean Language’s pedigree is from psychotherapy and has found a home in coaching. It is also a valuable tool for discovering information about work products. As product managers, product owners, and stakeholders interact with the world and then describe a set of wants and needs they use metaphors. Clean language helps us unpack those metaphors. We also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist Column to the podcast. Susan delivers thoughts and ideas about virtual agile. Reach out to Susan at parente@s3-tec.com. Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 2 of . Chapter 2, titled Mastering Crucial Conversations: The Power of Dialogue. The chapter begins with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that highlights the problem with staying silent. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Week 1 - - Week 2 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). New side venture! Jon M Quigley and I are starting an online book club to read and discuss the classic books that underpin the lean, quality and agile movements. The name is “Quality, Agile, and Lean Classic Books: Greatness in the Workplace”. The first book is Out Of The Crisis by Deming (don’t have a copy — ) We are starting our dialog on Friday, April 10th and the event will run over 7 sessions (we will avoid as many religious and national holidays as possible). We are only opening 10 seats for each group of sessions. We are changing a one time fee of $3.13 which equates to 4.95 (ish) once Eventbrite factors in their fees to encourage people that sign up to show up. Each session will be outlined in the supplemental material provided for the book club. The materials will include definitions of keywords and a series of questions to ponder for each chapter as you read through the book. We are limiting the book club to 10 participants to facilitate ease of discussion of the text and to allow interaction. Tom Cagley and Jon M Quigley will be your guides through the material, posing follow on questions that guide you through the exploration of the work. Note, we will record each of the sessions in case everyone will not be able to attend every week. Sign up at Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 590 will feature my interview with Nancy Kastl. Nacy and I discussed testing and the future of the testing profession. Is the future of testing purely automation and machine learning? You will find out next Sunday!

The SPaMCAST 588 features our interview with Susie Palmer-Trew and Peter Taylor. We discussed their new book It was great to meet Susie and renew our conversation with Peter. We talked about the assumptions that the profession of project management makes and why we should challenge those assumptions. The episode has the subtitle (you will discover it ½ way through the interview) Susie Palmer-Trew is an award-winning project professional and Director of Change at The Open University, enabling others to get shit done in a world tied up in red tape. She is the co-creator of the #LetsChangeChange movement, avid risk-taker and professional trouble maker. Contact Susie on LinkedIn () Peter Taylor is author of the Amazon number 1 bestselling project management book, The Lazy Project Manager, and professional speaker, having given 350 lectures around the world in over 25 countries. He has been described as ‘perhaps the most entertaining and inspiring speaker in the project management world today’. Contact Peter at Re-Read Saturday News This week we are at a family wedding and missed posting the next installment of our re-read of . The essay is written but unedited. We will be back next week with Chapter 2 and possibly Chapter 3. Week 1 - - Week 2 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 589 will get us back into cadence with an essay on Clean Language. Clean Language is a technique for shaping a discussion. The questions at the heart of this approach are designed to discover and explore a person’s personal metaphor. Clean language is a very useful tool for a wide range of roles from coaching to exploring requirements and needs. We will also have a conversation with Susan Parente. Susan brings here Not A Scrumdamentalist Column to the podcast next week!

For SPaMCAST 587 we are going to break cadence and feature another interview. Ryan Ripley, Todd Miller and I discussed their new book . We discussed how to define broken scrum processes. Ryan and Todd make the point that Scrum is so much more than a checklist of practices to follow, yet that's exactly how many organizations practice it. Todd’s Bio Todd is a Professional Scrum Trainer for Scrum.org and VP of the Agile Innovation Practice at Itero Group, LLC. He has professional experience as a Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developer, and Agile coach on a variety of technical and creative projects across a multitude of industries. He presently coaches and trains enterprises and teams across the United States on the Scrum framework, enterprise Agile transformation, and professional software development. Ryan’s Bio: A professional Scrum trainer with Scrum.org, Ryan Ripley has experience as a software developer, manager, director, and ScrumMaster at various Fortune 500 companies in the medical device, wholesale, and financial services industries. The host of "," the top agile podcast on iTunes, Ryan lives in Indiana with his wife, Kristin, and three children. He blogs at and is on Twitter @ryanripley. Most recently, Ryan co-author of "Fixing Your Scrum: Practical Solutions to Common Scrum Problems" with Todd Miller. Ryan is also a noted keynote speaker and travels internationally to present on the Scrum and Agile topics. Business Agility Conference is sponsoring SPaMCAST! Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount. The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. The Conference is bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This is the first, and original, Business Agility Conference. The goal is to bring the local and international business agility community together in a friendly, educational and fun environment to exchange and explore ways to create lasting change. This conference is unique, not only in the topic but also in structure. You will experience; 20-minute “Art of the Possible” stories from each speaker 20-minutes Panel Q/A with the audience for each theme 45-minute deep dives and facilitated peer conversations This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! Support the podcast and blog by visiting the link and adding the Business Agility Conference to your conference dance card in 2020! Re-Read Saturday News This week we continue our re-read of . Chapter 1 of Crucial Conversations provides the reader with a definition of a crucial conversation for the book, hints to aid in recognizing this form of communication, and provides a rationale for why we should care. Week 1 - - Week 2 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 588 features our interview with Susie Palmer-Trew and Peter Taylor. We discussed their new book It was great to meet Susie and renew our conversation with Peter. We talked about the assumptions that the profession of project management makes and why we should challenge those assumptions.

The SPaMCAST 586 features our interview with Jeff Dalton. We talked about his book and the Agile Performance Holarchy. One of the topics we explored in this podcast is the relationship between being a professional musician and a software developer. Jeff brings his wisdom and humor to the podcast again to help listeners learn from high-performance agile organizations! Note: At 23:50 ish in this Podcast Jeff and I begin an exchange on the difference between the attributes needed to be an agile leader and those needed to climb the corporate ladder. The discussion is a profound truth that rarely is discussed or is suppressed. I would like to hear your thoughts! Jeff last visited the podcast on . Jeff Dalton is Chief Evangelist at , a Research and Development organization that studies agile leadership. He is a technology executive with over 30 years of experience as a CTO, CIO, VP of Product Development, and for that past fifteen years has been CEO of Broadsword and AgileCxO. He is an executive agile coach, agile assessor, and instructor, a regular conference speaker, and author of both "The Agile Performance Holarchy: An Operating System for Agile Leaders" and "The Guide to Scrum and CMMI: Improving Agile Performance with CMMI." In his spare time, Jeff is an instrument-rated pilot and plays bass in a jazz band. He has degrees in music and computer science. Contact Jeff at: Agilecxo.org Twitter: @cmmiappraiser Twitter: @agilecxo Business Agility Conference is sponsoring SPaMCAST! Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount. The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. The Conference is bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This is the first, and original, Business Agility Conference. The goal is to bring the local and international business agility community together in a friendly, educational and fun environment to exchange and explore ways to create lasting change. This conference is unique, not only in the topic but also in structure. You will experience; 20-minute “Art of the Possible” stories from each speaker 20-minutes Panel Q/A with the audience for each theme 45-minute deep dives and facilitated peer conversations This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! Support the podcast and blog by visiting the link and adding the Business Agility Conference to your conference dance card in 2020! Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin our re-read of Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler. This week we review the logistics of the read, the two forewords, and the preface. One of the major takeaways in week 1 is that Covey suggests using the book in a cycle of learning, doing, reflecting and then repeating. The learning cycle ought to resonate with every Scrum Master, Agile Coach and change leader. Week 1 - - If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link above! sing the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). Next SPaMCAST For SPaMCAST 587 we are going to break cadence and feature another interview. Ryan Ripley, Todd Miller and I discussed their new book . We discussed how to define broken scrum processes. Ryan and Todd make the point that Scrum is so much more than a checklist of practices to follow, yet that's exactly how many organizations practice it.

The SPaMCAST 585 features an intimate conversation between Jon M Quigley, Susan Parente, and myself. We discussed experimentation, learning, and a deep dive into whether agile transformations do enough to prepare technical teams to get the maximum value from agile. Contact Susan at Contact Jon at Business Agility Conference is sponsoring SPaMCAST! Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount. The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. The Conference is bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This is the first, and original, Business Agility Conference. The goal is to bring the local and international business agility community together in a friendly, educational and fun environment to exchange and explore ways to create lasting change. This conference is unique, not only in the topic but also in structure. You will experience; 20-minute “Art of the Possible” stories from each speaker 20-minutes Panel Q/A with the audience for each theme 45-minute deep dives and facilitated peer conversations This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! Support the podcast and blog by visiting the link and adding the Business Agility Conference to your conference dance card in 2020! Re-Read Saturday News This week we complete our re-read of with a few concluding comments. I now have read this book twice. It has influenced my practice both times. I will probably re-read the book again in a few years and expect to be changed again. This weeks installment of Re-read Saturday is: Week 39 - - Or start at the beginning Week 1: – The next book in our Re-read Saturday Feature is Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler. I have never read this book, I just ordered the book using the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link above! Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 586 features our interview with Jeff Dalton. We talked about his book and the Agile Performance Holarchy. Jeff brings his wisdom and humor to the podcast again to challenge the perception that we can’t learn from high-performance agile organizations!

SPaMCAST 584, the first interview of our 14th year of the SPaMCAST, features our interview with Allan Kelly. We discussed his new book, . The role of a product owner is hard and often misunderstood. Allan offers practical advice on sorting the role out. Allan’s Bio Allan has pioneered techniques such as Value Poker, Time-Value Profiles and Retrospective Dialogue Sheets. He is the author of seven books including "Continuous Digital", "Little Book of Requirements and User Stories" and his latest book is "Art of Agile Product Ownership." When not writing Allan consults and coaches, helping companies embrace the agile and digital world, and teams to improve their performance. Links: Me: www.allankelly.net Blog: www.allankelly.net/blog Retrospective cards: www.dialoguesheets.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/allankellynet Business Agility Conference is sponsoring this Podcast! Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount. The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. The Conference is bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This is the first, and original, Business Agility Conference. The goal is to bring the local and international business agility community together in a friendly, educational and fun environment to exchange and explore ways to create lasting change. This conference is unique, not only in the topic but also in structure. You will experience; 20-minute “Art of the Possible” stories from each speaker 20-minutes Panel Q/A with the audience for each theme 45-minute deep dives and facilitated peer conversations This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! Support the podcast and blog by visiting the link and adding the Business Agility Conference to your conference dance card in 2020! Re-Read Saturday News This week we complete the material in . The Conclusion Chapter is the last of the main material in the book. In this chapter, there are three areas I want to highlight. Next week we finish the re-read in earnest with a few closing thoughts. The previous installment of Re-read Saturday is: Week 37 - - Or start at the beginning Week 1: – The next book in our Re-read Saturday Feature is Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler. I have never read this book, I just ordered the book using the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link above! Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 585 features an intimate conversation between Jon M Quigley, Susan Parente, and myself discussing experimentation, learning, and a deep dive into whether teams are enabled to get the maximum value from agile.

Happy Birthday to the Software Process and Measurement Cast. SPaMCAST 583 marks the beginning of the Podcast’s 14th year! The first podcast of year 14 features a three-way discussion between Susan Parente, Anthony Mersino, and myself. We discussed the pros and cons of hybridizing agile frameworks. Hybridizing agile approaches is a lightning rod concept in many circles. Susan, Anthony and I have different experiences and opinions on the topic. The conversation was spirited. Business Agility Conference is sponsoring this Podcast! Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. The Conference is bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This is the first, and original, Business Agility Conference. The goal is to bring the local and international business agility community together in a friendly, educational and fun environment to exchange and explore ways to create lasting change. This conference is unique, not only in the topic but also in structure. You will experience; 20-minute “Art of the Possible” stories from each speaker 20-minutes Panel Q/A with the audience for each theme 45-minute deep dives and facilitated peer conversations This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! Support the podcast and blog by visiting the link and adding the Business Agility Conference to your conference dance card in 2020! Re-Read Saturday News This week as we discuss Chapter 37 and 38 of we are quickly closing in on the completion of the re-read. Chapter 37, Experienced Well-Being, and Chapter 38, Thinking About Life, are the last two chapters before Kanhneman’s conclusions. Assuming “God willing and the creek don’t rise” (), we will begin Crucial Conversations in three weeks. I have purchased my copy and have started reading the book. The current installment of Re-read Saturday is: Week 36 - - Or start at the beginning Week 1: – The next book in our Re-read Saturday Feature is Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler. I have never read this book, I just ordered the book using the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link above! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 584 will feature our interview with Allan Kelly. We discussed his new book, . The role of a product owner is often misunderstood and always hard. Allan gets things sorted for us!

SPaMCAST 582 features our interview with Paul Gibbons. We discussed his new book I. The interview started by exploring the high-level factors that influence change and then spun down into areas such as the future of work, biases, and de-biasing. This is the second book in the series he began with which we discussed on . The ideas that Paul shares are thought-provoking and will improve how you think about change. Pau’s bio: Paul Gibbons is an author, academic, business consultant, podcaster and professional speaker. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. After eight years as a senior consultant at PwC, Gibbons founded Future Considerations, a consulting firm that provided guidance to major corporations, including Shell, BP, Barclays and HSBC, on achieving whole-systems change. From 2015-2018, he was an adjunct professor at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. He currently devotes himself mainly to writing and speaking to businesses about transformational leadership, change, and ethics.. He has authored five books, most prominently The Science of Successful Organizational Change, and runs the popular philosophy podcast, Think Bigger Think Better. He lives in the Denver area with his two sons and enjoys playing poker, chess, and other mind sports. Paul’s Website: Email: Paul@paulgibbons.net Facebook – Twitter – YouTube – Philosophyfirst LinkedIn – Paul G Gibbons Paul is a podcaster! His podcast, Think Bigger, Think Better asks the question How can contemporary philosophy and science help us make better choices, lead better lives, and create a sustainable, prosperous world? Check out Think Bigger, Think Better on or where ever you get your podcasts! Business Agility Conference is sponsoring this Podcast! Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. The Conference is bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This is the first, and original, Business Agility Conference. The goal is to bring the local and international business agility community together in a friendly, educational and fun environment to exchange and explore ways to create lasting change. This conference is unique, not only in the topic but also in structure. You will experience; 20-minute “Art of the Possible” stories from each speaker 20-minutes Panel Q/A with the audience for each theme 45-minute deep dives and facilitated peer conversations This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! Support the podcast and blog by visiting the link and adding the Business Agility Conference to your conference dance card in 2020! Re-Read Saturday News This week we discuss Chapter 36 of . The chapter is titled Life As A Story. This chapter focuses on two closely related biases that impact the stories we tell about our lives. The current installment of Re-read Saturday is: Week 36 - - Or start at the beginning Week 1: – The next book in our Re-read Saturday Feature is Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler. I have never read this book, I just ordered the book using the link (using the link helps support the blog and podcast). If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link above! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 583 marks the beginning of the Podcast’s 14th year! Our first podcast of year 14 will feature a three-way discussion between Susan Parente, Anthony Mersino, and myself. We discussed hybridizing agile approaches. Discussions of hybridization can evoke accusations of not being really agile or not doing agile the right way. Hybrids are often important for meeting people where are so they can smoothly embrace change or meet legal reporting requirements. Susan, Anthony and I have different experiences and opinions on the topic. The conversation will be spirited.

SPaMCAST 581 features a discussion on whether most agile transformations have provided teams with the technical skills to be successful with agile. Kim Pries, the Software Sensei, Jeremy Berriault, QA Corner, and I had a wide-ranging discussion covering experimentation, learning and both personal and management responsibility. Business Agility Conference is sponsoring this Podcast! Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. The Conference is bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This is the first, and original, Business Agility Conference. The goal is to bring the local and international business agility community together in a friendly, educational and fun environment to exchange and explore ways to create lasting change. This conference is unique, not only in the topic but also in structure. You will experience; 20-minute “Art of the Possible” stories from each speaker 20-minutes Panel Q/A with the audience for each theme 45-minute deep dives and facilitated peer conversations This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! Support the podcast and blog by visiting the link and adding the Business Agility Conference to your conference dance card in 2020! Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 35, titled Two Selves, begins Section Five. Kahneman starts this chapter by discussing the concept of experienced utility. define experienced utility as “the hedonic or pleasurable experience produced by the outcome when eventually gained.” A person that was attempting to maximize experienced utility would make decisions that yield the most pleasure over other attributes. The current installment of Re-read Saturday is: Week 35: - Or start at the beginning Week 1: – We will announce the next book in the re-read series next week. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 582 will feature our interview with Paul Gibbons. We discussed his new book Impact. Along the way, we talked about biases and more importantly about de-biasing. This is the second book in the series he began with which we discussed on . That was a good interview . . . this one is better!

SPaMCAST 580 features our interview with Bill Fox. Bill and I discussed his new book - . Bill has compiled a huge amount of wisdom from his amazing interviews that translated into his new book. Bill and I spent time in this interview exploring the journey to the new book and Bill’s philosophies. Our discussion highlights the benefits of a deep humanist view of leadership. Bill’s Bio Bill Fox is an author, speaker, and consultant who helps build forward-thinking and human-centered workplace cultures. Bill leads a growing global conversation at Exploring Forward Thinking Workplaces (forwardthinkingworkplaces.com) with 75+ pioneering business and thought leaders. His work will help you discover new pathways, make better decisions, and be a forward thinking leader. He is the author of (Apress, October 2019), the , and . Learn more about Bill at and visit All of Bill's Books can be found at https://billfox.co/my-books/ Business Agility Conference Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street What drives you to sign up and go to a conference? Great speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities? Do I have a conference for you! The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. The Business Agility Institute is bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of we review Chapter 34 which highlights a number of critical ideas that are germane in today’s environment. Kahneman begins the chapter with the statement that classic economists’ beliefs and preferences are reality bound. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday is: Week 34: - Or start at the beginning Week 1: – Remember we are in the process of choosing the next book in the Re-Read Saturday feature. We have approximately six weeks left in the reading of Thinking Fast and Slow. We have four books that have been suggested (two I have not read, but should). Please vote for your two favorites in the poll below: Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 581 is a special show featuring a discussion on whether most agile transformations have provided teams with the technical skills to be successful with agile. Kim Pries, the Software Sensei, Jeremy Berriault, QA Corner, and I had a wide-ranging discussion covering learning and both personal and management responsibility.

SPaMCAST 579 features our essay on fear-driven agile hybrids. Most hybridization issues stem from techniques that conflict with the framework and/or agile principles due to clashes with culture or lack of knowledge. Blindly making changes will never reflect what the environment’s context demands. Expecting to get good results by randomly changing how you work won’t be effective. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault from QA Corner. Jeremy and I talked about frameworks and what should happen if the framework is not helping. Contact Jeremy at Email: Business Agility Conference Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. The Business Agility Institute is bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Use the special code “spamcast” to get a 20% discount! Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of we talk about reversals. Taking related decisions separately allows the decision-maker to use factors that are unrelated to the decision. This allows System 1 Thinking and bias to creep into the process. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday is: Week 33: - Remember we are in the process of choosing the next book in the Re-Read Saturday feature. We have approximately seven weeks left in the reading of Thinking Fast and Slow. We have four books that have been suggested (two I have not read, but should). Please vote for your two favorites in the poll below: Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 580 will feature our interview with Bill Fox. Bill and I discussed his new book - . Bill has compiled a huge amount of wisdom from his amazing interviews with leaders and thought leaders. Our discussion highlights the benefits of a deep humanist view of leadership.

SPaMCAST 578 features our interview with Evan Leybourn. Evan and I discussed HR Guilds and news from the Business Agility Institute. Evan last visited the podcast on as the Business Agility Institute was just being formed. Two years later it is going strong and helping change how business is done. Evan is the Founder and CEO of the Business Agility Institute; an international membership body to both champion and support the next generation of organizations. Companies that are agile, innovative and dynamic - perfectly designed to thrive in today’s unpredictable markets. The BAI connects leaders across industries and regions to share their experiences and insights with each other. The flagship event, the Business Agility Conference will run in New York March on 11 and 12, 2020. Evan is also the author of and . Business Agility Institute: HR Guild - BAI Members - Business Agility Conference Dates: March 11-12, 2020 Location: New York City, 117 West 46th Street The Business Agility Conference is an intense 2-day event focusing on the future of business, focusing on customer centricity, employee engagement, organization design, product innovation, and next-gen leadership. We are bringing together some of the greatest speakers and practitioners of business agility to share their experiences and the benefits their organizations have gained from exploring new and agile practices. This year’s speakers include current and prior executives from Zappos, Amazon, Pacific Life Insurance, and Scrum Alliance, the Chair of the Board of CHOICE, as well as thought-leaders from Menlo Innovations, Freddie Mac, and AgilityHealth. URL: Special Discount For SPaMCAST Listeners: spamcast - 20% discount Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of we talk about keeping score! Mental accounts and keeping score impact the decisions that we make. Keeping score and the potential for regret support the status quo and fosters resistance to change. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday is: Week 32: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 579 will feature our essay on fear-driven agile hybrids. Most hybridization issues stem from techniques that conflict with the framework and/or agile principles due to clashes with culture or lack of knowledge. Let’s explore why when context demands, the right techniques can be used to augment the framework. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault from QA Corner.

SPaMCAST 577 features our essay on approaches to backlog prioritization. Today we will share some background and a simple approach because sometimes a straightforward approach will fit the bill! Also this week, Susan Parente joins the cast with an installment of her Not a Scrumdamentalist column. Susan discusses agile myths. Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of we talk about risk policies. The concept of risk policies dovetails quite nicely with our discussion of story and portfolio prioritization. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday: Week 31: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 578 features the return of Evan Leybourn. Evan and I discussed HR Guilds and news from the Business Agility Institute.

SPaMCAST 576 features a discussion on learning and experimentation with Kim Pries. Kim has coded, tested, lead, and is an author. He has also delivered pointed advice as the Software Sensei. Today we discussed the relationship between learning and experimentation which is at the heart of growing as you practice software development. Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of we talk about the collision of utility theory and prospect theory, overweighting vivid outcomes, and denominator neglect. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday: Week 40: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 577 will feature our essay on simple approaches to backlog prioritization. Sometimes a straightforward approach will fit the bill! We will also talk with Susan Parente.

SPaMCAST 575 features our essay on the lightning-rod issue: hybridizing agile methods and techniques. We can all agree that fitting a model to an observed reality requires the flexibility to hybridize. Why do we it so wrong so often? We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column. Jon and I talked about Deming and his impact on our lives and a book club we are launching early next year. Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of we talk about the Fourfold Pattern, Certainty Effect and the Possibility Effect (Chapter 29). Simply put “people are not perfectly rational choosers,” which makes it hard to make consistently good decisions. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday: Week 29: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 576 will feature a conversation with Kim Pries, the Software Sensei on learning, quality, craftsmanship, and future plans. This is one of those conversations that is full of serendipity.

SPaMCAST 574 features our interview with Ian Reynolds, chief Solutions Architect at Zibtek We answered the question, What is a solution architect? The discussion coved ideas across starts-ups, medium, and large-sized businesses. Ian paints the solutions architect as an action hero whose raison d'être is to deliver business value. Ian’s Bio: Ian is a partner and chief Solutions Architect at Zibtek - a software development firm focused on helping businesses of all sizes in the US to solve their core problems with the software. Ian has spent his career consulting and helping different industries to empower greater profitability and efficiency. He loves to share his experiences and ideas on building the right tools through custom software. Website: LinkedIn: Facebook: Twitter: Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of we talk about bad events. The chapters in Part 4 of Thinking Fast and Slow are relatively short and punchy, but the ideas aren’t small. I think these chapters are the most useful on a day-to-day basis. Chapter 28 goes into depth on the concept of loss aversion. Loss aversion works because people evaluate outcomes as losses or gains, and losses loom larger than gains. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday Week 28: http://bit.ly/33hAgUi Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 575 will feature our essay on the lightning-rod issue, hybridizing agile methods and techniques. An action many people perform without a good handle on the pitfalls. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column.

SPaMCAST 573 features our essay using a workflow to prioritize a backlog. Items on any backlog proliferate. Product backlogs used in agile and lean development approaches are no different. Many outsiders have the mistaken notion that once on the list that that is the end of the story -- let’s dissuade them of this idea. Gene Hughson brings his Form Follows Function column to the podcast. Gene and I discussed his experience as an application architect. Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of Chapter 27 begins with a discussion of the classic indifference curve from Econ 101. The indifference curve shows the trade-off between two goods. In this case, Kahneman uses the trade-off between income and leisure to show how overly simple theories generate models that do not describe behavior outside the textbook. The problem that Kahneman points out is the basic indifference curve doesn’t reflect context. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 574 will feature our interview with Ian Reynolds. chief Solutions Architect at Zibtek We discussed the role of a solutions architect in software development.

SPaMCAST 572 features our interview with Michael Larsen. Mr. Larsen and I battled fires, Santa Ana winds, and power cuts to have a great conversation on testability. Anyone that has participated in delivering software EVER has wrestled with a discussion of whether a story or requirement can be proved. Michael brings fresh and actionable insights into how to assure testability. Michael’s bio Michael Larsen is a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer with Socialtext/PeopleFluent. Over the past two decades, he has been involved in software testing for a range of products and industries, including network routers & switches, virtual machines, capacitance touch devices, video games, and client/server, distributed database & web applications. Michael is a Black Belt in the Miagi-Do School of Software Testing, helped start and facilitate the Americas chapter of Weekend Testing, is a former Chair of the Education Special Interest Group with the Association for Software Testing (AST), a lead instructor of the Black Box Software Testing courses through AST, and former Board Member and President of AST. Michael writes the and can be found on Twitter at @mkltesthead. A list of books, articles, papers, and presentations can be seen at . Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of Kahneman, formally introduces the Prospect Theory and talks about the difference between it and the Expected Utility Theory. When doing a little background research, Prospect Theory (part of his research on decision making under uncertainty)contributed to his winning the prize in economics. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 573 will feature our essay on a workflow to prioritize a backlog. Items on any backlog proliferate. Product backlogs used in agile and lean development approaches are no different. Many outsiders have the mistaken notion that once on the list that that is the end of the story - this is far from the truth! We will also have the return of Gen Hughson with an entry in his column, Form Follows Function.

SPaMCAST 571 features our essay titled the Art of Saying No. I recently presented a workshop on saying no -- a simple word that is very difficult to say. During the session, three specific reasons why participants could not say no generated a huge debate. Today we ask you to decide how you feel about the impact of a history of performance, interruptions, and demands. Feel free to share your opinion. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault. In the QA Corner this month, Jeremy provides observations about outside interests and their ability to improve focus and reduce burnout. Jeremy’s outside interests are Jiu-Jitsu and his family. Jeremy can be reached at or by email at Jeremy.Berriault@Berriaultandassociates.com. We had planned to have Michael Larsen on the cast this week, however, Mr. Larsen was affected by power outages in the Bay Area of California due to wildfires. Re-Read Saturday News In this week’s installment of our re-read of we consider Chapter 25, Bernoulli’s Errors. When I first read the chapter I struggled with how Kahneman’s ideas translated to process improvement and change programs. I was naive enough to believe that the majority of outcomes could be predicted based on the economic outcome. After seeing more than one change program fail even though they could have had a positive return on investment, it dawned on me that the context and preexisting conditions as described in Chapter 25 should play a part in planning for change. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 572 will feature our interview with Michael Larsen -- assuming the fires and Santa Ana winds cooperate. Michael and I will discuss testability. Anyone that has participated in delivering software EVER has wrestled with this problem. Michael brings fresh and actionable insights into how to assure testability.

SPaMCAST 570 features our essay on the components of good sprint goals. Sprint goals provide direction and energy, and they communicate with the outside world. A sprint goal should be a straightforward statement that a product owner should be able to craft quickly and then agree upon with a team. We provide a structure to keep goals simple and impactful. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente. In this installment of Susan’s Not a Scrumdamentalist column, we discuss value. Value is core to many practices, the problem is that value is a very nebulous concept. Susan provides guidance. Continue the conversation with Susan at and visit her company at Re-Read Saturday News And we are back! Kahneman titled chapter 24 The Engine of Capitalism. Optimism, Kahneman's engine of capitalism, convinces entrepreneurs to take risks and start new firms even when statistically most will fail for a myriad of reasons. In addition, this type of bias pushes start-ups to be resilient in the face of adversity. We are describing a double-edged sword. Long live optimism because with a bit of tempering it is a force that can define the future. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The current installment of Re-read Saturday - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 571 with feature our interview with Michael Larsen, Michael and I will discuss testability. Anyone that has participated in delivering software EVER, has wrestled with this problem. Michael brings fresh and actionable insights into how to assure testability.

SPaMCAST 569 features our essay on the five types of meetings. Meetings are the most important event in any organization — well that is what it seems like. It can also be said that meetings are the bane of every human that isn’t buying or selling something (and that caveat might be an overstatement). Let's put a name on the five most common types in software-centric organizations. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault. In the QA Corner this month, Jeremy provides observations about the inclusion (and sometimes the lack of inclusion) of QAs in ceremonies such as the Daily Scrum. Jeremy can be reached at or by email at Jeremy.Berriault@Berriaultandassociates.com. Re-Read Saturday News We added Mt Hood (last active in 1800s) to our tour of volcanoes so I did not get back on track, but never fear we really will be back next week (unless volcanoes pop up in Midwest…) Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! If you have not, check out the last installment! Upcoming Events I am doing a webinar on value stream and process flow mapping for The Great IT Professional Organization on October 22, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST. The registration link is The webinar is free! I hope you have time to be in the audience! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 570 will feature our essay on the components of good sprint goals. Sprint goals provide direction and energy, and they communicate to the outside world. A sprint goal sounds like a simple, straightforward statement that a product owner should be able to craft quickly and then agree upon with a team with relative ease -- in theory. We will sort it out. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente!

This week in SPaMCAST 568 marks the return of Sandeep Koorse. Sandeep brings deep insight into the Agile mindset, passion, and experimentation. All three are required for a healthy team. Sandeep last appeared as part of SPaMCAST 511. Sandeep is an innovative leader with over 15 years of experience in helping companies achieve higher results through a careful evaluation of their processes and their technology. Known for determining the metrics and behaviors that promote consistent excellence then sharing those values with colleagues through influence and authority. Recognized by peers for exceptional problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills, and a passion for the community. Reach out to Sandeep at sandeep@koorse.com Re-Read Saturday News I am hiking volcanoes this week, literally! The 400+ page copy of has not been in my day pack (it is in the luggage). We will be back next week. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! If you have not, check out last week’s installment! Upcoming Events Pacific NW Software Quality Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon beginning October 14th through the 16th. I will be speaking on the 15th! Register now: https I am doing a webinar on value stream and process flow mapping for The Great IT Professional Organization on October 22, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST. The registration link is The webinar is free! I hope you have time to be in the audience! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 569 will feature our essay on the 5 types of meetings. Meetings are the most important event in any organization — well that is what it seems like. It can also be said that meetings are the bane of every human that isn’t buying or selling something (and that caveat might be an overstatement). Lets put a name on the 5 most common types in software-centric organizations. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault who will bring his QA Corner to the podcast!

This week in SPaMCAST 567 we discuss the impact of herding on work entry. Herding in decision making effectively takes “no” off the table, leading to uncontrolled work entry. This type of behavior is response-driven and dangerous. We will also have a visit from Gene Hughson to complete his three-part discussion of the solution architect. Today we discuss the solution architect as risk mitigation. Re-Read Saturday News This week in our re-read of , we have a chapter that needs to be read by anyone ever who has been asked for an estimate… ever. The chapter title is The Outside View and makes the case for another point of view when estimating. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! This week’s installment! Upcoming Events Last call for the Agile Online Summit! This year’s summit will be held October 7 - 11th --- EVERYWHERE, it’s a virtual conference. Visit the website to sign-up. The basic conference is FREE. Register now at Pacific NW Software Quality Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon beginning October 14th through the 16th. I will be speaking on the 15th! Register now: https Webinar on value stream and process flow mapping for The Great IT Professional Organization on October 22, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EST. The registration link is The webinar is free! I hope you have time to be in the audience! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 568 will feature a discussion with Sandeep Koorse. Sandeep returns to talk Agile mindset, passion, and experimentation.

SPaMCAST 566 features our interview with Christopher Gerg. Security issues can range from clicking on the wrong thing in emails to ransomware and is painful and costly. Security might be everybody’s responsibility however someone needs to lead the charge. Our conversation covered the role of the CISO in today’s organization, security in software development, and cybersecurity in the real world. Chris’s bio: Christopher Gerg is the CISO and Vice President of Cyber Risk Management at Gillware. He is a technical lead with over 15 years of information security experience. Christopher has worked as a Systems Administrator, Network Engineer, Penetration Tester, Information Security Architect, Vice President of Information Technology, Director and Chief Information Security Officer. He has experience in the challenges of information security in cloud-based hosting, DevOps, managed security services, e-commerce, healthcare, financial, and payment card industries. He has worked in mature information security teams and has built information security programs from scratch and leading them into maturity in wide variety of compliance regimes. While an expert in the theoretical aspects of information security best practice, he is also experienced in the practical aspects of building secure technical environments – and working with the boardroom to promote executive understanding and support. He also authored the O’Reilly and Associates book Company Website: Email Adress: Re-Read Saturday News This week in our re-read of , Kahneman discusses when expert intuition can be trusted. A chapter that is germane to all walks of life. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Week 17: - Week 18: — Week 19: - Week 20: - Week 21: - Week 22: - Upcoming Events It is nearly time for the Agile Online Summit! This year’s summit will be held October 7 - 11th --- EVERYWHERE, it’s a virtual conference. Visit the website to sign-up. The basic conference is FREE. Register now at Pacific NW Software Quality Conference will be held in Portland, Oregon beginning October 14th through the 16th. I will be speaking on the 15th! Register now Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 567 will tackle the concept of herding. Herding is a pattern where an individual or team acts based on the behavior of others. Stated very simply, herding is just like the children’s game follow-the-leader. Sounds innocuous? This type of behavior can lead to work entry problems and other team level snafus! We will also have a visit from Gene Hughson!

The dates for the third Agile Online Summit is getting close! If history is a harbinger, Tom Henricksen will serve up marvelous content for all agile practitioners in easily consumed chunks. I hope to "see" you there! Watch the video and then sign up at October 7 -11th online!

SPaMCAST 565 tackles three ways to mess up sprint goals. Sprint goals are a statement of the value that teams strive to deliver. It is possible to complete all of the stories or work items only to realize that the team has lost sight of the goal. Alternately, it is possible to meet the goal and not complete all of the stories. We also have a promo for the Agile Online Summit This year’s summit will be held October 7 - 11th --- EVERYWHERE, it’s a virtual conference. Visit the website to sign-up. The basic conference is FREE. Rounding out the cast, we have a visit from Jon M Quigley with an installment of The Alpha and Omega of Product Development. Jon talks about his two new books and product roadmaps. Re-Read Saturday News This week in our re-read of , Kahneman opens with a discussion of a number of studies that show that professional predictions are far less accurate than simple algorithmic predictions. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Week 17: - Week 18: — Week 19: - Week 20: - Week 21: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 566 will feature our interview with Christopher Gerg. Our conversation covered the role of the CISO in today’s organization, security in software development, and cybersecurity in the real world.

SPaMCAST 564 is part 2 of my conversation with Steve Tendon and Daniel Dioron. We discussed their new book . Steve and Danie ask the question “Do you need a high-performance enterprise management & governance approach improving planning, execution, and delivery while dealing with multiple projects, events, stakeholders and teams?”, the book and the interview probes potential answers. In order to answer the question, the three of us take a deep dive into applying Goldratt’s Theory of Constraints in the real world. Listen to part 1 before listing to SPaMCAST 564. Steve Tendon’s Bio With a background in software engineering (in his early career he lead the development of software applications in diverse fields, like banking, health care, legal, human resources, and more), Steve is the creator of the TameFlow ® Approach, a systems thinking approach for creating breakthrough performance innovation in knowledge-intensive digital businesses. The TameFlow Approach has been developed and used with great success since 2003, across numerous industries. Steve holds MSc in Software Project Management with the University of Aberdeen, an MIT Fintech Innovation: Future Commerce certificate with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme certificate with the Oxford Saïd Business School. Daniel Dioron’s Bio Daniel has been involved in IT since 1981 in a wide range of roles and responsibilities, primarily in client-facing consulting projects covering the government, banking, insurance, and telecom industries to name a few. Daniel’s involvement with Agile started with Scrum in 2005 and more recently with Kanban and Management 3.0. Daniel is heavily involved with Steve Tendon’s TameFlow method. He is proficient with working expertise in Finance/Accounting/Managerial control (MBA-CPA-CMA), Agility (CSP), Project Management (PMP), Kanban (CKC and CKP) coupled with 38 years in IT (Bachelor studies & career). He loves systems, enjoys measuring improvement while embracing teamwork that actually works! For Tameflow Training, visit Re-Read Saturday News A few nights ago severe thunderstorms rolled through northern Ohio. There were lots of power outages and trees that were blown over. The next morning when I went to the grocery store, the store’s systems could not accept debit cards. I immediately made up a story that connected the storms to system failure. As we have seen before, System 1 thinking takes disparate facts and creates a coherent believable story. No conclusion is too big a jump for System 1 thinking. My story and my belief that I had predicted the most probable cause is an illusion of validity which unless I can get System 2 involved stands a good chance at being wrong even though I believe I am correct! Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Week 17: - Week 18: — Week 19: - Week 20: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 565 will feature an essay on sprint goals. Everyone says they use sprint goals. While I am not convinced, those that do use them often mess them up. We will spend a few minutes straightening them out! We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who will bring his column, The Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the podcast!

SPaMCAST 563 is part one of my conversation with Steve Tendon and Daniel Dioron. We discussed their new book Tame Your Work Flow. Steve and Daniel share deep insights into applying Goldratt’s Theory of Constraints in the real world. After you have listened to the conversation you will never view the flow of work as an esoteric topic. Steve, Daniel, and I had a wide-ranging conversation, I decided to ignore my own guideline on two-part interviews and let the tape run (metaphorically). We will return with part 2 next week. Steve Tendon’s Bio With a background in software engineering (in his early career he lead the development of software applications in diverse fields, like banking, health care, legal, human resources, and more), Steve is the creator of the TameFlow ® Approach, a systems thinking approach for creating breakthrough performance innovation in knowledge-intensive digital businesses. The TameFlow Approach has been developed and used with great success since 2003, across numerous industries. Steve holds MSc in Software Project Management with the University of Aberdeen, an MIT Fintech Innovation: Future Commerce certificate with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme certificate with the Oxford Saïd Business School. Daniel Dioron’s Bio Daniel has been involved in IT since 1981 in a wide range of roles and responsibilities, primarily in client-facing consulting projects covering the government, banking, insurance, and telecom industries to name a few. Daniel’s involvement with Agile started with Scrum in 2005 and more recently with Kanban and Management 3.0. Daniel is heavily involved with Steve Tendon’s TameFlow method. He is proficient with working expertise in Finance/Accounting/Managerial control (MBA-CPA-CMA), Agility (CSP), Project Management (PMP), Kanban (CKC and CKP) coupled with 38 years in IT (Bachelor studies & career). He loves systems, enjoys measuring improvement while embracing teamwork that actually works! For Tameflow Training, visit Re-Read Saturday News Part 3 of is titled Overconfidence. Chapter 19 begins by exploring several biases that affect overconfidence. Earlier in the book, we explored how System 1 thinking connects events to generate a coherent story. This chapter begins by building on the attributes of fast thinking by stating that humans interpret behavior as a manifestation of general propensities and personal traits. One of the classic biases that cause this type of thinking is the halo effect. I overheard an example of a negative halo effect this week as I walked behind a group of people in Chicago. The group, tourists, pointed at a person sleeping rough along the river and exclaimed that the person was lazy. One attribute of the person’s behavior was generalized into a larger narrative. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Week 17: - Week 18: — http://bit.ly/2kAHClJ Week 19: - http://bit.ly/2lK954p Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 564 will feature part 2 of our interview with Steve Tendon and Daniel Dioron discussing their new book Tame Your Work Flow. Steve and Daniel continue to share deep insights into applying the Theory of Constraints in the real world.

SPaMCAST 562 features our essay on the power of saying no. I firmly believe that unless you have control over the amount of work you take, you are asking for a trainwreck. The problem is that saying no is often harder than being late or over budget. We will also have a visit from the Software Sensei. Kim Pries is back to kick off September with an essay titled, Real Planning. While the actual plan might not be exactly what happens in real life, the act of planning is crucial. Re-Read Saturday News Well, I missed posting an entry of Re-read Saturday and if you had not noticed SPaMCAST 562 is not exactly what I had planned. Five weeks ago my standard poodle Jax (named after the New Orleans Beer of yesteryear) died. My wife and I missed having a canine presence around the house. Yesterday, we drove to Brantford, Ontario and picked up a new standard poodle, Nyssa (named after Nyssa of Traken -- Dr. Who aficionados will recognize the name). It was a round trip 14 hours, including a stop at the in Buffalo --- I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE PLACE. This is the long way around saying that I did not have WIFI, so I failed to post. Hence the pivot on the material in the cast this week. Never fear you never know what tomorrow may bring! Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Week 17: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 563 will feature an interview with Steve Tendon and Daniel Dioron. We discussed their new book Tame Your Work Flow. Steve and Daniel share deep insights into applying the Theory of Constraints in the real world. The flow of work is not an esoteric topic. Steve and Daniel provide very useful advice on how to deliver more value.

In SPaMCAST 561 we discuss making the Daily Scrum work for the mission it was intended. When a Daily Scrum or daily stand-up is not used for micro-planning and collaborating to achieve the team’s goal, they are occurring for a reason. Those meetings are scratching some other itch than planning, an itch that however unagile is often defended. When the goal of a daily meeting is something other than group planning there are more efficient and less expensive approaches even for highly agile teams to address status and have a social event. Also in this podcast, Susan Parente brings us her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. Susan discusses the product owner's role and why it is important. Susan’s LinkedIn Profile Websites (Technical Risk Management) (Company Website) Email Address Twitter Re-Read Saturday News I took a day off from our re-read of to spend the day at a pickle festival. I began the morning with a bike ride (Mr. Adam’s has already commented on Strava) rather than running to change things up just a little which helped shift me to an introspective mood! For your reading pleasure, a slightly modified entry from the Motivational Sunday series, this one from a Sunday in December 2013. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Week 17: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 562 features an interview with Steve Tendon and Daniel Dioron. We discussed their new book Tame Your Work Flow. Steve and Daniel share deep insights into applying the Theory of Constraints in the real world. The flow of work is not an esoteric topic. Steve and Daniel provide very useful advice on how to deliver more value.

In SPaMCAST 560 we complete our wide-ranging interview with Al Shalloway. We continue our conversations about the troubles dogging classic agile, the Agile Industrial Complex, using a scientific approach to change, and FLEX. I recommend that you listen to SPaMCAST 559 before listening to this week’s podcast Mr. Shalloway’s bio: Al Shalloway is the creator of FLEX (FLow for Enterprise Transformation), a framework that is a platform for any practices consistent with Flow, Lean, and Agile, including technical practices. Al has made explicit his thought leadership in Scrum, XP, SAFe, Lean, Flow, design patterns and test-first methods into creating FLEX. FLEX takes a scientific approach regarding what methods work best. While it integrates with its own baseline of practices to offer a complete solution to organizations, its architecture enables it to be both tailored as needed to an organization as well as having other consultants integrate their own practices in it. The intention is to create a community of consultants that can offer the services needed by practitioners in a cohesive manner while avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Al is the co-author of 5 books as well as the author of the upcoming book on FLEX. Website: Email: Twitter: @alshalloway Re-Read Saturday News Why does leadership bring a release home to great adulation only to have the next release crash and burn? Did the leader’s skill change between releases or were other random factors, such as luck, involved. Kahneman suggests a simple formula as a thought experiment. Success = skill + luck. Chapter 17 of , Regression To The Mean, discusses correlation and causal interpretation. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Week 17: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 561 will feature our essay on the Daily Scrum. The Daily Scrum, sometimes known as a standup, is ubiquitous but it is often a hot mess. Let's fix it. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente!

SPaMCAST 559 part one of our interview with Al Shalloway. I am breaking two guidelines this week. First, rarely do I bring guests back so quickly. And secondly, I have not broken an interview into two parts for 7 years (ish). The conversation with Al was full of huge ideas, s, concepts, and calls to action cutting any of the content did not make sense. Al and I talked about about the troubles dogging classic agile, the Agile Industrial Complex, using a scientific approach to change, and FLEX. Edited, the interview was 49 minutes (with about 20 minutes of chit chat ended up on the cutting room floor - figuratively). I have broken the interview into two parts of approximately 27 and 22 minutes. Today we have part one and next week we will complete the interview. Mr. Shalloway’s bio: Al Shalloway is the creator of FLEX (FLow for Enterprise Transformation), a framework that is a platform for any practices consistent with Flow, Lean, and Agile, including technical practices. Al has made explicit his thought leadership in Scrum, XP, SAFe, Lean, Flow, design patterns and test-first methods into creating FLEX. FLEX takes a scientific approach regarding what methods work best. While it integrates with its own baseline of practices to offer a complete solution to organizations, its architecture enables it to be both tailored as needed to an organization as well as having other consultants integrate their own practices in it. The intention is to create a community of consultants that can offer the services needed by practitioners in a cohesive manner while avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Al is the co-author of 5 books as well as the author of the upcoming book on FLEX. Website: Email: LinkedIn: Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 16, Causes Trump Statistics, was revelatory for me the first time I read , and it was revelatory during this read. Over my career, I have been shocked many times to see a perfectly sane leader stand up and show a single statistic or estimate which promises delivery of a product at a cost or in a timeframe that is well outside of normal performance. This chapter provides a rationale for what often seems to be less than rational. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Week 16: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 560 will feature part two of our interview with Alan Shalloway including more on the Agile Industrial Complex and how we can reinvigorate learning and challenging ideas. Let not let inspect and adapt perish!

SPaMCAST 558 features our essay . Story Points are not evil and they may be useful in some circumstances. But like most tools, at some point, they lose focus. They have outlived their usefulness, therefore, I will leave them when at all possible. This week, Jeremy Berriault brings his QA Corner to the podcast. We talked about focus. How much focus is enough and how much is too much? Mr. Berriault has an opinion and stories to back his opinion up. Re-Read Saturday News In Chapter 15 of we explore two types of fallacies. Logical and conjunction fallacies can impact any process improvement effort, typically in a manner that does not benefit change. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Week 15: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 559 will feature our interview with Al Shalloway. Rarely do I bring guests back so quickly, however, Al has a number of important ideas to share that only recently began to see wide distribution. We talked about the troubles dogging classic agile, using a scientific approach to change, and FLEX. This was a long discussion . . . it was so riveting that I lost track of time.

SPaMCAST 557 features our interview with Jorgen Hesselberg. We talked about his book , assessing agility, and whether leadership and structure lead culture when adopting an agile mindset. It is a thought-provoking and fun interview. Jorgen’s irrepressible nature shines through even when tackling tough topics! Jorgens Bio: “Jorgen Hesselberg is the author of and co-founder of Comparative Agility, a leading agile assessment, and continuous improvement platform. A proven thought leader of numerous successful enterprise transformation efforts since 2009, Jorgen provides strategic guidance, executive counsel, and coaching to some of the world’s most respected companies both as an internal change agent and an external consultant. He has trained thousands of people on agile and Scrum, disruptive innovation, and enterprise transformation strategy.” Contact Information Email: LinkedIn: Comparative Agility: Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 14 continues the discussion of cognitive biases and heuristics. In Chapter 14 of we explore the representative heuristic. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Week 14: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 558 will feature our essay . I use them when needed but I am becoming less enamored with story points every day. We will also return to the QA Corner and spend some time with Jeremy Berriault.

SPaMCAST 556 features our essay on Socratic Questioning. Questions are a critical tool that every coach, mentor or leader uses to help shape and improve the performance of those they interact with — I don’t think this statement should surprise anyone. That said, pushing past the concept of just asking questions, Socratic questioning is a formal and disciplined approach to getting the person answering the questions to synthesize and answer based on knowledge and logic. We also have a visit from Susan Parente. Susan brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the SPaMCAST. In this installment, Professor Parente discusses being agile in name only. Being agile in name only is not an enviable place to be! Re-Read Saturday News The availability heuristic, introduced in Chapter 12, states that we make judgments about an attribute based on how easy or hard it is to retrieve information about the attribute. In Chapter 13, Kahneman dives deeper into how the availability heuristic functions, and provides some hints on how it can be used. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Week 13: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 557 will feature my interview with Jorgen Hesselberg. We talked about his book Unlocking Agility and assessing agility. A thought-provoking and fun interview. Jorgen’s irrepressible nature shines through even when tackling tough topics!

SPaMCAST 555 features our essay applying a simple filter to determine whether an interaction or event is collaborative. In this essay we put the simple four attribute model we introduced in SPaMCAST 554 to use. Collaboration is an important tool, so let's recognize what is or isn’t collaboration and stop calling everything collaboration. We will also have a visit from the Software Sensei, Kim Pries. In this installment, Kim returns to the topic of lean software development. In 2019, the concepts of lean and agile have become intertwined. Understanding concepts like waste is important for everyone involved in delivering value. Re-Read Saturday News This week we dive into the availability heuristic. The availability heuristic is useful for understanding what people believe and how they will act. All leaders need to understand the impact of top of mind experiences on decision making and how to disrupt those biases; the availability heuristic is a tool for building that knowledge. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Week 12: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 556 will continue our essay and discussion extravaganza. We will feature an essay on using questions to coach and teach. Asking questions is one way to get someone to own a change rather than use renting it from you. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente!

SPaMCAST 554 features our essay on the misuse of the word 'collaboration'. Collaboration is a hallmark of agile techniques, but people confuse collaboration with many other forms of interactions. When that happens everyone gets confused and disheartened. In order to stop the cycle, we identify four attributes to help recognize collaboration. We'll also hear from Gene Hughson who brings his Form Follows Function Column to the podcast. In the second part of a three-part series on architects, Gene discusses the role of the solutions architect. Part One can be found on SPaMCAST 543 - Value Chain, Solution Architects, Essays and Discussions Web Player and Show Notes: Re-Read Saturday News Today we dive into the concept of anchors and the impact of anchor bias. This is one of my favorite topics for understanding behaviors in negotiations. Negotiations are all around us whether you are discussing salary, buying a car, or wrestling with a request for an impossible due date. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 555 will complete our latest set of essays on collaboration. In this essay, we apply the four attribute model we introduced this week. Having a model is great and it is even better if it can be applied in the real world! We will also have a visit from the Software Sensei, Kim Pries.

SPaMCAST 553 features our interview with Jim Benson. Jim and I focused on prioritization and how prioritization can be a reflection of more deep-seated problems. One of the ideas Jim shares is that processes are the social contract for getting work done. I really enjoy talking with Jim and think you will enjoy the conversation. During the close of the interview, Jim talks about Modus Cooperandi’s class on prioritization. Jim has extended a discount code for listeners of the podcast for all of the MI classes. The code is SPAMCAST20 or you can use the link: Jim’s Bio: Jim’s career path has taken him through government agencies, Fortune 10 corporations, and start-ups. Through them all, his passion has remained consistent – applying new technologies to workgroups. In each case asking how they can be leveraged to collaborate and cooperate more effectively. Jim loves ideas, creation, and building opportunities. He loves working with teams who are passionate about the future, pushing boundaries, and inclusion. His goal with all technologies is to increase beneficial contact between people and reduce the bureaucratic noise which so often tends to increase costs and destroy creativity. Jim is the author of the Shingo Research Award-winning book (use the link to buy a copy and support the podcast). He is a noted expert in business process, personal work management, and the application of Lean to personal work and life. Jim believes that the best process is the least process necessary to achieve goals. He has zero tolerance for process waste. All said, Jim enjoys helping people and teams work out sticky problems, an advocate of people actually seeing their work, and inventing new ways to work at the intersection of Lean thinking, brain science, and leadership. Contact Jim Twitter: LinkedIn: Personal Kanban: Modus Cooperandi: Re-Read Saturday News Today we dive into the concept of the Law of Small Numbers, chapter 10 in our re-read of . I found this chapter particularly useful because I see the results in the process improvement world nearly every day. It is great to experiment but make sure you get enough observations so that when you draw a conclusion it will be correct. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Week 10: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 554 will feature our essay on the misuse of the word 'collaboration', and how to recognize when are talking about something else (like a lecture). We will also hear from Gene Hughson!

SPaMCAST 552 features our essay on the idea of “fit for purpose” and its impact on the definition of quality. Even if you don’t deliver any defects, not being fit for purpose wipes quality off the board. BOOM! (Rather read the essay? ) In the second spot this week, Jon M Quigley delivers with his Alpha and Omega of Product Development! In this installment, Jon discusses the need to say no. A simple straight forward word that is nearly impossible to use in polite company. Re-Read Saturday News Today, two stories…ops, the wrong column…today we take on two chapters in our re-read of , chapters 8 and 9: How Judgment Happens and Answering An Easier Question. I would be interested in your feedback on the depth in this entry compared to previous entries. Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Week 9: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 553 will feature our interview with Jim Benson. We will discuss prioritization and how prioritization can be a reflection of more deep-seated problems. Life changing ideas in a powerful interview.

SPaMCAST 551 features our interview with Michael (Mike) Lynn. Mike and I talked about leadership and agile. Leadership is important any time two or more people get together to pursue a goal. Mike shares his expertise, experience, and wisdom to help shine a light on the relationship between agile and leadership. Mike’s Bio Mike Lynn is a seasoned learning/leadership/organizational development professional with close to 30 years experience, including nine years with McKinsey and Company. He provides executive coaching and custom consulting services, and is a principal of thoughtLEADERS, a global leadership development training firm offering a full menu of programs to help leaders think, communicate and succeed. Mike has deep expertise and passion in structured executive thinking and decision-making as well as interpersonal success strategies (e.g., meeting leadership, tough conversations, coaching and feedback, presentation delivery, upward management, etc.) His learning specialties are in the areas of executive coaching, team facilitation, training design and delivery (classroom and online). For individual clients, Mike's coaching approach is rooted in strategic focus and deep understanding of how leaders’ unique individual preferences and approaches drive priorities, successes, challenges, and stresses across multiple leadership dimensions. Contact Mike at lynnlearningcollaborations@gmail.com. Learn more about thoughtLEADERS training programs at Re-Read Saturday News And we are back! This week we re-read Chapter 7 of , A Machine for Jumping to Conclusions.. Logistics note: every time I think I can get to a two chapters a week cadence with this book, I find that hit a chapter that I really think is full of ideas that will be useful for thinking about how people behave and how change can be facilitated and feel that I need to spend more time with it. Maybe next week! Remember, if you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: – Week 6: – Week 7: – Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 552 will feature our essay on quality. We will tackle ideas like “fit for purpose”, cost and timing. Messing up on any of these categories can (and often does) mess up quality. We will also have a visit from Jon Quigley!

SPaMCAST 550 features our essay titled, Intertwining Conway’s Law And Agile. Conway’s Law trains a spotlight on how an organization’s structure impacts the product they ship. The “Law” states that the structure of a software product will mimic the structure of the organization that produces the software. It can (and has) been said that you are shipping the “org structure.” How you are structured therefore is going to impact just how much agile you can achieve. We also visit the QA Corner with Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy discusses the differences between test engineers and testers. We also tackle whether every person with the word test in their title should have the ability to code or script. Jeremy’s LinkedIn: I know this is not the show I promoted last week but my guest, Mike Lynn, is out of pocket this week and wanted to around when the show went live. Not only am I agile, but I am also flexible therefore we are rearranging the lineup! Re-Read Saturday News I am celebrating my birthday this weekend instead of working on the re-read of . We will be back next week, so in the interim, I decided to reprise and revise an entry from 2014 titled ( ) I hope you will enjoy and reflect on the piece! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 551 will feature our interview with Michael (Mike) Lynn (I promise). Mike and I talked about leadership and agile. Leadership is important any time two or more people get together to pursue a goal. Mike shares his expertise, experience, and wisdom to help shine a light on the relationship between agile and leadership.

SPaMCAST 549 features our essay Seven Issues Testers Experience Being Agile. Recently I attended the QAI Quest Conference in Chicago, during the conference I got to talk with lots of people from across the development spectrum. From the conversations and workshops, I identified seven common threads that test and quality focused personal experience being or trying to be agile. In order to be agile, not just do agile, we need to tackle these seven issues We also have the completion of Susan Parente’s three-installment discussion of distributed agile. In this installment of Not a Scrumdamentalist, Susan discusses tools and whether they are the hurdle some people make them out to be. Re-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 6 of , Norms, Surprises, and Causes. The chapter continues the deep dive into System 1 thinking. As noted before, System 1 thinking continually is active nearly all of the time making snap decisions based on associated that it has constructed. In Chapter 6 Kahneman asserts that the main role of system one “is to maintain and update a model of your personal world, which represents what is normal in it.” defines one mechanism the brain uses to construct a model of the world around us. If you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 550 will feature our interview with Michael (Mike) Lynn. Mike and I talked about leadership and agile. Leadership is important any time two or more people get together to pursue a goal. Mike shares his expertise, experience, and wisdom to help shine a light on the relationship between agile and leadership. We will also be halfway to show 1100 next week!

SPaMCAST 548 features our interview with Heidi Helfand. Heidi and I discussed teams and her book Dynamic Reteaming: The Art and Wisdom of Changing Teams. Heidi challenges the conventional wisdom that in agile (or any walk of life) that you need to keep your teams "the same" in order to be successful. In short, there are no absolutes except for change. Heidi’s Bio Heidi Helfand is Director of Engineering Excellence at Procore Technologies, creators of cloud-based construction software. She is the author of the book Dynamic Reteaming: The Art and Wisdom of Changing Teams which challenges the notion that you need to keep your teams "the same" in order to be successful. Heidi was on the first team at two highly successful startups ñ ExpertCity, Inc. (acquired by Citrix) where she was on the teams that invented GoToMyPC, GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar and AppFolio, Inc., a SAAS property management software company. She is a co-active coach certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF). Buy the book! Twitter: LinkedIn: Re-Read Saturday News This week we are re-reading Chapter 5 of , Cognitive Ease. This chapter is full of tactical considerations for how to present information or to influence how teams work. If you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 549 will feature our essay Seven Issues Testers Experience Being Agile. Recently I attended the QAI Quest Conference in Chicago, during the conference I got to talk with lots of people from across the development spectrum. From the conversations and workshops, I identified seven common threads that test and quality focused personal experience being or trying to be agile. We will also have a column from Susan Parente who brings her Not a Scrumdamentalist column to the cast!

SPaMCAST 547 returns to our standard staggered approach with a discussion of work entry. The majority of work entry issues are caused by . The eight problems often occur in clusters and are a reflection of organizational culture. Knowing that there are eight problems is useful so that you can do something about them! Also this week, Kim Pries, the software sensei is back and goes full curmudgeon. Kim states ”After 40+ years of software work and lies, I get disgusted when I see yet another rehash of so-called tools that purport to do something valuable. The multi-colored risk analysis "tools" are essentially worthless. To date, I have never seen one of these catch or forestall idiocy on the part of a supplier or a customer. There's no fixing stupid!” Re-Read Saturday News This week we are re-reading Chapter 4 of , The Associative Machine. This chapter begins a deeper dive into the nuances of system 1 thinking. If you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 548 will feature our interview with Heidi Helfand. Heidi and I discussed teams and her book Dynamic Reteaming: The Art and Wisdom of Changing Teams. It is time to challenge the conventional wisdom that in agile (or any walk of life) that you need to keep your teams "the same" in order to be successful.

SPaMCAST 546 features our interview with Michael Milutis. Michael and I talk about putting people back in charge of their careers. Michael provides advice that every listener can put to use immediately and in the long run. Michael’s Bio: Michael Milutis is an INFP and IT generalist committed to human capital development and continuous learning within a shifting technology landscape. He works with technology organizations from around the world to develop innovative learning cultures and he coaches individuals and teams so that they can develop continuously, grow personally, and realize their highest potential. Since 1997, Michael has worked in marketing, new business development, and L&D for Computer Aid, Inc (CAI), an international IT services and support firm. He is also the creator and director of CAI’s "Great IT Professional", an organization devoted to continuous learning and career development within the global IT community. Michael speaks around the world and his keynote presentations focus on digital transformation, adapting to change, continuous learning, workforce engagement, corporate mindfulness, and human self-actualization. You can connect with him on LinkedIn at Re-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 3 of by Daniel Kahneman. One of the core themes in this chapter is the concept of ego depletion. Ego depletion is a theory that self-control, as a form of system 2 thinking, draws from a finite pool of mental resources. When the pool is low, so is self-control. Whether the triggering mechanism is ego depletion or something else is not as important as the observable impact – when people are under mental stress they don’t always make the most thoughtful decisions. If you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 547 will return to our standard staggered approach with an essay on work entry. The majority of work entry problems are caused by . The eight problems often occur in clusters and are a reflection of organizational culture. Knowing that there are eight problems is useful when they can be recognized. We will also hear from Kim Pries, the Software Sensei!

SPaMCAST 545 we have an interview with Cheryl Hammond, Jenny Tarwater, Faye Thompson, and Linda Podder. We talk about Launching New Voices, Women in Agile, planned activities at Agile 2019 and more. There is a lot of good advice and ideas if you’re new to speaking or if you are a seasoned speaker. There is a call to action at the end of the interview. 2019 Women in Agile Conference site Cheryl Hammond Cheryl Hammond, a.k.a. @bsktcase, has a couple of decades' experience as a software leader in the private and public sectors. She ran her team's successful adoption of Scrum-ban for a mission-critical regulatory compliance project under multi-agency state and federal government oversight, mentored former COBOL devs into true-believing unit-testing XP evangelists, and turned a threatened software product at risk of litigation into a lean, revenue-generating flagship offering in nine months, all of which leads her to believe that anything is possible. She is not sorry for her many biases, including strong preferences for servant-style leadership and team-based, holistic problem-solving and a strong aversion to agile zealotry. Whether consulting or in-house, Cheryl endeavors to make life suck less for software delivery organizations and the humans who inhabit them. Faye Thompson With more than twenty years of project delivery experience, Faye Thompson is a consultant coach and scrum master. With a focus on an agile mindset and continuous improvement, Faye has had a positive impact in the financial services, healthcare, advertising, automotive and aviation industries. Passionate about using innovative solutions to drive business value, she supports workgroups as they transform themselves into highly engaged and energized teams. Faye enjoys serving on the board of directors for the Central Ohio Agile Association and as President of the Women in STEMM Alumni Society of The Ohio State University. She spends her free time volunteering as an emergency medical responder and public affairs coordinator for the American Red Cross. Jenny Tarwater Jenny Tarwater is an International Speaker, Agile Coach, and Trainer local to the Kansas City, Missouri area. Jenny has over 23 years of corporate experience bringing business teams, technical teams, and sponsors together to reliably deliver large-scale development projects with her disciplined approach of cultivating success and growth in people, process and products. Jenny has a passion for driving the adoption and understanding of Agile values, principles, and practices, and her endless motivation drives her involvement in cultivating the “small company startup culture” across organizations large and small. Jenny is a kinetic leader, partner, and consummate student who brings enthusiasm and awareness to projects and keeps teams focused and delivering success in rapidly evolving and dynamic environments. Linda Podder Linda Podder is a passionate learner and experienced Scrum Master at Hyland Software in Westlake, OH. She was instrumental in helping launch Hyland’s first SAFe implementation and continues to work with additional SAFe programs as they launch. Linda loves encouraging her teams to explore, innovate, and celebrate their failures just as much as their successes. She is also passionate about empowering her teams to achieve technical excellence through Agile engineering practices. Outside of work, she loves to game with her family and take pictures of her fluffy black cats. Re-Read Saturday News Today we continue the re-read of by Daniel Kahneman. This week we re-read chapter 2. Chapter 2 tackles the relationship between effort, attention, and thinking slow. Thinking slow, system 2 thinking, requires effort. That effort must be marshaled and directed which requires attention. The more effort needed, the more attention needed. Attention is a finite resource, therefore, the more we spend on system 2 thinking, less attention available for everything else. A word of warning, don’t do higher math while driving! If you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! The installments: Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 546 will feature our interview with Michael Milutis. Michael and I talked about putting people back in charge of their careers. Michael provides advice that every listener can put to use immediately and in the long run.

SPaMCAST 544 features our interview with Jeppe Hedaa. Mr. Hedaa and I discuss his new book, . Our discussion centers on the book but also touches on meritocracy and why you want top performers on a team. This is a wide-ranging interview with thought-provoking ideas as we talk about Nucleon! Jeppe’s bio: Jeppe Hedaa has been working with complex systems development for more than 30 years, serving the largest IT development departments. He is the CEO and owner of 7N, who is an agent for top 3% IT specialists. 7N has departments in the US, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Poland, India and Denmark. In September 2018 he published the book "Nucleon: The missing formula that measures your IT department's performance", where he describes how to calculate a hard number for an IT team's performance that could best be compared to that of horsepower in a car. In the book, he also measures the factors that hold back an organization's delivery and identifies the most impactful areas for improvement. Our review of Nucleon: Nucleon: 7N: Buy a copy of the book: As a reminder - I am doing a workshop on value chains at QAI Quest 2019 (May 13 - 19 in Chicago). Do you need a discount? Register at using the code Speaker10. Let me know and we will do a hangout with Jeremy and myself! Re-Read Saturday News Today we continue the re-read of by Daniel Kahneman. This week we tackle chapter 1. The core of chapter 1 is the definition of fast and slow thinking. This is also known as system 1 and 2 thinking. These are the characters in Kahneman’s book. Software development is a constant stream of choices and decisions, so determining which decisions can safely be driven by judgment and which require conscious choice is an important part of any process improvement or transformation. If you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of , please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , It’s time to get reading! This week’s installment: Week 1: - Week 2: - Next SPaMCAST We are going to veer off course a bit for SPaMCAST 545. By rights, 545 should be a magazine show with columns, discussion, and essays, however, on April 24th I had the great fortune to interview Cheryl Hammond, Jenny Tarwater, Faye Thompson, and Linda Podder. We discussed Launching New Voices, Women in Agile, planned activities at Agile 2019 and more. There is a time-sensitive call to action in the podcast next week.

SPaMCAST 543 features our essay on value chains. In this essay, we tackle the mixed up world of Value Chains, Values Streams and Process Maps. This isn’t a vocabulary test but mixing the words up can cause a mess. Let's solve the problem. As a reminder - I am doing a workshop on value chains at QAI Quest 2019 (May 13 - 19 in Chicago). Do you need a discount? Register at using the code Speaker10. Let me know and we will do a hangout with Jeremy and myself! In the SPAMCAST 543, Gene Hughson’s returns with a new entry in his Form Follows Function column. Gene and I are beginning what turned out to be a three column set on solution architects. Today we begin by discussing just what the heck is a solution architect is and does! Re-Read Saturday News These days, every time I start a new book I am reminded that once upon a time I did not read the introduction or front matter in books. I suspect there are things I still don’t know or only learned about from the school of wandering into doors at night because of my choice, When I originally read I was still in the habit of not reading introductions. The introduction discusses how the ideas that became the book were developed by Kahneman and his longtime co-contributor, Amos Tversky (Tversky died before they probably would have jointly won the Noble Prize). Kahneman describes the book as a “book about the biases of intuition.” Topics in the introduction include life, death, bias, heuristics, and behavioral economics. If you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , Its time to get reading! This week’s installment: Week 1: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 544 will feature our interview with Jeppe Hedaa. We will discuss his new book, Nucleon: The Missing Formula That Measures Your IT Development Team's Performance. Jeppe provides evidence and a framework that suggests that there are predictable factors that drive performance in IT organizations. Tough and interesting ideas are on the menu when we talk about Nucleon!

SPaMCAST 542 features our interview with Kevin Rush. Mr. Rush has developed an innovative approach to facilitate sprint/iteration planning. Kittens, exploding kittens, and fat cats are used to help teams probe whether the team understands the story and if the story is broken down well enough for the team to reduce the risk of failure. All change agents talk about making changes at the team level but many fail to change how they work, Kevin suggests that experimenting with different approaches is eating our dog food. Way too many pet metaphors, but a great discussion. Kevin’s Bio Kevin is a certified Scrum Master and Agility Enablement leader at Hyland Software. Before coming to Hyland he worked as an innovation consultant and coach with for-profit and nonprofit organizations throughout Northeast Ohio. A graduate from DeVry University he spent time as Technology Coordinator for several local school districts before transitioning to ministry then back to tech! When he's not working with teams and organizations he spends his time with his beautiful wife, Sondra, and their three beautiful daughters. LinkedIn: Email: Twitter: Re-Read Saturday News I am declaring the poll for the next book in the Re-read Saturday over. The results are: - Daniel Kahneman 64.29% The Power of Habit - Charles Duhig 21.43% The Stuff of Thought - Steven Pinker 14.28% High Output Management - Andrew S. Grove 0% I am very surprised at the results; I added Thinking, Fast and Slow to round out the poll. My copy of the book is 500 pages and 38 chapters long and has a copyright of 2013. Next week we will discuss our approach to the re-read and dispense with the front matter (15-page introduction). I reference the book all of the time. My memory is that the book is crammed with ideas, I will need your help calling out the parts of the book that resonates with you. If you do not have a favorite, dog-eared copy of please buy a copy. Using the links in this blog entry helps support the blog and its alter-ego, The Software Process and Measurement Cast. , Its time to get reading! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 543 will feature our essay on value chains. We will tackle, Value Chains, Streams and Maps - What a Mess! I am doing a workshop on value chains at QAI Quest 2019 (May 13 - 19 in Chicago). Do you need a discount? Register at using the code Speaker10. Let me know and we will do a hangout with Jeremy and myself! SPAMCAST 543 will include Gene Hughson’s Form Follows Function column. Gene and I begin a three column set on solution architects. We start by discussing just what the heck is a solution architect is and does!

In SPaMCAST 541 we discuss using guardrails in decision making. Guardrails are a tool to ensure alignment with the organization’s goals and objectives and to keep people on the right path. Well-formed guardrails conform to that help teams and individuals make decisions. Our second segment features Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column. Jon discusses reciprocal agreements and their impact of on teams and products. Re-Read Saturday News We continue our poll to decide on the next book in the Re-read Saturday Series. We will announce the next book on Saturday 13 April 2019. Make your opinion known! What are you reading during our interregnum? Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 542 will feature our interview with Kevin Rush. Mr. Rush has developed an innovative approach for facilitating sprint planning. Kittens, exploding kittens, and fat cats are used to help teams probe whether the team understands the story and if it is broken down well enough for the team. Kevin is a Scrum Master at Hyland Software.

SPaMCAST 540 features our interview Mark Kilby and Johanna Rothman. Johanna, Mark, and I discussed their new book, (Buy your copy here: https). Distributed agile teams are a fact of life; Johanna and Mark provide an extraordinary amount of wisdom for making distributed teams exceptional. Johanna’s Bio Johanna Rothman, known as the “Pragmatic Manager,” provides frank advice for your tough problems. She helps leaders and teams see problems, resolve risks, and manage their product development. Johanna was the Agile 2009 conference chair and was the co-chair of the first edition of the Agile Practice Guide. Johanna is the author of 14 books that range from hiring, to project management, program management, project portfolio management, and management. Her most recent books are From Chaos to Successful Distributed Agile Teams (with Mark Kilby) and Create Your Successful Agile Project: Collaborate, Measure, Estimate, Deliver. Read her blogs, email newsletter, and more information about her books at Mark Kilby Bio With over two decades of experience in agile principles and practices, Mark Kilby has cultivated more distributed and dispersed teams than collocated teams. He has consulted with organizations across many industries and coached teams, leaders, and organizations internally. Mark also co-founded a number of professional learning organizations such as Agile Orlando, Agile Florida, Virtual Team Talk, and the Agile Alliance Community Group Support Initiative among others. His easy-going style helps teams learn to collaborate and discover their path to success and sustainability. Mark shares his insights on distributed and agile teams in dozens of articles in multiple publications. Most of his latest ideas and developments can be found on Re-Read Saturday News We have been re-reading Malcolm Gladwell’s over the past 10 weeks. When considering how I would wrap up the re-read I had to fight the urge to parrot back the findings Gladwell identified in the conclusion: a few people are critical and that people’s biases matter. Real life intervened and I applied the ideas in the book! We need to choose the next book in the Re-read Saturday Series. Steven Adams has requested a referendum on the next book. Mr. Adams has always provided sage advice, therefore, a poll we will have! The poll will be open for two weeks. Vote for your two favorites. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 541 will feature our essay on guardrails. We will discuss using guardrails in decision making. Guardrails are a tool to ensure alignment with the organization’s goals and objectives and to keep people on the right path. Well-formed guardrails conform to that help teams and individuals make decisions. We will also have a visit from John M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast.

SPaMCAST 539 features our essay titled, Assessment and Continuous Process Improvement. Assessments and continuous process improvement are intertwined. Assessments being both a source of ideas and a tool to validate change and other experiments. Other essays that have appeared on the SPaMCAST blog on agile assessments include: Assessment and Continuous Process Improvement - Components Of A Solid Assessment Plan Assessments: Being or DOing An Assessment: A Mall Map For Change We will also have part 2 of Susan Parente’s discussions on distributed agile. This week we will focus on tools. Susan reminds us that unless you spend time building trust and learning how to communicate, a tool won’t solve a communication problem. Re-Read Saturday News This week we conclude the re-read portion our tour through Malcolm Gladwell’s by tackling both the conclusion and the afterword. The Tipping Point is a theory that viral change—epidemics, in Gladwell’s word—can be caused and shaped by few actions and people. The Law of the Few tells us that connectors, mavens and salespeople can affect whether or not a concept, idea or movement moves across the tipping point and becomes an epidemic. Check out the current entry of Re-Read Saturday at I have had several excellent suggestions for what to read next, right now the leader in the clubhouse is The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Thoughts? Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 540 will be a TREAT. My interview with Mark Kilby and Johanna Rothman will be featured! We discussed their new book, (Buy your copy ). Distributed agile teams are a fact of life, Johanna and Mark provide an extraordinary amount of wisdom for making distributed teams exceptional.

SPaMCAST 538 features our interview with Ben Linders. Ben and I talk about his new agile assessment game. Ben’s game and the book that supports the game provide teams and individuals with a tool for introspection and process improvement. This is not Ben’s first visit to the podcast. Ben’s last visit was in November 2017 () to discuss what drives quality in software development. Ben Linders is an Independent Consultant in Agile, Lean, Quality, and Continuous Improvement, based in The Netherlands. Author of , , and . Ben is the creator of the . The book supporting the Self-assessment Game can be found at As an adviser, coach, and trainer he helps organizations with . He focuses on continuous improvement, collaboration and communication, and professional development, to deliver business value to customers. Ben is an active member of networks on Agile, Lean, and Quality, and a well-known speaker and author. He shares his experiences in a, as an , and as an expert in communities like ,, , and . Follow him on Twitter: . Re-Read Saturday NewsWe continue our re-read of by Malcolm Gladwell. Chapter 7 of Malcolm Gladwell’s (remember to stop borrowing your best friend’s copy and of the book for yourself!), is another case study. This time we explore the ideas of how tipping points happen by considering teen suicides and smoking. We have two more weeks in this re-read. I would like your suggestions to help guide the next book. Check out the current entry of Re-Read Saturday at Next SPaMCASTSPaMCAST 539 will feature our essay titled, Assessment and Continuous Process Improvement. Assessments and continuous process improvement are intertwined. Assessments being both a source of ideas and a tool to validate change and other experiments. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast!

SPaMCAST 537 features our essay on the use of assessments for agile efforts. Assessments come under a wide variety of names: appraisals, health checks, audits or even assessments. These terms are commonly conflated. Assessments are a tool to prove a point. The essay in the cast explores the myriad types and reasons for assessments. Rounding out the cast is the Software Sensei, Kim Pries. Kim tackles physical security, including the wall (no politics included)! Re-Read Saturday News We continue our re-read of by Malcolm Gladwell. Chapter Seven of Malcolm Gladwell’s is a case study. Stop borrowing your best friends copy and of the book for yourself! Check out the current entry of Re-Read Saturday at Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 538 features the return of Ben Linders. Ben and I talk about his new agile assessment game. Fitting based on this week’s essay!

SPaMCAST 536 features our interview with Dave Sohmer. Dave is an executive that has led two separate major agile transformations. Mr. Sohmer provides an executive's perspective on the impact of adopting agile in two major financial institutions. The two very different companies took to two very different approaches to agile. Bio: Dave Sohmer is a technology and operations executive with over 25 years of experience. He has spent many years in the code but has come to enjoy the people and process side of software almost as much. Dave has built and led many development teams at scale at Northern Trust and Bank of America Merrill Lynch over the last 20 years. Over that time he has come to believe in the power of the team as the fundamental unit that unlocks business agility. He has championed two large scale Lean Scrum transformations within the financial services sector and has come to appreciate that a healthy mix of Lean principles, Agile values, Scrum by the book, XP practices and common sense will radically change your business's view of technology from misunderstood adversary to trusted partner. LinkedIn: Email: david@sohmer.net Re-Read Saturday News We continue our re-read of by Malcolm Gladwell. Chapter Six of Malcolm Gladwell’s continues the discussion of the role of context in approaching a tipping point. Stop borrowing your best friends copy and of the book for yourself! Check out the current entry of Re-Read Saturday at Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 537 will feature an essay on the use of assessments for agile efforts. Assessments come under a wide variety of names: appraisals, health checks, audit or even assessments. These terms are commonly conflated. Assessments are a tool to prove a point. The essay in the cast explores the myriad types and reasons for assessments. We will also have a new column from the Software Sensei, Kim Pries.

SPaMCAST 535 features our essay spawned when I was asked to help a Scrum Master who said: There is not a straightforward answer because regardless of the path forward there are people issues that need to be dealt with first. Also in this podcast, we have a visit from Susan Parente and her ‘I am not a Scrumdamentalist’ column. In this installment, Susan discusses distributed Agile. Agile on distributed teams is often discussed in hushed tones. Susan brings the topic out into the open and provides excellent advice. Re-Read Saturday News We continue our re-read of by Malcolm Gladwell. Chapter Four of Malcolm Gladwell’s begins the discussion of the role of context in approaching a tipping point. Stop borrowing your best friends copy and of the book for yourself! Check out the current entry of Re-Read Saturday at Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 536 will feature our interview with Dave Sohmer. Dave is an executive that has led two separate major agile transformations. Mr. Sohmer provides an executive’s perspective on the impact of adopting agile in two major financial institutions. The two very different companies led to two very different approaches to adopting agile.

SPaMCAST 534 features our interview with Al Shalloway. Al returns to the SPaMCAST after far too long. This week we discuss the trials and tribulations of scaling agile, and his passion about getting knowledge transfer right! I hope you have as good of a time listening to this interview as I had creating it. Bio Al Shalloway is the founder and CEO of Net Objectives. With 45 years of experience, Al is an industry thought leader in Lean, Kanban, product portfolio management, Scrum and agile design. He helps companies transition to Lean and Agile methods enterprise-wide as well teaches courses in these areas. Al is a former SAFe Program Consultant Trainer. Al has developed training and coaching methods for Lean-Agile that have helped Net Objectives' clients achieve long-term, sustainable productivity gains. He is a popular speaker at prestigious conferences worldwide. Website: Email: LinkedIn: Re-Read Saturday News This week we continue our re-read of by Malcolm Gladwell. Chapter Three of Malcolm Gladwell’s is a reminder of why this book continues to be important and useful. The density of ideas in this chapter is amazing. Stop borrowing your best friends copy and of the book for yourself! Current entry: Week 4 - - Previous entries Week 3 - - Week 2 - - Week 1 – - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 535 will feature an essay spawned when I was asked to help a Scrum Master who said: “I messed up a scrum team should I do kanban?” There is not a straightforward answer because regardless of the path forward there are people issues that need to be dealt with first. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who brings her ‘I am not a Scrumdamentalist’ column to the cast!

SPaMCAST 533 features our essay titled, Can Agile (SAFe) Be Interfaced With Waterfall? The long answer is yes, but the short answer is yes, but try to find a way to avoid the self-inflicted complexity. If you can’t avoid mixing and matching frameworks, there are paths to success you can leverage. Other essays in our series on interfacing SAFe and waterfall efforts include: Can Agile (SAFe) Be Interfaced With Waterfall? - Interfacing Agile (SAFe) With Waterfall? – Transparency - Interfacing Agile (SAFe) With Waterfall? – Synchronization - Interfacing Agile (SAFe) With Waterfall? – Code - This week we also have a quick visit from Tom Henricksen. Tom created the popular Online Agile Summit. Today he announces the DevOps Online Summit that will be held on April 8th through 11th. After you listen, check out the website! https://www.devopsonlinesummit.com/2019 Jeremy Berriault brings a new installment of the QA Corner (https://qacorner.blog/) to the cast this week. Jeremy leverages work by Simon Sinek and tackles the “why” of testing. Re-Read Saturday News This week we continue our re-read of by Malcolm Gladwell. In chapter two, Gladwell dives into the law of the few. There are three types of people that are important to pushing an idea up to and over a tipping point: connectors, mavens, and salespeople. All three are required. Remember to dust off your copy or and read along! Current entry: Week 3 - - Previous entries Week 2 - - Week 1 – - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 534 will feature our interview with Al Shalloway. Al returns to the SPaMCAST to discuss the trials and tribulations of scaling agile and his passion about getting knowledge transfer right!

SPaMCAST features our interview with Julia Wester. Julia returns to the cast to discuss spectrum thinking. Specturn thinking is an important tool in system thinking and required to address complexity. Even though using binary thinking is rarely the most effective path, it is rare to use spectrum thinking to address problems. Julia provides a path to more effective decision making. Julia’s Bio Julia is a Co-Founder of and its Principal Consultant. Lagom Solutions is an outcome-focused consulting and product company. Julia leads the consulting side of Lagom Solutions. When working with customers, she leverages her 18 years of experience working in and managing high-performing teams at companies such as Turner Broadcasting, F5 Networks, and LeanKit. Julia is passionate about teaching others how to tame the chaos of everyday work by embracing transparency, continuous improvement, and a lagom mindset. She also loves talking about how management doesn’t have to be a dirty word. Julia blogs at and tweets at @everydaykanban. Re-Read Saturday News This week we continue our re-read of by Malcolm Gladwell. In Chapter one, Gladwell suggests that there are three factors that impact whether an idea or product crosses a tipping point; they are the law of the few, the stickiness factor, and the power of context. Chapter one introduces these concepts and presents real-life examples to illustrate the factors. Dust off your copy or . Current entry: Week 2 - - Previous entries Week 1 – - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 533 will feature our essay titled, We will also hear from Jeremy Berriault. In this installment of the QA Corner, Jeremy tackles the “why” of testing.

SPaMCAST 531 features our essay on Balancing Control and Self-Organization to Avoid Heat Death. Control and self-organization represent a classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears problem. We discuss whether there is a solution. Interested in more on this topic? Other blog entries include: Balancing Control and Self-Organization to Avoid Heat Death -https://bit.ly/2UnzfGu Balancing of Autonomy with Alignment - https://bit.ly/2Sg1xFy VUCA, Heat Death and Gray Goo - https://bit.ly/2RhlGq8 In the second spot this week we hear from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the cast. Jon discusses the impact of cognitive biases on product development. Fighting biases is an important role for product owners and developers alike. The fight is rarely easy. Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin our re-read of The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. We are re-reading this book because it is important for any person involved in leading or participating in change (this is all of us). Dust off your copy or buy a new copy. Current entry: Week 1 – Plans and Introduction -https://bit.ly/2S8PPwc Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 532 will feature our interview with Julia Wester. Julia returns to the cast to discuss her passion for the topic of spectrum thinking. Rarely is using binary thinking the most effective path; however, it is rare to use spectrum thinking to address problems. Julia provides a path to more effective decision making.

On January 18, 2007 show zero was posted. Show zero established the RSS feed and let me get some of the bugs out of our workflow. We begin year 13 next week. Thank you for being part of the Software Process and Measurement Cast. SPaMCAST 530 features our interview with Justin McPherson. Justin and I talked about the role of the enterprise architect in agile. Organizations struggle with the role of the architect as they embrace agile methods. However it is not all about agile, the multiple layers of architecture such as solution, application and enterprise add to the confusion and the perception that people need to jump through too many hoops. Justin’s experience provides direction. Justin’s LinkedIn Bio: Executive consultant with 25 years of experience in IT Strategy, Enterprise Architecture and Business Transformation leadership. Specializing in Establishing the Office of the Architect, Enterprise Architecture Design & Performance Management, Enterprise Architecture Platforms, Application Portfolio Optimization, Operating Model Frameworks, Business Transformation, Enterprise Risk Management and Information Security & Regulatory Compliance Contact Information LinkedIn: Email: Re-Read Saturday News Re-Read Saturday News I have been vacillating between an intense discussion of Bad Blood and a terse and blunt statement about Theranos. In the end, I took a middle path. If you want to dive into the detail again, grab the book and the follow our re-read through it. If you want the later, check final thoughts to get the bottom line! Remember that we will re-read by Malcolm Gladwell next (get a copy). Next week we will lay out our approach to . Current Entry: Week 13 - - Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Week 9 - - Week 10 - - Week 11: - Week 12 : e - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 531 will feature our essay on Balancing Control and Self-Organization to Avoid Heat Death. Control and self-organization represent a classic Goldilocks and the Three Bears problem. We discuss whether there is a solution. We will also have a visit from Gene Hughson or Jon M Quigley.

SPaMCAST 529 features our essay titled We are still early enough in the year to be pursuing new beginnings and the New Year resolutions you made a few weeks ago. Commitment and habits can be positively interrelated. Commitment is being dedicated to a cause or activity. Habits reflect a more or less fixed routine. We also have a visit from the Software Sensei, Kim Pries. Kim discusses nonlinear and analog thinking. Kim’s essay is a perfect counterpoint to Habit and Commitment Re-Read Saturday News I decided to complete the content portion of the re-read of Bad Blood this week. From a team-level perspective, I believe we can all recognize some if not all of the behaviors seen in Bad Blood, albeit on a far less sociopathic scale. If this were a business novel, it would be easy to assume that the behavior shown in the book is hyperbole used to make a grand point. In Theranos’s case, the supporting reading I have done suggests the book is somewhat understated. Why do people take the abuse? Why is money the only thing that matters to some? Why do some people say yes to doing work they know is ethically wrong? I am not sure this book answers those questions nor do I think my analysis can shed light on the psychological rationale of individuals; however, next week we will wrap up our re-read by reflecting on the impact of Theranos like behavior at the team level. Remember that we will re-read by Malcolm Gladwell next (get a copy soon). Current Entry: Week 12 : e - Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Week 9 - - Week 10 - - Week 11: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 530 features our interview with Justin McPherson. Justin and I talked about the role of the enterprise architect in agile. Many organizations struggle to incorporate enterprise architecture into agile practices, Justin’s experience provides direction.

SPaMCAST 528 features our interview with Allan Kelly. Allan makes his third appearance on the cast to talk about his book and the state of agile. A great way to start the year! Allan’s Bio: Allan Kelly helps companies large and small enhance their agility and boost their digital offering. Past clients include Virgin Atlantic, Qualcomm, The Bank of England, Reed Elsevier and many small innovative companies you've never heard of. He invented Value Poker, Time-Value Profiles and Retrospective Dialogue Sheets. He is the author of "Dear Customer, the truth about IT" and books including "Project Myopia", "Continuous Digital", "Xanpan" and "Business Patterns for Software Developers". His blog is at and on twitter he is @allankellynet. Re-Read Saturday News My intent is to complete our re-read of Bad Blood, Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup in three more weeks. The book has 24 chapters and an epilogue, therefore there will be two more weeks on the book and then a wrap-up. We will re-read by Malcolm Gladwell next. This week we tackle three more chapters in which we learn money is thicker than blood (something I learned working in a department store during college), and that people with a moral basis for ethics always have a breaking point (something I have only had to tangentially face). Week 11: - Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Week 9 - - Week 10 - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 529 will feature an essay titled Commitment and habits can be positively interrelated. Commitment is being dedicated to a cause or activity. Habits reflect a more or less fixed routine. We will also have a column from Kim Pries.

SPaMCAST 527, is our last podcast of 2018. We say goodbye to 2018 by talking about user story maps. User story maps are both versatile and an underused tool. Perhaps something that we can address in 2019? We also have a visit from Susan Parente. Susan brings her Not a Scrumdamentalist column to the cast to discuss agile risk management. Risk management is a requirement for any form of work. Why do some in the agile community feel it is not needed? Re-Read Saturday News We are re-reading by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along). This week we move through three chapters. These three chapters continue to show the same pattern of abuse of the truth and employees that we have seen in other chapters. Arguably, conflating Theranos’s mission with a religion (chapter 14) might take the story to a new level of crazy but it is only that, a new level. Week 10 - - Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Week 9 - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 528 rings in the new year with an interview with Allan Kelley. Allan makes his third appearance on the cast to talk about his book Continuous Digital and the state of agile. A great way to start the year!

SPaMCAST 526 features an interview with Freddie Clark. Mr. Clark is a tester and Scrum Master by day and video game entrepreneur in the evening. We had an in-depth conversation about using Scrum and other agile techniques in a lean startup environment. It is not the same as the standard corporate environment. Freddie’s Bio Freddie hails from Cleveland, Ohio where he discovered an enthusiasm for games at an early age. When he was not forced to play outside, he was enjoying co-op games with his friends at home. This excitement led him to earn a degree in Game Design and Development at Rochester Institute of Technology. During his college career, Freddie found a passion for the production process, which he fostered through various experiences in this industry. More recently, Freddie has been exploring the world of Agile and independent game development, which he is using as he oversees the production and design of his new independent game studio, Misfitmakers. Email: Twitter: @gwaanybyte Company Twitter: @misfitmakers Re-Read Saturday News We are re-reading by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along). This week we tackle two related chapters. Over the course of the book to date, we have seen secrets and lies (hence the title), intellectual theft, poor diagnostics and careers being destroyed. This week we add a suicide to the hot mess that is Theranos. Week 9 - - Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Week 8 - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 527, our last podcast this year, will feature our essay revisiting user story maps. User story maps are a versatile tool. A tool that is underused -- we seek to rectify that situation. We will also have a column from Susan Parente!

SPaMCAST 525 continues our conversation about story points. Many teams find that story points are only a partially useful tool to facilitate the flow of work within a team. Today we will highlight a behavioral fix and talk RATS. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault with a discussion from the QA Corner. Jeremey and I talked about how the concept of a minimum viable product (MVP) impacts testing. Check out Mr. Berriault’s blog at Re-Read Saturday News We are re-reading by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along). Chapter 10 focuses on what when Hollywood makes a movie from Bad Blood will be a titanic battle between the indomitable Elizabeth and a career military officer, but what is really a struggle between right and wrong. Week 8 - - Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Week 6 - - Week 7 - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 526 will feature an interview with Freddie Clark. Mr. Clark is a tester and Scrum Master by day and video game entrepreneur in the evening. We had a fun conversation about using Scrum in both environments, highlighting where they are the same and where they differ. Note: Freddie and I work together in our day jobs --I think the knowledge we have of each other helped the interview look more deeply at certain issues rather than keeping the discussion at surface levels.

SPaMCAST 524 features the return of Matt Heusser. Matt and I talk about the nuts and bolts of being a tester in today’s software environment including agile testing. Matt and I had covered difficult areas that anyone that is interested in quality and risk needs to think about. Matt’s bio: The Managing Director of Excelon Development and a member of the board of directors for the Association for Software Testing, Matt Heusser leads test training and change efforts while making as many contributions as he can to active projects. Learn more about Matt at follow him on twitter at @mheusser or check out the testing show podcast on iTunes or online at Re-Read Saturday News We are re-reading by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along!). Chapter 9, titled Wellness Play, continues the focus on overpromising and the toxicity overpromising generates inside and outside Theranos. Week 7 - - Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Week 6 - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 525 will continue the conversation on story points. Many teams find that story points are only a partially useful tool to facilitate the flow of work within a team. Can story points be fixed, or better yet can story points still be useful? We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault with a discussion from the QA Corner.

SPaMCAST 523 features our essay on story points. Story points were a tool designed to give teams a rough understanding of their flow of work. It was a great idea at the time, but that time has passed. Unfortunately, story points now are being used improperly creating more problems than they solve. In addition, Jon M Quigley brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the cast. In this installment, Jon discusses the risks of Centers of Excellence. They are another great idea that can and has been ill-used by many in the industry. Re-Read Saturday News We are back with Chapter 7 of by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along!). Chapter 7, titled The miniLab, focuses on overpromising and continues to layer on toxicity to the Theranos story. Week 6 - - Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 524 will feature our interview with Matt Heusser. Matt is the Managing Director of Excelon Development, speaker and podcaster. Matt and I talk about the nuts and bolts of testing and agile testing.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 522 features the return of Jeff Anderson. Jeff returns to discuss scaling agile and getting to a minimum viable product. Many teams and organizations struggle with the concepts of scaling and getting to an MVP, Jeff provides advice for not going crazy! Jeff’s Bio Jeff is the President of Agile by Design. Over the last decade, Jeff has played a leadership role on a large number of enterprise-scale agile transformations, providing program management, operating model design and change-management services. Jeff frequently blogs about and presents on lean and agile adoption, and is the author of The Lean Change Method, which guides organizations through the application of lean startup techniques. His mission in life: to help knowledge workers be awesome at what they do. LinkedIn: Website: Twitter: @thomasjeffrey Re-Read Saturday News The Software Process and Measurement Cast and Blog crew is still on the road this week. We will publish our thoughts on Chapter 7 next week. Please jump into the re-read of Bad Blood, Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along!). Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 523 features our essay on Story Points. Story points are a tool to help teams manage their flow of work. Unfortunately, story points aren’t always used properly and can create more problems than they solve. We will also hear from Jon Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the cast.

SPaMCAST 521 features our essay on user stories and legacy code. A common question is how user stories can be developed for legacy code or for problems that crop up in production. The implication is that creating user stories is too hard when dealing with legacy code changes or too slow when dealing with production problems. User stories are a core tenet for most agile approaches and have a lot of value. This week we also have a visit from the Software Sensei, Kim Pries! Kim talks about training in a column titled, “Software Catechism.” Can you help keep the podcast growing? Here are some ideas: Tell a friend about the cast. Tweet or post about the cast. Every mention helps. Review the podcast wherever you get the cast. Pitch a column to me. You are cool enough to be listening; you deserve to be heard. Sponsor an episode (text or call me to talk about the idea). Listen. Whether you do one or all six, being here is a big deal to everyone that helps get the podcast and blog together. Thank you! Re-Read Saturday News The Software Process and Measurement Cast and Blog crew is on the road this weekend so we are going to take a day off from our re-read of Bad Blood, Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along!) Today we re-visit an entry from 2013, In 2013 we ran a series titled “Motivational Sunday”. In this entry, we talked about the relationship between commitment and habits. I have tweaked the works a little but the sentiments are no different. - Previous Entries: Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Week 5 -- - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 522 features the return of Jeff Anderson. Jeff returns to discuss getting to a minimum viable product. Many teams and organizations struggle with the concepts of an MVP, Jeff provides three ways to get to an MVP without going crazy!

SPaMCAST 520 features our interview with Doc Norton. We talked about his new book Escape Velocity, measurement, and why velocity isn’t generally a good measure for teams. By the time teams get to a point where story point velocity is consistent and predictable, they will have better tools that have fewer negative side effects. Doc’s Bio Doc Norton is passionate about working with teams to improve delivery and building great organizations. Once a dedicated code slinger, Doc has turned his energy toward helping teams, departments, and companies work better together in the pursuit of better software. Working with a wide range of companies such as Groupon, Nationwide Insurance, Belly, and JaTango, Doc has applied tenants of agile, lean, systems thinking, and servant leadership to develop highly effective cultures and drastically improve their ability to deliver valuable software and products. A Pluralsight Author, Clean Coders contributor, frequent blogger, international keynote speaker and coach, in his spare time, Doc has been working on his latest book, Escape Velocity: Better Metrics for Agile Teams. You can find his book on LeanPub at Twitter: Web: Can you help keep the podcast growing? Here are some ideas: Tell a friend about the cast. Tweet or post about the cast. Every mention helps. Review the podcast wherever you get the cast. Pitch a column to me. You are cool enough to be listening; you deserve to be heard. Sponsor an episode (text or call me to talk about the idea). Listen. Whether you do one or all six, being here is a big deal to me. Thank you! Re-Read Saturday News This week we continue on our journey through by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along!) Today we tackle a single chapter. Chapter 6, titled Sunny, introduces Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani to the story. Sunny, Holmes’ live-in boyfriend (the stress on the live-in part is to shine a light on just how close Holmes was to Sunny), adds another layer of toxicity to the Theranos story. The toxicity feels extraordinary but is not that uncommon when teams break down. Current Entry: Week 5 -- - https://bit.ly/2AZ5tRq Past Entries! Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 521 will feature our essay on user stories and legacy code. A common question is how user stories can be developed for legacy code or for problems that crop up in production. The implication is that creating user stories is too hard when dealing with legacy code changes or too slow when dealing with production problems. User stories are a core tenet for most agile approaches. We will also have a visit from the Software Sensei, Kim Pries!

SPaMCAST 519 features our essay on a code of ethics for agile coaches. A code of ethics is a compilation of ethical principles brought together into a framework. Most professions have a code of ethics that guide their behaviors, typically guided by an association that provides credentials. I think it is time to discuss a code of ethics for agile coaches. We also have a visit from Susan Parente, with her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. Susan discusses how to become an agilist. It is not as easy as learning any individual set of methods and techniques. One of the places to find Susan is at . I know I promised a visit from Jon M. Quigley, but I had a minor problem with the drive and did not get the column into production soon enough to make the deadline. Interested in supporting the podcast? Here are some ideas: Tell a friend (or better yet listen to the podcast with them) about the cast. Tweet or post about the cast. Every mention helps. Review the podcast wherever you get the cast. Pitch a column to me. You are cool enough to be listening, you deserve to be heard. Sponsor an episode (text or call me to talk about the idea - . Listen. Whether you do one or all six, being there is a big deal to me. Thank you! Re-Read Saturday News This week we take a slight detour in our journey through by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 – Buy a copy and read along!) As we have noted before, the book is at heart a cautionary tale; however, it is easy to pass the shenanigans (in private I might use stronger language) as confined to the boardroom, and therefore not something that can happen inside the boundaries of an agile team or in a department. Ahhhh, think again. To establish the basis for this brief respite we published a review of some of the common attributes of and . It would be easy to go through both of the lists and a find points in the first six chapters and tick the attributes off almost like you were watching a slow(ish)-motion train wreck. Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Week 3 -- - Week 4 -- - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 520 will feature our interview with Doc Norton. We talked about measurement and why velocity isn’t generally a good measure for teams.

SPaMCAST 518 features our interview with Rebecca Staton-Reinstein. We discussed leadership, the difference between leadership and management, coaching versus mentoring and who should own your improvement program. Rebecca and I have known each other for years and I have always enjoyed her wisdom and pragmatic advice. She really delivers the goods. Rebecca’s bio: REBECCA STATON-REINSTEIN, Ph.D. is the president of Advantage Leadership, Inc. Where she works with companies around the world that want strategic leaders and engaged employees to increase bottom- and top-line results and delight customers. Clients achieve their goals through strategic planning and leadership, management, team, and organizational development. Rebecca’s team works with clients to craft customized, successful solutions to their complex business issues in all economic sectors. Rebecca’s says, “Our mission is your success.” For over 25 years, Rebecca has contributed improved organizational value as a leader, manager, technologist, keynoter, educator, and consultant honored by organizations on four continents. She is a Ph.D. in organizational development, MBTI® Master Practitioner, a National Speakers Association Professional Member, St. Petersburg Engineering Academy Foreign Member, and Board of Directors Chairperson-Elect, Davie-Cooper City Chamber of Commerce. Contact Information: Rebecca Staton-Reinstein, Ph.D., President Advantage Leadership, Inc. 320 S Flamingo Road, Suite 291, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027 Rebecca@AdvantageLeadership.com Phone: +305-606-9312 Web: Amazon Author Page: Join me on LinkedIn: Re-Read Saturday News We continue our journey through by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018). Today based on the advice of Stephen Adams we tackle chapters three, four and five. The chapters are titled, “Apple Envy”, “Goodbye East Paly” and “Childhood Neighbors.” The chapters we cover this week paint a picture of a toxic culture full of deceit, naiveté, and vindictiveness; this will be a blockbuster movie someday. While Theranos sounds extraordinary, it isn’t hard to find similar corporate train wrecks. Bad Blood needs to be read as a cautionary tale. Current Week: Week 3 -- - Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Conferences and More! ITMPI Webinar Virtual October 31 Register Now: https://bit.ly/2zo8MAV Webinar: Agile, Where Agile Fears to Tread Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 519 will feature our essay on a code of ethics for agile coaches. I am also considering a call to action to begin banding together to support a code of ethics. We will also have a discussion with Jon M. Quigley.

SPaMCAST 517 is very different from my original plan -- and pretty cool if I do say so my self. This week I spoke at ISMA 16 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I was originally scheduled to open the session, however, the translators were two hours late. The Portuguese speaking speakers were moved earlier so that the conference could get started. During my wait, I discovered that I could record sessions on my iPhone, therefore, the SPaMCAST 517 is a recording of my talk, titled Product Owners In Agile – The Really Hard Role! If you would like a copy of the slides please email me at SPaMCASTinfo@gmail.com . Note: There is a bit of noise in the audio, shirt pockets might not be the best recording platforms. Re-Read Saturday NewsToday we continue our journey through by John Carreyrou (published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2018). Today we tackle chapters one and two. They are titled, “A Purposeful Life” and “Gluebot.” I have not changed the estimate of 20 to 25 weeks, however, Stephen Adams has thrown down the gauntlet by suggesting we can do more than two chapters a week. We shall see! Links to the re-read! Week 1 – – Week 2 -- - Conferences and More! ITMPI Webinar Virtual October 31 Register Now: https://bit.ly/2zo8MAV Webinar: Agile, Where Agile Fears to Tread Next SPaMCASTSPaMCAST 518 will feature our interview with Rebecca Staton-Reinstein. We talk leadership and the difference between a leader and a manager. You need both!

SPaMCAST 516 features our interview with Nishi Grover Garg. Nishi and I started by discussing the major differences in agile and non-agile testing and ended with a discussion of agile pods. This is a wonderfully idea-rich interview. Note: I am recording part of this episode remotely from a hotel in Brazil! Nishi’s Bio: Nishi is a Consulting Agile and Software testing trainer. With a decade of experience working in an Agile environment in different product-based companies, she has had a chance to work in all stages of software testing life cycle from a White box, Black box to Automation testing and Usability testing. Having now extended it to her full-time job, Nishi is a coach, trainer, and mentor in areas of Agile and software testing, specializing in conducting QA Induction boot-camps, ISTQB workshops, DevOps Foundation and Selenium Automation courses. She is certified by Agile Testing Alliance (ATA) as a CP-DOF, CP-SAT, CP-AAT, CP-MAT and by ISTQB as a Foundation and Advanced Test Analyst and likes to keep updating her skills periodically. She is also a passionate freelance writer and contributes to many online forums about new topics of interest in the industry like Techwell community’s AgileConnection.com, Stickyminds.com and many more. Check out her blog at www.testwithnishi.com to find her articles and catch up on her latest professional activities! Contact information: Blog: Email: Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin our read of Bad Blood (buy your copy today and support the blog and the author). Bad Blood is a new book for me, therefore a “read” rather than a re-read. We begin with the introductory material and a proposed plan for the read. Week 1 – – https://bit.ly/2J1pY2t Conferences and More! ISMA 16 Sao Paulo, Brazil October 16 Register Now; https://bit.ly/2PXH8A5 Presentation: Product Owners In Agile – The Really Hard Role! ITMPI Webinar Virtual October 31 Register Now: https://bit.ly/2zo8MAV Webinar: Agile, Where Agile Fears to Tread Next SPaMCASTSPaMCAST 517 will feature our essay on a code of ethics for agile coaches. I am also considering a call to action to begin banding together to support a code of ethics. We will also have a discussion with Jon M. Quigley.

SPaMCAST 515 features our essay on transformation and agile metrics. Whether you like the word transformation or not, many in the process improvement and agile communities help to facilitate change. Involvement in any non-trivial change effort requires resources, people, support and the expenditure of political capital. Metrics are tools for getting the people and resources you need. We also feature a visit from the Software Sensi. Mr. Pries weights in on defining “what is quality”. Kim mixes theory and practice to make a profound statement. Anchoring the cast this week is Gene Hughson. Gene writes at the Form Follows Function blog. This week we talk about a piece titled, . It really is art -- but really a visualization of anti-patterns at the same time. Re-Read Saturday News This week we conclude our re-read of with a few final thoughts and notes and a restatement of a checklist for a checklist that Stephen Adams contributed in the comments for Chapter 9 – they deserve more exposure. This is an excellent book that is very useful for anyone involved in worrying about whether work is done consistently. My punchline, “try using a checklist because they make sure our actions matter.” I hope you enjoy the book as much as I do. Next week we will lay out the plan for our read of (buy your copy today and support the blog and the author). Bad Blood is a new book for me, therefore a “read” rather than a re-read. All of the entries for our re-read of the Checklist Manifesto: Week 11 - - Week 10 – – Week 9 – – – – – – – – – Conferences and More! Agile Online Summit 2018 Virtual October 8 - 12 Speaking on Agile Metrics! ISMA 16 Sao Paulo, Brazil October 16 Register Now; Presentation: Product Owners In Agile – The Really Hard Role! ITMPI Webinar Virtual October 31 Register Now: Webinar: Agile, Where Agile Fears to Tread Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 516 will feature our interview with Nishi Garg. We started by discussing the major differences in agile and non-agile testing and ended with a discussion of agile pods. This is a wonderfully idea rich interview. Nishi blogs at

SPaMCAST 514 features our interview with John Clapham. John and I talked DevOps, people, agile, and how all those pieces fit together coherently or not. John even quoted Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. This is a big, fun, informative interview! John Clapham is an experienced coach, trainer, and consultant, specializing in DevOps and Agile. He helps teams to build great products, creating environments and systems which are effective, productive and enjoyable to work in. Often this means introducing Scrum, or developing a deeper understanding of the method and it's principles. John draws on broad experience as an engineer and lead, he has built web and enterprise applications in government, publishing, telecommunications, commerce, defense, and public sector arenas. Twitter: Web: Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 9 of . The Save is the final chapter in the book. Next week we will discuss our final thoughts and decide on the next book. In chapter 9 Atul Gawande talks about his experiences with the surgical checklist he helped to create. The last chapter is a combination of emotion and evidence. Remember to buy a copy of and READ along! Current Installment: Week 10 - - Previous Installments: Week 9 - - - - - - - - - Conferences and More! Agile Online Summit 2018 Virtual October 8 – 12 Speaking on Agile Metrics! ISMA 16 Sao Paulo, Brazil October 16 Register Now; Presentation: Product Owners In Agile – The Really Hard Role ITMPI Webinar Virtual October 31 Register Now: Webinar: Agile, Where Agile Fears to Tread Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 515 will feature an essay on transformation and agile metrics. Whether you like the word transformation or not, many in the process improvement and agile communities help to facilitate change. Involvement in any non-trivial change effort requires resources, people, support and the expenditure of political capital. We will also hear from Kim Pries and Gene Hughson.

SPaMCAST 513 features a second essay on reciprocity. One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn is that some people on a team are passengers and others play different, more involved, roles. Being a passenger long-term on a team or in an organization is a form of rent-seeking and is not valued highly by others. We also have columns from Susan Parente (I Am Not a Scrumdamentalist) and Jeremy Berriault (). Susan provides a spirited discussion of self-directed teams in agile. It is a myth that agile teams just get to do what they want. One of the places to find Susan is at . Rounding out the cast is this month’s installment of the QA Corner. Jeremy discusses one of the thorniest facts of life for a tester -- hard deadlines. Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle Chapter 8, titled The Hero In The Age of Checklists. Heroes are a big deal; pick up any newspaper and you will see how much the cult of the hero is celebrated. Checklists and methods are viewed by many as diminishing the role of the hero which sows the seeds of resistance to change. What role does the hero play in a disciplined process? If the hero is core to how we view ourselves and our society, do tools like checklists run the risk of being met with hostility? Chapter 8 dives directly into the deep end to address these topics. We have two or three more weeks left in this re-read, which means it’s time for the poll. Vote and be heard! Write-in candidates are welcome. [polldaddy poll=10114386] Remember to buy a copy of and READ along! Current Installment: Week 9 - - Previous Installments: - - - - - - - Conferences and More! Agile Coach Camp 2018 Ann Arbor, Michigan. September 28 - 30 Participating Agile Online Summit 2018 Virtual October 8 - 12 Speaking on Agile Metrics! ISMA 16 Sao Paulo, Brazil October 16 Register Now; Presentation: Product Owners In Agile – The Really Hard Role ITMPI Webinar Virtual October 31 Register Now: Webinar: Agile, Where Agile Fears to Tread Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 514 will feature our interview with John Clapham. John and I talked DevOps, people, agile, and how all those pieces fit together coherently or not. This a big, fun, informative interview!

SPaMCAST 512 marks the return of Jeff Dalton. Jeff and I talked about the CMMI Version 2.0 and the Agile Performance Holarchy. The CMMI is often maligned as promoting anti-agile behaviors. Jeff makes the case that Version 2.0 promotes agile. We dive into the Agile Performance Holarchy during the second half of the interview. The Agile Performance Holarchy provides technology leaders with a model to guide agile adoption. Jeff Dalton is Chief Evangelist at , a Research and Development organization that studies agile leadership. He is a technology executive with over 30 years of experience as a CTO, CIO, VP of Product Development, and for that past fifteen years has been CEO of Broadsword and AgileCxO. He is an executive agile coach, agile assessor, and instructor, a regular conference speaker, and author of both "The Agile Performance Holarchy: An Operating System for Agile Leaders" and "The Guide to Scrum and CMMI: Improving Agile Performance with CMMI." In his spare time, Jeff is an instrument-rated pilot and plays bass in a jazz band. He has degrees in music and computer science. Contact Jeff at: Agilecxo.org Twitter: @cmmiappraiser Twitter: @agilecxo Re-Read Saturday News In week 8 of re-read of by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along) we read about building a usable checklist. In this chapter, Dr. Gawande puts all of the lessons learned in chapter 6 into action and tests the result. We have three or four more weeks left in this re-read, which means it is time to start soliciting ideas for the next book. To date, Sandeep Koorse has suggested Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit and Steven Adams has suggested Bad Blood – Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup. What are your suggestions? I will run the poll in two weeks! Remember to buy a copy of and READ along! Current Installment: Previous Installments: - - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 513 will feature one more entry on reciprocity. One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn is that some people on a team are passengers and others play different, more involved roles. Being a passenger long-term on a team or in an organization is a form of rent-seeking and is not valued highly by others. We will also have columns from Susan Parente (I Am Not a Scrumdamentalist) and Jeremy Berriault (QA Corner).

SPaMCAST 511 features our essay on reciprocity. Reciprocal agreements are part of working and playing well with others that we begin learning on the playground and then bring to the office with us. There are many types of reciprocal agreements in a typical agile project. Entries in the Reciprocity theme: - - - Our second column features Kim Pries, the Software Sensei. Kim discusses the use and impact of domain-specific languages. The Software Sensei provides sage advice! The final column this week introduces the Software Process and Measurement Cast listeners to Sandeep Koorse. Sandeep delivers advice on an innovative approach to ensure retrospectives deliver value. Reach out to Sandeep at Re-Read Saturday News We have four or five more weeks left in this re-read, which means it is time to start soliciting ideas for the next book. Sandeep Koorse has suggested Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit (actually he referenced the book twice in his appearance on the SPaMCAST 511 which will be coming out tomorrow). What are your suggestions? In week 7 of re-read of by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along) we read about Atul’s visit to the Checklist Factory. In this chapter, Dr. Gawande provides the reader with many of the basics needed to create valuable checklists. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 512 marks the return of Jeff Dalton. Jeff and I talked about the Agile Performance Holarchy. The Agile Performance Holarchy provides technology leaders with the guidance they need to model, evaluate, and improve agile performance.

We are doing something special in SPaMCAST 510. Over the past couple of years, we have talked to Steve Tendon and Wolfram Müller about their book, Hyper-Productive Knowledge Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban. Today as part of our conversation Steve and Wolfram shine a light on some of the finer points in the book! They also share how they became collaborators on the book. Remember to buy a copy and support the authors and the podcast . Wolfram’s Bio Founder & Principal Consultant at Speed4Projects.net and VISTEM, Wolfram brings 25 years‘ experience as a Consulting Executive, IT Project Portfolio and Project Manager, Process Engineer, and Software Engineer. As head of the PMO at 1&1 Internet AG, he led 40 project managers in the delivery of 500 projects, innovating industry-leading methods, to drive unprecedented improvements in speed and reliability across the portfolio. He has published over 20 articles and books on ‘Critical Chain’, ‘Agile’, and ‘Lean’ and is a well-known speaker in Europe on how to achieve hyper-productive IT project portfolios based on the Theory of Constraints. LinkedIn: Web: (in German) Steve’s Bio Steve is a senior executive management consultant, adviser, speaker and author. his research and consulting work focuses on the use of emerging technologies, and in particular Blockchain technologies, to improve business performance. In 2016 he acted as a Strategic Adviser for the Ministry of Economy, Investment and Small Business (MEIB) of the Maltese Government to increase the country’s global competitiveness. Steve developed the vision of “Malta, the Blockchain Island” and authored Malta’s “National Blockchain Strategy,” which was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on April 2017. Steve is the creator of the TameFlow Approach. Web: Twitter: @tendon Re-Read Saturday News In week 6 of re-read of by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along) we read about Atul’s first try using a checklist to solve a big problem. The Chapter is titled The First Try. Let’s just say it is a learning opportunity. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 511 we will feature an essay on reciprocity. Reciprocity is a powerful tool, not just for coaches and agilists, but also for just about everyone that interacts with people. We will also have a column from Kim Pries, The Software Sensei.

SPaMCAST 509 will feature our essay discussing if you can demonstrate incomplete work. My knee-jerk reaction is no...or maybe heck no, but knee-jerk reactions are not always right. Blog entries in the what happens to incomplete work theme: - - We will also hear from Gene Hughson (Form Follows Function). Gene talks Architects! Gene and I discussed his essay, Contact Gene on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/genehughson/ Bringing the cast home this week is Jon M. Quigley. Jon brings his marvelous Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the cast this week in order to discuss the root cause analysis. Process improvement is most effective when we diagnose the real problem rather than just a symptom. Re-Read Saturday News In week 5 of re-read of by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along) we tackle Chapter 4, The Idea. In Chapter 4 Gawande shows how checklists can help push decision-making outward, which empowers teams and makes them more responsive. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 510 is a special cast. Over the past year, we have talked to Steve Tendon and Wolfram Wolfram Müller about their book, Hyper-Productive Knowledge Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban. Haven’t bought it yet? . In SPaMCAST 510 we get Steve and Wolfram on the same line, to sum up the finer points!

SPaMCAST 508 features our interview with Vasco Duarte! Vasco and I discuss vision and product owners. The product owner role is crucial. To be effective, the product owner must be able to articulate a vision for the product they champion. Vasco Duarte’s Bio in his own words: I want to transform product development organizations into product business organizations. I do that by focusing the work of the product development teams on the end-to-end life-cycle of their products. From Concept to Cash and Back! Currently a Managing Partner at . Product Manager, Scrum Master, Project Manager, Director, Agile Coach are only some of the roles that I've taken in software development organizations. Having worked in the software industry since 1997, and Agile practitioner since 2004. I've worked in small, medium and large software organizations as an Agile Coach or leader in agile adoption at those organizations. I was one of the leaders and catalysts of Agile methods and Agile culture adoption at Avira, Nokia, and F-Secure. I host a daily podcast where I interview Scrum Masters about their daily challenges and insights: You can read more from me at my blog: You can join me on twitter: Re-Read Saturday News In week 4 of re-read of by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along) we tackle Chapter 3, The End Of The Master Builder. In Chapter 3 Gawande identifies the scenarios in which checklists have an impact. Checklists provide value even in the most complicated scenarios. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 509 will feature our essay discussing if you can demonstrate incomplete work. My knee-jerk reaction is no...or maybe heck no, but knee-jerk reactions are not always right. We will also hear from Gene Hughson (Form Follows Function) and Jon M. Quigley (Alpha and Omega of Product Development).

SPaMCAST 507 opens with our essay on consensus decision making. Consensus decision-making techniques are used by almost every team. The process of getting to a decision or solution that the whole team can at least live will make sure that everyone on the team has a seat at the table and that team builds both majority and minority views into the deliberation process. Want to read about consensus decision making? - - - In our second column, Susan Parente brings her I Am Not a Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast. In this installment, Susan talks about the myths of agile and how falling into the traps that the myths create affect the delivery of value. Jeremy Berriault (QA Corner) anchors the cast this week with a discussion of what happens when you make bad decisions. Re-Read Saturday News It is week 3 of our re-read of by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along). Chapter 2 continues building the case for checklists to deal with complex and complicated environments. This chapter firmly pins down the idea that checklists save time, money and lives. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 508 features the return of Vasco Duarte! Vasco and I discussed vision and product owners. The product owner role is crucial and to be effective the product owner must be able to articulate a vision for the product they champion.

SPaMCAST 506 features our interview with Mark Kilby. Mark and I explored distributed agile teams. Agile in distributed environments is doable, but it isn’t easy. Mark provides guidance and advice. Mark recently co-authored From Chaos to Successful Distributed Agile Teams with Johanna Rothman (). Mark’s bio and contact information: MARK KILBY has cultivated more distributed, dispersed, and virtual teams than colocated teams for more than two decades. Currently, Mark serves as an agile coach with Sonatype, a “remote first” software development company focusing on automation of software supply chains. Previously, Mark led agile transformations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Mark also cultivates dispersed communities, such as Agile Orlando, Agile Florida, , and the Agile Alliance Community Group Support initiative. Mark’s book, From Chaos to Successful Distributed Agile Teams, is co-authored with Johanna Rothman and is available now via and Twitter: Linked In: Re-Read Saturday News Week 2 of our re-read of by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along). Chapter 1 builds the case that the world we live in and the work that we do is very complex. Complexity creates the possibility for errors. Checklists are a tool to help avoid errors in complicated and complex environments. Current Installment: Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 507 features our essay exploring consensus decision making. One of the primary decision-making techniques used in teams is consensus decision making. The power of making is that it yields decisions that are the output of a process in which a team or group finds a solution that everyone can either actively support or live with. The process of getting to a decision or solution that the whole team can at least live will make sure that everyone on the team has a seat at the table and that team builds both majority and minority views into the deliberation process. Sounds simple, right? We will also have columns from Susan Parente (I Am Not a Scrumdamentalist) and Jeremy Berriault (QA Corner).

SPaMCAST 505 features our recent essay titled, . On the surface, coaching is a fairly simple role. A coach has six basic modes of operation. But…if you peel back the layers just a little bit you will find that coaching is part art and part science. In the second spot of this week's magazine have the penultimate session of our read of Steve Tendon and Wolfram Müller’s Hyper-Productive Knowledge Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach. I have moved things around a bit and complete this edition of the SPaMCAST with an essay on servant leadership from the Software Sensei, Kim Pries. Regardless of how you define servant leadership, I think we would all agree that good leadership is critical. Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin the read of by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along). The version of the book we are reading is published by Metropolitan Books, 2009 and is the 22nd printing. The book has nine chapters and with acknowledgments has 209 pages. My reading plan is one chapter per week, therefore, the re-read will span 11 weeks. Current Installment: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 506 will feature our interview with Mark Kilby. Mark and I discussed agile in distributed environments. Agile in distributed environments is doable but it isn’t easy, Mark provides guidance and advice.

SPaMCAST 504 features our interview with Gerie Owen. Gerie and I discussed continuous testing, DevOps, and testing in an agile culture! We worked through big ideas that can have a big impact on how you work and deliver value immediately. Gerie Owen is the VP of Knowledge and Innovation at QualiTest. Gerie Owen represents the QualiTest team at the client site and manages the offshore team’s test activities including the development of an automated regression test suite. Gerie manages large, complex projects involving multiple applications, coordinates test teams across multiple time zones and delivers high-quality projects on time and within budget. Gerie is also a Certified Scrum Master, Conference Presenter and Author on Testing and Test management topics. She enjoys mentoring new QA Leads and brings a cohesive team approach to testing. Gerie is the author of many articles on testing and is currently writing a series on the Brave New Worlds of testing. She chooses her presentation topics based on her testing and test management experiences, what she has learned from them and what she would like to learn to improve them. Web: Blog: https://testinggirl.wordpress.com/about-gerie-owen/ Re-Read Saturday News Today we complete our re-read of ! with a few final thoughts. Next week we will begin by Atul Gawande (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along). Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - - - - - - - ” – – - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 505 will feature our essay on coaching. How about a bit of nudge to improve your coaching? We will also have the penultimate session of our read of Steve Tendon and Wolfram Müller’s Hyper-Productive Knowledge Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach. We will wrap up with a visit from Susan Parente, who will bring her “Not a Scrumdamentalist” column to the cast!

SPaMCAST 503 features our essay “Culture: The Knife’s Edge of Change.” I have often heard the line, culture eats change for breakfast. Culture, culture, culture – the success of every change that is considered or implemented balances on the knife-edge of culture. Aligning cultures so that change is possible requires seeing the differences and then minimizing enough of those differences to allow change to happen. We also have an installment of the Alpha and Omega of Product Development with Jon M Quigley. In this installment of Jon’s wonderful column, we discuss the muda of underutilizing people. We conclude with a visit with Gene Hughson. We discuss an entry from his tilted, “When asked for the time, don’t explain how your watch works”. Communication between the user and technical domains is fraught with difficulties. A problem? Gene always says, “exactly!” Re-Read Saturday News We will complete our re-read of Turn The Ship Around next week with a few final thoughts. The next book in the series will be (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along) by Atul Gawande. Today we complete re-reading the chapters in L. David Marquet’s ! Chapters 28, 29 and Afterthoughts complete Marquet’s reflection on the leader-leader model and his journey of discovery. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - - - - - - ” – – - - - - - - Next SPaMCASTSPaMCAST 504 features our interview with Gerie Owen. Gerie and I discussed continuous testing, DevOps and testing, and agile culture! We worked through big ideas that can have a big impact on how you work and deliver value immediately.

SPaMCAST 502 features our interview Marcus Hammarberg. Marcus returns to talk about his new book (https://amzn.to/2u1ndYs). The story provides a real-life example of how agile can save the world — or at least part of it. This is one of the most important and inspirational interviews I have done. Marcus’s bio: For 15 years Marcus Hammarberg has been doing agile and lean software development and helping others do it. He has worked in many different settings, from big banks and insurance companies to start-ups and within retail. At one big insurance company, the first agile team, started by Marcus, eventually spread to a lean initiative across the business. As a consultant, Marcus helps individuals, teams, and whole organizations improve their value delivery flow. Marcus is still a keen programmer and continues to practice and teach the concepts that helped him become a good programmer: TDD, Specification by example, functional programming and Node. Marcus is a keynote speaker and co-author of Kanban In Action, which has been translated into 5 languages across the globe. He has blogged since 2006 at and spends his spare time playing euphonium in the Salvation Army band at Vasakåren, Stockholm. 2014-2015 Marcus moved to Indonesia with his family to work for the Salvation Army. Unexpectedly his previous experience with lean, agile and kanban was soon put to great use there too. This story is retold as it happened in his second book; Salvation: The Bungsu story FYI Marcus first appeared on SPaMCAST 414 https://bit.ly/2KZoxBN Twitter: @marcusoftnet Blog: www.marcusoft.net Re-Read Saturday News This week we are full ahead in our re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! Today we tackle two more chapters, 26 and 27, which are titled: Combat Effectiveness and Homecoming. The next book in the series will be (use the link and buy a copy so you can read along) by Atul Gawande. Current Installment: - https://bit.ly/2u3j8TI Previous Installments: - - - - - - - - ” – – - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 503 will feature our essay “Culture: The Knife’s Edge of Change.” I have often heard the line, culture eats change for breakfast. Culture, culture, culture – the success of every change that is considered or implemented balances on the knife-edge of culture. Aligning cultures so that change is possible requires seeing the differences and then minimizing enough of those differences. We will also have columns from Gene Hughson and Jon M. Quigley.

SPaMCAST 501 features our essay on Agile Metrics. Progress is easy to visualize when we use the yardstick of calendar time. My wife and I spent 17 days in Europe. There are 177 shopping days until Christmas (as of July 1, 2018) — I expect presents this year. How long it takes to deliver a piece of work, in days, is something nearly every human can understand. Over the past few months, I have been cataloging questions I have heard. Well over 70% of work-related questions center on how long a piece of work will take and whether the answer to that question has value. Cycle time metrics are ways to generate answers to ‘how long’ questions in a manner that is valuable and predictable. Our second column features Jeremy Berriault. In the QA Corner, Jeremy and I discussed the idea of self-reliance rather than using third-party testing organizations. Or when you have to use third parties for testing, Jeremy provides advice on getting the most out of your third party. Anchoring the cast is Susan Parente. Susan discusses certification. There are tons of certifications and more appear every day. Susan provides advice on which ones are important and which are not! Re-Read Saturday News This week we are full ahead in our re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! We dive into chapters 24 and 25, which are titled: A Dangerous Passage and Looking Ahead. Pick the next book in the re-read series. I will cut the poll off on 2 July. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - - - - ” – – - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 502 features our interview with Marcus Hammarberg. Marcus returns to talk about his new book Salvation: The Bunshu Story. The story provides a real-life example of how agile can save the world -- or at least part of it.

Show 500! SPaMCAST 001 went live on Sunday January 28, 2007 at 9:28 PM - it has been a great journey from then to now! The first interview was a two-parter with Will McKnight. Give it a listen at . Show 500, SPaMCAST 500, Episode 500, #500 (I will probably say that 500 more times this week) features our interview with Marcus Blankenship. Marcus and I talked teams and what makes a team good. We also discussed who owns the behaviors and values of a team. Team are core to most software development, enhancements, and maintenance. Understanding how teams work and how to make them work better makes ABSOLUTE sense. Marcus provides great thoughts and advice on agile teams. I am thrilled that Marcus joined the SPaMCAST family on show 500! Marcus helps CTO’s fire-up their dev teams by creating an environment where everyone can fully participate in problem solving. He helps great engineers become the great leader that their team deserves. Links: Join Marcus's list for articles on leading developers: Tech Leader Fortune Cookies: Twitter: Medium: Book: Listeners of the podcast will receive 30% off with discount code SPAMCAST. Show: - Live call-in show for technical managers every Friday at 10am Pacific. Re-Read Saturday News This week we are full ahead in our re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! We continue the story of the USSN Santa Fe with Chapters 22 and 23. These two chapters focus on how an organization’s legacy can be used to shape deliberate actions and why principles have to be tied to behavior and decisions to be useful. Pick the next book in the re-read series. I will cut the poll off on 2 July. [polldaddy poll=10037032] Current Installment: - https://bit.ly/2Imi5lS Previous Installments: - - - - - - ” – – - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 501 will feature our essay on Hard Questions and Agile Metrics. We will also have columns from Jeremy Berriault and Susan Parente!

SPaMCAST 499 will feature our essay on trust and coaching. Coaches are among most effective tools used to help teams improve. In I highlighted the need for trust between a coach and the team or person they are coaching. Without trust, a coach will not be very effective. Two powerful and related tools! In the rocker, as they call it stock car racing is Wolfram Müller. Wolfram co-authored Hyper-Productive Knowledge Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach with Steve Tendon. We talk about Chapter 23 titled Reliable Scrum and Reliable Kanban. Wolfram can be found on LinkedIn at Anchoring the cast is the Software Sensei, Kim Pries. Kim discusses software safety. Tools and software languages can have a major impact on software safety and all of our lives depend on software these days! Re-Read Saturday News In week 14 of our re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! we begin Part IV of Turn The Ship Around and tackle chapter 21. The first three parts of the book bring the story to the beginning of the deployment of the Santa Fe. Part IV picks up from that point! Part I - Starting Over - This section profile why Marquet is frustrated with leader-follower model of leadership. Part II - Control - This section profiles the change and command and begins to layout Marquet’s vision of a leader - leader model of leadership. This section delivers mechanisms for control in a leader - leader model. Part III - Competence - This section builds on the story of how the Santa Fe prepares for deployment and Marquet lays out mechanisms for building technical competence, the second leg of his leader-leader model. Part IV - Clarity - This section completes the leader - leader model, focusing on the third leg of the leader - leader model, clarity. What will be the next book? Options are Release It and The Checklist Manifesto. Both are great . . . thoughts? Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - - ” – – - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 500 will feature our interview with Marcus Blankenship we talked teams and what makes a team good. We also discussed who owns the behaviors and values of a team.

SPaMCAST 498 features our interview John Kordyback. Agile is more than just Scrum or a bunch of values. Agile has a technical side that can’t be ignored. This week, John and I have a wide-ranging conversation covering the technical side of agile, the impact of tools on principles, and the difference in agile approaches for systems of engagement and systems of record. Bio: John Kordyback is a Principal Consultant with ThoughtWorks leading technology transformations and applying lean principles within complex enterprises. He is a strong advocate for applying the lean delivery and operational practices found in the Devops and Evolutionary Architecture movements to gain more value from existing technology investments. John has worked in insurance, telecommunications, commodity and securities trading, high tech, energy, and the airline industries. Before his technology career, John worked as a researcher and practitioner for people with disabilities. Email: Twitter: @jkordyback Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackle chapter 20 of L. David Marquet’s Turn the Ship Around! (have you bought your copy?). Chapter 20 completes part 3 which has focused on competence and the run-up to the deployment of the Santa Fe. The title of this chapter is Final Preparations. We have six or seven weeks left – Steven Adams is pushing for the next book to be Release It, the other option is The Checklist Manifesto. Both are great . . . thoughts? Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - ” – – - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 499 will feature our essay on trust and coaching. Two powerful and related tools! We will also include the voices of Wolfram Müller and the Software Sensei, himself, Kim Pries!

SPaMCAST 497 features our essay on micromanagement. Micromanagement is a bane to employees that fall under a micromanager’s control. If you ask any manager if they think micromanagement is useful they will tell you no. The problem is that many managers still do it and then rationalize the behavior. We also welcome back Susan Parente, with her “Not a Scrumdamentalist” column. In this installment, Susan discusses using hybrid agile methods to deliver value. The message is that the development approach needs to meld with the organization's culture. Gene Hughson brings the cast home with another entry from his Form Follows Function blog. In this installment Gene discusses his essay, IT costs are a chronic problem. Ideas for getting a handle on costs are always useful. Re-Read Saturday News In week twelve of the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! (Buy your copy now). This week we tackle Underway for San Diego and All Present and Accounted For. Two more tools that are immediately useful. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - ” – – - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 498 will feature our interview John Kordyback. John and I have a wide-ranging conversation covering the technical side of agile, the impact of tools on principles, and the difference in agile approaches for systems of engagement and systems of record.

SPaMCAST 496 features our interview with Sam Laing. Sam and I talked about coaching agile teams. The goal of coaching is to help people unleash their inner power. We also touch on the difference between coaching and mentoring. They are different and require different approaches but both are useful! Sam’s Bio - Sam writes: Samantha Laing (@samlaing) My personal motto is ‘be brave’, and I embody this by taking on challenges one small step at a time. Most of my career has been in the IT industry, specifically Software Development. Nowadays I find myself guiding and mentoring others with a passion for agile. This year my focus has been on experimenting and learning from my failures (and successes) – what a great journey so far. Contact Sam at: sam@growingagile.co.za www.growingagile.co.za Re-Read Saturday News In week eleven of the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! (Buy Your Copy Now). This week we begin Part III of the book and add two more mechanisms to our tool belt. This week the two chapters are Mistakes Just Happen and We Learn. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - ” – – - - - - - - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 497 will feature our essay on micromanagement. Micromanagement is almost always a bad idea. The problem is that people still do it and then rationalize the behavior. We will hold forth on the topic! We will also have columns from Gene Hughson and Susan Parente!

SPaMCAST 495 features our essay titled, The Definition of Done: Simplicity and Complexity Revisited. The Definition of Done is an important agile technique to help teams plan and execute work. The simplest definition of the Definition of Done is the criteria that a work product must meet to be considered to be complete. While the concept is simple, the implementation of the technique in the real world is rarely simple. Both context and interpretations make things just a bit gray! Our second column features Jon M Quigley’s column, The Alpha and Omega of Product Development. In this installment Jon and I discussed Muda, waste, and whether failed innovations are waste. Kim Pries, the Software Sensei, contributes his essay Kanban to the Kanban Power. Kim talks about using kanban to guide and control work both in the workplace and at home. Re-Read Saturday News In week ten of the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! (Buy Your Copy Now) we add two more mechanisms for control and complete part two of the book. This week the two chapters are A New Ship and We Have A Problem. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - ” – – - - - - - - Upcoming Webinars and Conferences May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 496 will feature our interview with Sam Liang. Sam and I talked about agile coaching and the competencies needed to work more effectively.

SPaMCAST 494 features our interview with Alan Mallory. We discussed his book (). The book provides strong lessons on leadership and teamwork in an environment where failure can lead to death or worse! Danger, mountaineering, and leadership in a single interview; a first for the Software Process and Measurement Cast. Alan’s Bio Alan Mallory is an international speaker, author, and performance coach who is passionate about leadership and human performance. A graduate from Queen's University, he has worked internationally with large organizations as a professional engineer and project manager. Living and working abroad has given Alan the opportunity to deepen his understanding of individual and team challenges, better appreciate cultural diversity and successfully adapt to different organizational structures. Through his work and life experiences, he has discovered that his true passion is helping people reach new heights by cultivating effective ways of thinking and taking action. Building experience through a lifestyle of adventure and challenge, in the spring of 2008 Alan embarked on the journey of a lifetime: to attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Along with three members of his immediate family, Alan climbed through some of the most challenging yet exciting conditions imaginable and set a world record when all four of them set foot on the summit. The expedition involved two years of planning and two months of climbing through immense challenges but they were able to overcome these obstacles through strategic planning, healthy team dynamics, self-awareness and perseverance. Alan delivers a number of exciting presentations and training programs designed to help individuals, team members and organizations reach new heights in the way we think and the actions we take in order to achieve breakthrough performance. For more information, visit . Contact Phone: 647-388-4044 Email: alan@alanmallory.com Web: Re-Read Saturday News In week nine of the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! we discuss chapters 12 and 13, titled Up Scope! and ”A New Ship”. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: ” – – - - - - - - Upcoming Webinars and Conferences May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 495 will feature our essay titled, The Definition of Done: Simplicity and Complexity Revisited. The Definition of Done is an important Agile technique to help teams plan and execute work. The simplest definition of the Definition of Done is the criteria that a work product must meet to be considered to be complete. While the concept is simple, the implementation of the technique in the real world is rarely simple. Both context and interpretations make things just a bit gray! We will also have columns from Kim Pries and Jon M Quigley

SPaMCAST 493 features our essay titled The punchline is that the goal of continuous improvement is to help teams to eliminate waste (Muda, Muri, Mura), while improving an organization’s capability to deliver value. Our second column features Jeremy Berriault. In this installment of the QA Corner (https://qacorner.blog/). Jeremy and I talked about his upcoming appearance at QAI Quest. Jeremy is talking about TDD test cases and participating in the Managers Solutions Workshop. Anchoring the cast is Wolfram Müller. Wolfram co-authored Hyper-Productive Knowledge Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach with Steve Tendon. We talk about Chapter 22 titled In Practice with Scrum. Wolfram can be found on LinkedIn at Re-Read Saturday News In week eight of the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! we discuss chapters 10 and 11, titled Under Way on Nuclear Power and I Intend To . . .”. Current Installment: ” - Previous Installments: - - - - - - - Upcoming Webinars and ConferencesMay 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas Next SPaMCASTSPaMCAST 494 will feature our interview with Allan Mallory. We discussed leadership and his book, the "The Family that Conquered Everest". Danger, mountaineering, and leadership!

Software Process and Measurement Cast 492 features our recent interview with Murali Chemuturi. Murali and I discussed his new book tilted (Link ). Murali makes a strong case that design can’t be purely emergent. Design impacts usability, security, and data architecture to name just a few areas. Practical advice and strong opinions. Note Murali and I co-authored (buy a copy!) ). Murali’s Bio Murali Chemuturi is an information technology and software development subject matter expert, hands-on programmer, author, consultant, and trainer. Since 2001, he is offering consultancy on information technology and training to organizations in India and the USA from Chemuturi Consultants. Chemuturi Consultants also offers a number of products to aid project managers and software development professionals such as PMPal, a software project management tool; and EstimatorPal, FPAPal & UCPPal, a set of software estimation tools. Chemuturi Consultants also offers material requirements planning software product MRPPal to assist small to medium manufacturing organizations to efficiently manage their materials. Web: Email: Re-Read Saturday News In week seven of the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! we begin Part 2 of the book and tackle chapters 8 and 9, titled Change, In a Word and Welcome Aboard Sante Fe. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - - - Upcoming Webinars and Conferences May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 493 will feature our essay titled The punchline is that the goal of continuous improvement is to help teams to eliminate waste (Muda, Muri, Mura) while improving an organization’s capability to deliver value. We will also have columns from Jeremy Berriault and Wolfram Mueller. Jeremy and I talked about our upcoming appearance at QAI Quest. Wolfram picks up the discussion of Hyper-Productive Knowledge Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach with Chapter 22.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 491 features our essay titled, Can “Done” Be Allowed To Break Production? The most succinct answer to the question is always no, the story is not done. The reason is that the story is not implementable, and unless the goal of the story is to blow up production and anger customers it can’t be considered to be done. Susan Parente brings her Not a Scrumdamentalist column to the cast this week. Susan discusses Kanban for You and Me. The discussion focuses on personal Kanban and how to use it to guide your day to day activities effectively and efficiently. Kim Pries, the Software Sensi, anchors the cast this week. Kim’s essay is titled Real Software Quality. In this column, Kim warns us of the dangers of interventionism on quality. Re-Read Saturday News In week six of the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! we tackle chapter 7, titled I Relieve You. I am breaking the two chapter pattern to layup so that we can have a clean start the second part of the book next week Chapter Seven completes Part One of the book. Part one serves tells the story of how Captain Marquet came to be in command of the USSN Santa Fe rather than the Olympia. Much of Marquet’s leadership model was emergent (like design in agile). Change may occur even without a shock, such as Marquet’s reassignment, but adding energy will hasten change. In this case, the shock made the development of Marquet’s leadership model inevitable. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - - Upcoming Webinars and Conferences May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 492 will feature our recent interview with Murali Chemuturi. Murali has just published a new book tilted (Link ). The book offers practical design advice for anyone involved in software development. We discussed the impact of design on usability, security and data architecture to name just a few areas. Note Murali and I co-authored (buy a copy! ).

Software Process and Measurement Cast 490 features a return visit from Michael West. Michael West is the author of Return On Process (ROP): Getting Real Performance Results from Process Improvement and Real Process Improvement Using the CMMI! [LINKS] Michael and I talked about process improvement and how process improvement translates to the bottom line. Mr. West originally appeared on the [https://bit.ly/2ITlKsf] Michael’s bio: Michael West is a life-long practitioner and student of process improvement. He is the co-founder of Natural Systems Process Improvement (Natural SPI), a consultancy specializing in designing, developing, and deploying process systems that enable measurable business performance improvement gains. Mr. West’s process insights and innovations have helped many organizations in various sectors of the economy achieve real process and performance improvement. His process consulting clients include ATK, Autodesk, AVL, BAE, BB&T, Crane Aerospace, DCS, Deloitte, Sandia National Labs, Reliability First, and the US Navy. Mr. West frequently presents and speaks at industry conferences, and is the author of (CRC Press, 2004) and (CRC Press, 2013). Contact Michael at: Web: http://www.naturalspi.com/ Email: michael@naturalspi.com Twitter: @ItsTheProcess Re-Read Saturday News In week five of the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! () we tackle chapters five and six. These two chapters, titled Call to Action and Whatever They Tell Me To Do! continue to tell the stories that form the basis for Marquet’s leadership model. Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - - Upcoming Webinars and Conferences May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 491 will feature our essay titled, Can “Done” Be Allowed To Break Production? The most succinct answer to the question is always, “no, the story is not done”. The reason is that the story is not implementable and unless the goal of the story is to blow up production and anger customers it can’t be considered to be done. We will also have columns from Susan Parente and Kim Pries.

SPaMCAST 489 features our essay titled, Deciding on the purpose and scope of a Gemba walk is part science and part art. The part that is science is driven by measurement and observation of the organization’s value stream(s). The art is applied to decide where to look, to begin with, and in the empathy, you apply during the walk! Our second column features Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the cast. In this segment, we discuss agile development. Jon’s previous column considered agile culture. Listen to SPaMCAST 483 (). Gene Hughson of Form Follows Function anchors the cast. He discusses his great article, There is no right way (though there are plenty of wrong ones) () Gene suggests “After all, at the end of the day, if there were only one right way to design a system, would anyone need an architect?” Re-Read Saturday News In week four of the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! we tackle Chapters three and four. These two chapters, titled Change of Course and Frustration, continue to build the basis for Marquet’s leadership model. Buy a copy today and read along! Current Installment: - Previous Installments: - - - Upcoming Webinars and ConferencesMay 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 490 will feature the return of Michael West author of Return On Process (ROP): Getting Real Performance Results from Process Improvement and Real Process Improvement Using the CMMI! Michael and I talked about process improvement and how process improvement translates to the bottom line.

SPaMCAST 488 features our interview with Prem Ranganath. Prem and I discussed why organizations need to focus on innovation and excellence. The topic might sound trite; however, making innovation and excellence happen is hard. Prem provides examples and advice from the real world. Prem is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive quality strategy for product engineering covering people, processes, tools and an enabling culture at Trilliant Networks. Prem takes an intrapreneurial approach to empower Trilliant’s customers by enabling lean, agile solution delivery and a culture of quality. He enjoys working with teams to solve problems using design thinking and experimentation. In 2017, Prem was the Capability Challenge champion and is a member of ASQ’s Influential Voices program. Company URL: Linked-In: Twitter: Re-Read Saturday News We continue the re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! This week we tackle Chapters one and two. The two chapters, titled Pain and Business as Usual, establish the foundation which positioned Marquet to build his management style. Chapters one and two are part of Part I. The book is broken into IV parts, which provide a macro change arc to drive the story. Current Installment: Previous Installments: Upcoming Webinars and Conferences May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy I will also be at Agile West on June 7th (my birthday!) Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 489 will feature our essay titled, Deciding on the purpose and scope of a Gemba walk is part science and part art. The part that is science is driven by measurement and observation of the organization’s value stream(s). The art is applied to decide where to look, to begin with and in the empathy, you apply during the walk! We will also have installments from Jon M Quigley and Gene Hughson.

SPaMCAST opens with our essay, . Recently I have been thinking about just how rigorously practitioners need to follow the processes, methods, and frameworks, and when it makes sense to tweak processes to fit the culture. Learn and practice first, then decide how to tweak agile, Scrum or any framework to your culture. The results will be better. Our second column will introduce a new column from Susan Parente titled, “I Am Not A Scrumdamentalist.” Susan originally appeared on SPaMCAST 344 -- http://bit.ly/2GDl6Px Note: The material provided by Susan Parente, is copyright of Susan Parente and may not be used without her specific consent. Our final column in the SPaMCAST 487 features the Software Sensei, Kim Pries. In this column, Kim talks about what works and does not work. (I had originally scheduled Jon M Quigley this week, however, I took the wrong hard drive on the road this week). Re-Read Saturday News This week we explore the forward and the introduction of L. David Marquet’s ! In one fell swoop, we take care of all of the pages numbered in italics. The introduction adds some extra context to how Marquet’s leadership style and theories evolved. Current Installment: Previous Installment: Upcoming Webinars and Conferences May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy I will also be at Agile West on June 7th (my birthday!) Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 488 will feature our interview with Prem Ranganath. Prem and I discussed why organizations need to focus on innovation and excellence. The topic might sound trite; however, making innovation and excellence happen is hard. Prem provides examples and advice from the real world.

SPaMCAST 486 features our interview with Daniel S. Vacanti. Mr. Vacanti is the author of . We discussed the concepts in the book, answered a question from Steven Adams, and talked about his new book. It was great to talk about a book with the author after the re-read. Daniel Vacanti’s Bio: Daniel Vacanti is a 20-plus year software industry veteran who has spent most of his career focusing on Lean and Agile practices. In 2007, he helped to develop the Kanban Method for knowledge work and managed the world’s first project implementation of Kanban that year. He has been conducting Lean-Agile training, coaching, and consulting ever since. In 2011 he founded ActionableAgileTM (previously Corporate Kanban) which provides industry-leading predictive analytics tools and services organizations that utilize Lean-Agile practices. In 2015 he published his book, “Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability”, which is the definitive guide to flow-based metrics and analytics. Daniel holds an M.B.A. and regularly teaches a class on lean principles for software management at the University of California Berkeley. Contact Information: Twitter: LinkedIn: Mail: Web: Re-Read Saturday News We will begin the full-scale re-read of L. David Marquet’s ! next week and I am stoked. Buy your copy and listen to the interview I did with Mr. Marquet () to get involved in the re-read. I am going to lead the re-read from my 2012 (7th printing) copy. The book has 29 chapters, not including the forward, a cast of characters, index, afterword, and a glossary. The book is an easy read because Marquet is such an excellent communicator. My intent is to knock out the preface material next week and then begin delivering 2 chapters per week. If my estimating ability holds true, we will complete our re-read in 18 weeks. I expect to miss two weeks due to travel. Upcoming Webinars and Conferences May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy I will also be at Agile West on June 7th (my birthday!) Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 487 opens with our essay, Don’t Shortcut Shu Ha Ri. I spend several hours every week running – on purpose. I don’t run very fast, which means I have the occasional fall because my mind wanders, I inflict very little damage to the ground due to the low inertial load. This is a preamble to let you know that I have lots of time to think when I run (which is the reason the ground occasionally gets in my way). Recently I have been thinking about just how rigorously practitioners need to follow processes, methods, and frameworks and when it makes sense to tweak processes to fit the culture. Our second column will introduce a new column from Susan Parente. Susan’s new column is titled, “I Am Not A Scrumdamentalist.” Susan originally appeared on SPaMCAST 344 -- http://bit.ly/2GDl6Px In our final column in the SPaMCAST 487 features Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the cast.

SPaMCAST 485 features essay titled “A Simple Checklist for Choosing a Mentor.” Everyone needs a mentor, but they are hard to find, and even when you find someone willing they might not be the right person! Enter: a checklist! Blog entries (in case you would rather read the entries) in our recent coaching/mentor theme include: In the second spot this week, Jeremy Berriault will bring his QA Corner to the cast. We will discuss trusting your team. Trust is a huge deal, and unless it goes both ways it is not really trust. FYI - Jeremy has recently moved the QA Corner to Rounding out the cast, Kim Pries, the Software Sensei will return with the second part of his essay titled “Muddling Through.” The essay is based on the article, “” by Charles E. Lindblom. The article was originally published in 1959, but it still has an important message that resonates now. Part One was originally published in http://bit.ly/2IiGoCw Re-Read Saturday News Before we wrap up our re-read of Daniel S. Vacanti’s remember that we will begin our re-read of by L. David Marquet next week! Buy your copy and listen to the interview I did with Mr. Marquet (). If you want to get ahead, the book after that will be by Atul Gawande (I recently bought a copy and want to share what I have gotten out of it). Now on with the main attraction! This week we conclude our re-read of Daniel S. Vacanti’s . Over the past 18 weeks we have explored the power of a few metrics to help teams deliver value. None of the books we have explored in the re-read series are simple, one-idea books. The complexity of these books are the reason they are important, but also make it difficult to boil any of them down into a few words. If pressed for a one line summary for this book, it is that every team or organization should use data to pursue continuous improvement. Previous Installments Week 13: Interpreting Cycle Time Scatterplots Week 19: Conclusion Upcoming Webinars and Conferences Using Size to Drive Testing in AgileTom Cagley & Associates and Sealights WebinarTue, Mar 13, 2018 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM EDT May 21-25, 2018,San Antonio, TexasMay 11Rome, ItalyI will also be at Agile West on June 7th (my birthday!) Next SPaMCASTSPaMCAST 486 will feature our interview with Daniel S. Vacanti. Mr. Vacanti is the author of . We discussed the concepts in the book, answered a question from Steven Adams, and talked about his new book. It was great to talk about a book after a re-read with the author!

SPaMCAST 484 features our interview with Andriy Bas of UPTech. Andriy and his partner have created a firm that has truly embraced the ideas of agile, Teal and holacracy to create a highly productive, collaborative and safe workspace. We discussed the impact of the environment on satisfaction, quality, and productivity. We also discussed whether or not this type of approach works for all people. Andriy Bass an entrepreneur, programmer, reader and marathon runner. Andriy is a co-founder and Team Lead of the IT-company UPTech. The company is known for its unique culture - radical transparency, horizontal hierarchy, self-management. Andriy believes that a healthy culture and teamwork are the foundation for any successful business and that the best client service starts with taking care of your team. True creativity and human potential can also be fully unleashed only in the autonomous self-managed environment. Links: My twitter: My facebook: UPTech website: Resources where visitors can learn more about Teal: Our company blog where we shared some of the practices: Re-Read Saturday News The Oscars are being announced on March 4, 2018. At some point in the process, someone will call for the envelope and boom: the big reveal. So in the spirit of the moment, we have our next book for the Re-read Saturday. We will begin re-reading by L. David Marquet in two weeks (buy your copy today). I have interviewed Mr. Marquet twice for the podcast; I have gotten a ton from his books and the interviews, so I am pumped. I also want to announce the book after that, by Atul Gawande (I recently bought a copy and want to share what I have gotten out of it). Now on with the main attraction! The title of Chapter 16 is Getting Started, in Daniel S. Vacanti’s . The never-ending journey of process improvement needs to begin at the beginning. In this chapter, Vacanti lays out an outline for adopting a process improvement approach that uses the metrics discussed earlier in the book. Previous Installments Week 13: Interpreting Cycle Time Scatterplots Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Upcoming Webinars and Conferences Using Size to Drive Testing in Agile Tom Cagley & Associates and Sealights Webinar Tue, Mar 13, 2018 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM EDT May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy I will also be at Agile West. More information next week! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 485 will feature our essay titled “A Simple Checklist for Choosing a Mentor.” Everyone needs a mentor, but they are hard to find, and even when you find someone willing they might not be the right person! Enter: a checklist! Jeremy Berriault will bring his QA Corner to the cast. We will discuss trusting your team. Jeremy has recently moved the QA Corner to Kim Pries, the Software Sensei will return with the second part of his essay titled “Muddling Through.”

SPaMCAST 483 will feature our essay on measuring the value delivered by agile. The essay begins: “Organizations and teams come to agile—for that matter, any concept, framework or technique—for a wide variety of reasons. Even if we are just the keeping up with the neighbors, we need feedback to know if we have met our goal. We need feedback because—to quote Paul Gibbons, author of The Science of Successful Organizational Change ()—“we confuse what we think ought to work” with what does work (quote from SPaMCAST 480).” Four Agile Value Entries: Our second column features Steve Tendon who brings his Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban () to the cast. Today we complete our discussion of Chapter 21. We have spent extra time on chapters 20 and 21 to get to the heart of the important concepts in these chapters. In our final column, Jon M Quigley brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the cast. In this segment, we discuss Agile Culture. Agile is often crippled when organizations don’t spend the time and effort needed to adopt a culture and mindset that incents innovation and productivity. Re-Read Saturday News This week we are taking a break to remind you to vote in the poll to pick the next book! Many Bothans died to bring us this poll (Star Wars reference in case you missed the movie)! We will be back next week in full force! [polldaddy poll=9941343] Previous Installments Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Upcoming Webinars and Conferences Using Size to Drive Testing in Agile Tom Cagley & Associates and Sealights Webinar Tue, Mar 13, 2018 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM EDT May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy I will also be at Agile West. More information next week! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 484 will our interview with Andriy Bas of UPTech. Andriy and his partner have created a firm that has truly embraced the ideas of agile and holacracy to create a highly productive, collaborative and safe environment.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 482 features our interview with Natalie Warnert. We talked about the diversity of voice, thoughts and ideas and Women in Agile. Developing ideas and solving problems is the reason for software development, project management, process improvement, business systems analysis -- just about everything in life is about solving problems. Diversity helps us to generate better ideas and decisions. Bio Natalie Warnert is the primary founder of the Women in Agile initiative, which enables, empowers, and expands the distribution of new and diverse ideas in the agile and technology communities worldwide. She is a frequent speaker on business and agile topics including product strategy, user experience, and emotional intelligence. Her strategy focuses on actions you can implement tomorrow for the immediate impact that track toward longer-term vision and outcomes. Natalie also brings unparalleled humor to all her engagements (or so she thinks). Natalie is passionate about guiding companies as they design, execute, and support their approach to cultural change as a Principal Agile Consultant at CA Technologies. Her vast thought leadership experience is recognized by her numerous keynotes, podcasts, and publications. Natalie has earned various degrees and certifications over the past decade including her Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership, SAFe Program Consultant, Certified Scrum Professional, and Six Sigma Yellow Belt. For more of Natalie’s work please visit Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackled Chapter 15 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 15 is titled Monte Carlo Method Introduction. Remember to b, and we will be back next week! What is next? Vote in the poll to pick the next book! Vote for two books! [polldaddy poll=9941343] Previous Installments Week 13: Interpreting Cycle Time Scatterplots Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Upcoming Webinars and Conferences Using Size to Drive Testing in Agile Tom Cagley & Associates and Sealights Webinar Tue, Mar 13, 2018 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM EDT May 21-25, 2018, San Antonio, Texas May 11 Rome, Italy I will also be at Agile West. More information next week! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAT 483 will feature our essay on measuring the value delivered by agile. We also have columns from Steve Tendon and Jon M Quigley.

SPaMCAST 481 will feature our essay on the Life Cycle of A User Story. A user story - a brief, simple requirement statement from the user’s perspective - tends to follow a loose life cycle. That life often begins even before the word ‘user story’ gets mentioned and typically by people that don’t understand (or care to understand) the concept of a user story. We zoom in from 40,000 ft down to user stories in 500 or so words! Read other entries on user stories by following this link: The second column this week is from Kim Pries, the Software Sensei, Kim discusses using the Extended Backus-Naur Form as a tool to extract information out of nebulous text. Last but not least, Jeremy Berriault brings his QA Corner to the cast. In this entry, Jeremy discusses why QAs/testers should be given space to manage their own workflow. Jeremy has recently moved the QA Corner to Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackled Chapter 14 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 14 is titled Introduction to Forecasting. Predictability and forecasting are intimately related! Remember to b, and we will be back next week! One note: we are on Chapter 14 today out of 17. So, after today, we have approximately four more weeks. As a result, we will have to choose another book in the next couple of weeks. I have received some suggestions, and I have also asked the interviewees that appeared in the Software Process and Measurement Podcast in 2017 which was the most impactful book they have read. I would also like your input. What do you suggest that we read next? Previous Installments Week 13: Interpreting Cycle Time Scatterplots Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Upcoming Webinars Using Size to Drive Testing in Agile Tom Cagley & Associates and Sealights Webinar Tue, Mar 13, 2018 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM EDT Link to register will come soon! I will also be at QAI Quest, ISMA 15 and Agile West. More information next week! Next SPaMCAST In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 482 we will feature our interview with Natalie Warnet. We talked about the diversity of voice, thoughts and ideas and Women in Agile.

SPaMCAST 480 features our interview with Paul Gibbons. Paul and I had a wide-ranging discussion that began with his wonderful book ( and then enjoy the ), and led us to the broader conversation: that change is hard but it is even harder if we fall prey to magical thinking. Pau’s bio: Paul Gibbons is an author, speaker, and consultant. His “beat” is helping business leaders use science and philosophy to make better strategic decisions, implement change, innovate, change culture, and create workplaces where talent flourishes. His most recent book, The Science of Organizational Change has been hailed as “the most important book on change in fifteen years.” Between writing projects, he consults, coaches, and speaks with businesses such as Microsoft, Google, HSBC, KPMG, and Comcast. Paul’s Website: Email: Paul@paulgibbons.net Facebook – Twitter - YouTube – Philosophyfirst LinkedIn – Paul G Gibbons Paul is a podcaster! His podcast, Think Bigger, Think Better asks the question How can contemporary philosophy and science help us make better choices, lead better lives, and create a sustainable, prosperous world? Check out Think Bigger, Think Better on or where ever you get your podcasts! Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackled Chapter 13 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 13 is titled Pull Policies. Pull policies define how work is accepted by a team and gets worked on. Pull policies are important because they affect cycle time and predictability. Remember to b, and we will be back next week! Previous Installments Week 13: Interpreting Cycle Time Scatterplots Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Upcoming Webinars February 6, 2018 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST AGILE best practices for STARTUPS If you are in the San Antonio area, please RSVP guys and this will help the organizers plan. I will have opening remarks on business agility and then will focus on the questions and comments from the assembly! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 481 will feature our essay on the Life Cycle of A User Story. We will focus on the implied hierarchy of user stories. We will also have columns from Kim Pries and Jeremy Berriault.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 479 has three columns. The first column features a recent essay on the difference between a coach and a mentor in the form of a simple checklist. Which do you need? Check out the other three entries in this theme on the . Our second column features Steve Tendon who brings his Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban to the cast (). Chapter 20 and 21 are extremely important to understanding and applying the TameFlow approach, therefore, we are spending time with the author to get to the heart of the concepts. Anchoring the cast is Jon M Quigley returning with his column, Alpha and Omega of Product Development. Jon and I discussed why employee engagement is more than an academic topic. Advertisement Thanks for all of your best wishes on the launch of Tom Cagley & Associates. Our goal is to work with organizations and teams to unlock their inherent greatness. As experienced thought leaders, we have studied a wide range of organizations to uncover what makes them the best at what they do. By delivering training, guidance, and coaching we can help make the transformation of your organization and team a success - and prove it. Lets talk! Email: Phone: 01 (440) 668-5717 Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackled Chapter 12 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 12 is titled Service Level Agreements. Service Level Agreements (SLA) are an agreement to perform within certain limits based on past performance. SLAs can be derived based on data visualization. Remember to b, and we will be back next week! Previous Installments Week 13: Interpreting Cycle Time Scatterplots Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Upcoming Webinars February 2nd, 2018 - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (CST) The International Institute for Software Testing Organizational change will be difficult at best without proper leadership. There are four leadership concepts that can double the chances that your agile transformation will be effective and stay that way! February 6, 2018 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST AGILE best practices for STARTUPS If you are in the San Antonio area, please RSVP guys and this will help the organizers plan. I will have opening remarks on business agility and then will focus on the questions and comments from the assembly! Next SPaMCASTSPaMCAST 480 will feature our interview with Paul Gibbons. Paul and I had a wide-ranging discussion that began with his wonderful book The Science of Successful Organization Change, and led us to the broader conversation: that change is hard but it is even harder if we fall prey to magical thinking.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 478 features our interview with Evan Leybourn. Evan is back to discuss his new venture, The Business Agility Institute. Agile is not just for software anymore! Bio Evan is the Founder and CEO of the Business Agility Institute; an international membership body to both champions and supports the next generation of organizations. Companies that are agile, innovative and dynamic - perfectly designed to thrive in today’s unpredictable markets. We connect leaders across industries and regions to share their experiences and insights with each other. Our flagship event, the Business Agility Conference will run in New York from March 14th. Evan is also the author of Directing the Agile Organisation and will soon be publishing his next book on #noprojects. Business Agility Institute: Business Agility Conference: Directing the Agile Organisation: Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackled Chapter 11 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 11 is titled Interpreting Cycle Time Scatterplots. Visualization and patterns are a powerful way of visualizing data. Remember to b, and we will be back next week! Previous Installments Week 13: Interpreting Cycle Time Scatterplots Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Advertisement The SPaMCAST 478 is sponsored by Tom Cagley & Associates. I have some very exciting news. As you know, I have spent the last ten years as part of Premios (formerly known as David Consulting Group and DCG Software Value). It is time for a change. As of January 16th, Tom Cagley & Associates begins business. Our goal is to work with organizations and teams to unlock their inherent greatness. As experienced thought leaders, we have studied a wide range of organizations to uncover what makes them the best at what they do. By delivering training, guidance, and coaching we can help make the transformation of your organization and team a success - and prove it. Lets talk! Email: Phone: 01 (440) 668-5717 Upcoming Webinars January 25, 2018 11 AM EST - 12:30 EST ITMPI In this webinar, you will learn about the four leadership concepts that can double the chances that your agile transformation will be effective. February 2nd, 2018 - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (CST) The International Institute for Software Testing Organizational change will be difficult at best without proper leadership. There are four leadership concepts that can double the chances that your agile transformation will be effective and stay that way! February 6, 2018 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST AGILE best practices for STARTUPS If you are in the San Antonio area, please RSVP guys and this will help the organizers plan. I will have opening remarks on business agility and then will focus on the questions and comments from the assembly! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 478 will feature our essay, “You Know it is Virtual Agile When …” Just because someone says they are agile or are doing stand-ups doesn’t mean they really have embraced agile. We will also have columns from Steve Tendon who brings his Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban () to the cast. Also, Jon M Quigley will return with his column, Alpha and Omega of Product Development.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 477 features our essay on silence. Silence is a powerful tool to guide conversations and mine information from the stream of consciousness that flows around us. If silence was just a tool to improve our connections with people and to improve listening, it would be worth practicing. But, silence is also a tool to peer deeper into our minds. Silence improves relaxation and helps individuals to focus. Trust me the podcast is not 30 minutes of silence! We will also have a column from Kim Pries, the Software Sensi. Kim brings us part one of his essay, Muddling Through. The essay is based on the article, “" by Charles E. Lindblom. The article was originally published in 1959 but has an important message that resonates now. Gene Hughson of Form Follows Function anchors the cast. He discusses his great article, “” Gene suggests that the problem with the term “monolith” is that, while it’s a powerfully evocative term, it isn’t a simple one to define. Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackled Chapter 10a of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Histograms are another powerful way of visualizing data Remember to b, and we will be back next week! The link: Previous Installments Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Upcoming Webinars January 25, 2018 11 AM EST - 12:30 EST ITMPI In this webinar, you will learn about the four leadership concepts that can double the chances that your agile transformation will be effective. February 2nd, 2018 - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (CST) The International Institute for Software Testing Organizational change will be difficult at best without proper leadership. There are four leadership concepts that can double the chances that your agile transformation will be effective and stay that way! February 6, 2018 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM CST AGILE best practices for STARTUPS If you are in the San Antonio area, please RSVP guys and this will help the organizers plan. I will have opening remarks on business agility and then will focus on the questions and comments from the assembly! More next week! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 478 will feature our interview with Evan Leybourn. Evan is back to discuss his new venture, The Business Agility Institute. Agile is not just for software anymore!

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 476 features our interview with Kyle Siemens. Kyle is CEO at Brightest. We discussed the case for certifications. The whole concept of certifications is a lightning rod for the excesses of agile and the Agile (big A) industry. Mr. Siemens makes a strong argument for certification when done properly. Kyle’s Bio Kyle Siemens is an energetic, loyal and hard-working Canadian from Winnipeg, Manitoba. After completing my Bachelor's degree at the University of Manitoba in German literature and mathematics, I moved to Berlin in 2006 with a DAAD scholarship and got my Masters in communication and languages. After working several years at various agencies (running campaigns for national and international brands), I stumbled upon an incredible path by chance, which led me to where I am today - Online Marketing Volunteer of the TMMi Foundation and CEO of a global ISTQB exam provider called Brightest: . Reach out to Kyle on Re-Read Saturday News This week we tackled Chapter 10 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Today we begin Part 3 with Chapter 10 which is titled, Introduction to Cycle Time Scatterplots. Scatterplots take us beyond the analysis of average cycle time (or even approximate average cycle time). Scatterplots provide a visual representation of the data so we can begin to use the data to predict the future. Remember to b, and we will be back next week! Previous Installments Support the author (and the blog), buy a copy of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Upcoming Webinars January 25, 2018 11 AM EST - 12:30 EST In this webinar, you will learn about the four leadership concepts that can double the chances that your agile transformation will be effective. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 477 features our essay on silence. Silence is a powerful tool to guide conversations and mine information from the stream of consciousness that flows around us. If silence was just a tool to improve our connections with people and to improve listening, it would be worth practicing. But, silence is also a tool to peer deeper into our minds. Silence improves relaxation and helps individuals to focus. We will also have columns from Kim Pries the Software Sensi and Gene Hughson of Form Follows Function.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 475 features the majority of the SPaMCAST Crew in a round-robin discussion. The recording session covered three topics; however, today we tackle the first topic: Whether agile can be used in other parts of the business. We will return to the next two topics in February! Six people with strong opinions. It is a pretty amazing discussion. Voices you often hear on the SPaMCAST include this cast of incredible minds: (Architecture) (Quality Assurance) (Software Development) (Lean and Kanban) (Product Development) - not on this week’s cast (Agile Practitioner) Re-Read Saturday News This week we take a break from our re-read of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Remember to b, and we will be back next week! Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! Upcoming Webinars January 25, 2018 11 AM EST - 12:30 EST In this webinar, you will learn about the four leadership concepts that can double the chances that your agile transformation will be effective. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 476 features our interview with Kyle Siemens. Kyle is CEO at Brightest. We discussed the case for certifications. The whole concept of certifications is a lightning rod for the excesses of agile and the Agile (big A) industry. Mr. Siemens makes a strong argument for certification when done properly.

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 474 features our interview with Tom Henricksen. Tom recently organized and executed the Agile Online Summit that I participated in. We get behind the scene story about how the Summit came together and how it enhanced the Agile community! Tom’s Bio Tom Henricksen is a speaker and career coach who leads others to turn their dreams into plans. Throughout Tom’s career, he has learned firsthand how hard it can be to find a good career match. As a result of his trials, he’s created a simple process designed to help find a career that inspires passion, encourages optimal performance, and results in profit. Website: Online Agile Summit: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: Re-Read Saturday News Chapter 9 of Daniel S. Vacanti’s Actionable is titled, “Flow Debt.” In this chapter, we use the approximate average cycle time to guide teams and other stakeholders to ask good questions so that the flow of value can be improved! ! Catch up on the all the installments of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action I still need a few more leaders of Agile PMOs for a special podcast and for background interviews. Please contact me to discuss the topic at if you are interested in telling me your story! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 475 features the majority of the SPaMCAST Crew in a round-robin discussion. Six people with strong opinions, three tough topics and lots of note-taking This is one of my favorite moments of the podcast year. Topics included the extensibility of Agile to other parts of the business, why do software development leaders spend so much time telling developers how to do their job and what is keeping us from consistently delivering quality. Pretty amazing!

SPaMCAST 473 features our essay on 6 Important Flow Metrics! Getting the most value out of a process is important to any leader. Balancing getting the most value with getting value sooner complicates the discussion. In some cases, getting some value sooner is worth more than the same value delivered later. Guiding the delivery of value is more complicated than a rank ordering a list of user stories and then magically hoping that everything will happen in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Measurement is an important tool to help teams and organizations ask the right questions. The 6 flow metrics provide process transparency into organizations that leverage continuous flow, scrumban, and/or Scrum as the basis for their Agile implementations. We will also complete our discussion of part 3 (3 of 3) of chapter 20 of Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban (). Re-Read Saturday News This week, we tackle Chapter 8 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 8 is titled, Conversion of Flow Part II. Remember that requirement in Little’s Law.that work that enters the process, completes and leaves. We do a deeper dive on why that is important. ! Catch up on the all the installments of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction Buy a Copy! Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action I still need a few more leaders of Agile PMOs for a special podcast and for background interviews. Please contact me to discuss the topic at if you are interested in telling me your story! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 474 features our interview with Tom Henricksen. Tom recently organized and executed the Agile Online Summit that I participated in. We get behind the scene story about how the Summit came together and how it enhanced the Agile community!

SPaMCAST 472 features our interview with Mike Harris. We discussed his new book, . We discussed the definition of value and why value matters! In reality, software development, enhancements, and maintenance that don’t deliver value are a waste. Therefore it behooves all of us to understand value, how to recognize it, and how to measure it! Mike’s Bio Michael Harris brings a wide range of perspectives on IT, specifically in the area of delivering business value, to this book. His international career has taken him from production management, through R&D, project management and academia to consulting before planting him firmly in charge of a large software engineering group for a public company. It has been over ten years since he decided that he liked one of his former vendors so much that he would buy the company; and last year, he decided it was time to change the name of the company to reflect his passion. In 2016, the David Consulting Group became DCG Software Value. Mike is a Chartered Engineer (CEng.) and Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET) in the United Kingdom and a Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (MIEE) in the United States of America. He is a SAFE Program Consultant and Certified Scrum Master. With their much-loved, high-achieving kids all grown up and pursuing their independent lives, Mike lives with his high school sweetheart, Jane, outside Philadelphia, in southern Colorado and on the coast of northern England as time, work and whim permit. Contact Information: Email: Web: Transparency Note: Michael Harris is the President and CEO of the Premios Group. I am part of the Premios Group. The focus of the interview was Mike’s new book and followed the pattern I have used for all authors appearing on the cast. Re-Read Saturday News This week, we tackle Chapter 7 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. The chapter is titled, Conservation of Flow Part I. The flow of work into and out of a process is incredibly important for establishing predictability. Chapter 7 explains the concept of conservation of flow mentioned (almost in passing in Chapter 6). ! Catch up on the all the installments of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action I still need a few more leaders of Agile PMOs for a special podcast and for background interviews. Please contact me to discuss the topic at if you are interested in telling me your story! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 472 will feature our essay on 6 Important Flow Metrics! Getting the most value out of a process is important to any leader. Balancing getting the most value with getting value sooner complicates the discussion. In some cases, getting some value sooner is worth more than the same value delivered later. Guiding the delivery of value is more complicated than a rank ordering a list of user stories and then magically hoping that everything will happen in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Measurement is an important tool to help the team and organizations ask the right questions. The 6 flow metrics provide process transparency into organizations that leverage continuous flow, scrumban, and/or Scrum as the basis for their Agile implementations. We will also complete our discussion of part 3 (3 of 3) of our discussion of chapter 20 of Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban (). We will also have a column from the Software Sensei, Kim Pries. Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 471 features our essay on the top 20 transformation killers. Each transformation killer is a big deal, but if you combine two or more you are in big trouble. That said, forewarned is forearmed . . .hopefully? In the second spot, this week is Jeremy Berriault and the ! Jeremy and I discussed involving testers in requirements. The ultimate in shifting “left.” In the third spot, Gene Hughson completes the cast by bringing a discussion of a recent missive, . Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock and more! Re-Read Saturday News This week, we tackle Chapter 6 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 6 is titled, Interpreting CFDs. Learning to read CFDs provides teams and individuals with a huge amount of information through data visualization. Chapter six continues to build on flow metrics, data visualization, and Little’s Law. ! Catch up on the all the installments of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction Dead Tree Book Kindle Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action I still need a few more leaders of Agile PMOs for a special podcast and for background interviews. Please contact me to discuss the topic at if you are interested in telling me your story! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 472 will feature my interview with Mike Harris. We discussed his new book, . We discussed the definition of value and why value matters! Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 470 features the return of Ben Linders. Ben and I discussed his new book, . Quality is something we all want and is required by our customers and clients BUT determining how we get quality is not easy! We explored the definition of quality, who owns quality and what teams can do to deliver quality. If you are into excellence in value delivery, this interview will inform and delight you. Ben’s Bio: Ben Linders is an Independent Consultant in Agile, Lean, Quality, and Continuous Improvement, based in The Netherlands. Author of , , and . Ben is the creator of the . As an adviser, coach, and trainer he helps organizations with . He focuses on continuous improvement, collaboration and communication, and professional development, to deliver business value to customers. Ben is an active member of networks on Agile, Lean, and Quality, and a well-known speaker and author. He shares his experiences in a , as an , and as an expert in communities like , , , and . Follow him on twitter: . My Upcoming Appearances Metricas 2017 I will be keynoting on Agile leadership and delivering one my favorite presentations, Function Points and Pokémon Go 29 November 2017 Sao Paulo, Brazil ⇒ Re-Read Saturday News This week we are talking a short break in our re-read of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. ! This week we have a book shopping list based on our most recent reviews and interviews. Check out the list and buy yourself, your team or a friend a copy of any of the great books on our list. Support the authors and support the podcast! After shopping catch up on the previous Installments of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction Dead Tree Book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098643633X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098643633X&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=3488b22252fbe0c99b33ea226f9dcdf5 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZQ5TUQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013ZQ5TUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=f5bdfb462b1cb570344bba7dff6e3c37 Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action I am looking for few more leaders of Agile PMOs for a special podcast and for background interviews. Please contact me to discuss the topic at if you are interested in telling me your story! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 471 will feature our essay on the 20 Top Transformation Killers! Changing an organization, a team or even yourself is hard and there are lots of pitfalls to avoid. Forewarned is forearmed! We will also have columns from Jeremy Berriault and Gene Hughson. Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 469 features our essay on consensus decision-making. Consensus decision-making is one of the most prevalent decision-making tools in organizations today. But, consensus decision-making has its plusses and minuses. We came to a consensus and decided to discuss the topic. Our second column this week is from Kim Pries (The Software Sensei). Kim revisits the topic of cognitive biases. Biases can blind us unless we are vigilant. Kim’s advice is to ask for data rather than just allowing our biases to decide for us. Our third column is via Steve Tendon, who will bring us part 2 (2 of 3) of our discussion of chapter 20 of Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban (). Upcoming Appearances Metricas 2017 I will be keynoting on Agile leadership and delivering one my favorite presentations, Function Points and Pokémon Go 29 November 2017 Sao Paulo, Brazil ⇒ e-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 5 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 5 is titled, Flow Metrics and CFDs. The chapter puts the ideas of flow metrics and the power of cumulative flow diagrams together to provide a boatload of information.. ! Previous Installments Dead Tree Book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098643633X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098643633X&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=3488b22252fbe0c99b33ea226f9dcdf5 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZQ5TUQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013ZQ5TUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=f5bdfb462b1cb570344bba7dff6e3c37 Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action I am looking for leaders of Agile PMOs for a special podcast and for background interviews. Please contact me to discuss the topic at or t.cagley@premiosgroup.com. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 470 features the return of Ben Linders. Ben and I discussed his new book, . We explored the definition of quality, who owns quality and what teams can do to deliver quality. If you are into excellence in value delivery, this interview will inform and delight you.. Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 468 features the return of Johanna Rothman. Johanna and I discussed her new book, . (Buy your copy today and support Johanna and the SPaMCAST). Johanna provides incredibly useful and pragmatic insights for delivering value to your customers and stakeholders! Johanna Rothman, known as the “Pragmatic Manager,” provides frank advice for your tough product development problems. Johanna is the author of more than ten books, including: Create Your Successful Agile Project: Collaborate, Measure, Estimate, Deliver Agile and Lean Program Management: Scaling Collaboration Across the Organization Manage Your Project Portfolio: Increase Your Capacity and Finish More Projects, 2nd ed Diving for Hidden Treasures: Finding the Value in Your Project Portfolio (with Jutta Eckstein) Predicting the Unpredictable: Pragmatic Approaches to Estimating Project Schedule or Cost See more of Johanna’s writing on http://www.jrothman.com, and http://www.createadaptablelife.com. Contact Johanna at: Email: jr@jrothman.com Web: www.jrothman.com Previous interview with Johanna Upcoming Appearances Metricas 2017 I will be keynoting on Agile leadership and delivering one my favorite presentations, Function Points and Pokémon Go 29 November 2017 Sao Paulo, Brazil ⇒ Re-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 4 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 4 is titled, An Introduction to CFDs. Cumulative Flow Diagrams deliver a huge amount of actionable information. This chapter lays down the basics needed to build a CFD. ! Previous Installments Dead Tree Book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098643633X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098643633X&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=3488b22252fbe0c99b33ea226f9dcdf5 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZQ5TUQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013ZQ5TUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=f5bdfb462b1cb570344bba7dff6e3c37 Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action Can you tell a friend about Software Process and Measurement Cast? I know you enjoy the podcast and if you are like your friends, so will they. Tell them about the cast and perhaps show them how to download the podcast. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 469 features our essay on consensus decision-making. Consensus decision-making is one of the most prevalent decision-making tools in organizations today. But, consensus decision-making has it plusses and minuses. We will decide to discuss this. We will also have columns from Kim Pries (The Software Sensei) and from Steve Tendon, who will bring us part 2 of chapter 20 of Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban (). Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 467 features our essay on value. Value is the most talked about and least understood concept in Agile. In terms of software development, enhancements, and maintenance, the value of a piece of work is the worth of the outcome that results from doing the work. In the second position is Jeremy Berriault and the QA Corner! Jeremy discusses testing in difficult situations. Are there differences? Jeremy has the answers! Gene Hughson completes the cast by bringing a discussion of a recent missive, . This entry at Form Follows Function even includes a reference to Snidely Whiplash! Upcoming Appearances Metricas 2017 I will be keynoting on Agile leadership and then delivering one my favorites, Function Points and Pokémon Go 29 November 2017 Sao Paulo, Brazil ⇒ Re-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 3 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 3 is titled An Introduction to Little’s Law. More than just queuing theory, Little’s law provides a way to use the flow metrics noted in Chapter 2 to forecast and estimate. ! Previous Installments Dead Tree Book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098643633X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098643633X&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=3488b22252fbe0c99b33ea226f9dcdf5 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZQ5TUQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013ZQ5TUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=f5bdfb462b1cb570344bba7dff6e3c37 Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action Can you tell a friend about Software Process and Measurement Cast? I know you enjoy the podcast and if you are like your friends, so will they. Tell them about the cast and perhaps show them how to download the podcast. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 468 features the return of Johanna Rothman. Johanna and I discussed her new book, . (Buy your copy today and support Johanna and the SPaMCAST). In our interview, Johanna provides incredibly useful and pragmatic insights for delivering value to your customers and stakeholders! Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 466 features our interview with Ross Smith. Ross and I discussed legacy application modernization. Legacy application modernization delivers quantitative and qualitative value to organizations. Modernization can breathe new life into old applications. We also discussed why organizations sometimes avoid biting the modernization bullet! Ross Smith is Chief Architect at PITSS America. He has been on the PITSS team for five years, a time during which the company transformed from an Oracle Forms upgrade vendor into a business process and application transformation provider. He recently spoke at Oracle Open World about the untapped potential of leaving vital legacy applications out of a digital transformation strategy, and the realities of integrating them into a modern enterprise environment. Email: Web: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-smith-5427497 I am participating in the Agile Online Summit At the summit, I talk about the power of storytelling with Tom Henricksen! ⇒ Metricas 2017 I will be keynoting on Agile leadership and delivering one my favorites, Function Points and Pokémon Go 29 November 2017 Sao Paulo, Brazil ⇒ Re-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Chapter 2 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 2 is titled The Basic Metrics of Flow. We go deep on WIP, Cycle Time and Throughput. Powerful metrics that every team needs to understand and leverage. ! Previous Installments Dead Tree Book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098643633X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098643633X&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=3488b22252fbe0c99b33ea226f9dcdf5 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZQ5TUQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013ZQ5TUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=f5bdfb462b1cb570344bba7dff6e3c37 Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action Can you tell a friend about Software Process and Measurement Cast? I know you enjoy the podcast and if you are like your friends, so will they. Tell them about the cast and perhaps show them how to download the podcast. Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 467 features out essay on value. Value is the most talked about and least understood concept in Agile. In terms of software development, enhancements, and maintenance the value of a piece of work is the worth of the outcome that results from doing the work. We will also have columns from Jeremy Berriault and Gene Hughson. Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 465 features our essay on re-booting teams. Not every team issue can be solved with a standard pallet of techniques. However, nearly every consultant (internal or external) will have set of tools that they have ready just in case. We discuss techniques and impacts! We will also have a column from Kim Pries (The Software Sensei). Kim discusses why software structure can be a blessing and a curse. While Kim tends to favor structure there are times when it does not deliver the benefits promised. Steve Tendon brings Chapter 20 of Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban (). Our discussion of Chapter 20 was passionate and in-depth. It will be released in two or 3 parts. A promo! I am participating in the Agile Online Summit At the summit, I talk about the power of storytelling with Tom Henricksen! ⇒ For other events SPaMCAST team members will be attending check the recent blog entry titled Re-Read Saturday News This week we re-read Action Metrics for Predictability Chapter 1 of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Chapter 1 of Daniel S. Vacanti’s Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability. Chapter 1 is titled Flow, Flow Metrics, and Predictability. Vacanti jumps directly into the deep end by suggesting a way to answer the age-old question, ”when are you going to deliver?” ! Previous Installments Dead Tree Book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098643633X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098643633X&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=3488b22252fbe0c99b33ea226f9dcdf5 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZQ5TUQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013ZQ5TUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=f5bdfb462b1cb570344bba7dff6e3c37 Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action Can you tell a friend about Software Process and Measurement Cast? I know you enjoy the podcast and if you are like your friends, so will they. Tell them about the cast and perhaps show them how to download the podcast If you interested in promoting your conference or event on the Software Process and Measurement Cast please reach out to us at to discuss how that can happen! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 466 features our interview with Ross Smith. Ross and I discussed legacy application modernization. Legacy application modernization delivers quantitative and qualitative value to organizations. We also discussed why organizations sometimes avoid biting the modernization bullet! Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

Agile Online Summit 30 Oct – 3 Nov 2017 The Agile Online Summit gives you a chance to see great agile speakers from your device. At the summit, I talk about the power of storytelling with Tom Henricksen! General Admission You will get access to all the content for the week of the conference. FREE VIP This ticket will give you access to the content after the conference concludes. You will also get access to some bonus materials provided by many of the speakers. 25.00 USD VIP + Group Training This ticket will give you access to the content after the conference concludes plus you will be enrolled in the agile group training. We will dive deeper into all of the topics covered over a ten-week 95.00 USD ⇒ Register at https://www.agileonlinesummit.com/

SPaMCAST 464 features our interview with Beth Leonard. Beth and I talked about innovative thinking, risk-based reviews, the CMMI and making the software development process more effective and efficient. Beth is an incredible person for her innovative thinking in the software development world...and more! Ms. Beth Leonard is an executive with over 20 years of IT/IS management, quality assurance, and process improvement experience across the government contracting industry. She is an ITIL Expert, ISO Internal and External Auditor (ISO standards: 9001, 19011, 20000, 27001), A2LA accredited ISO/IEC 17020:2012 assessor, Black Belt Six Sigma, and PMP, and is an expert in CMMI-DEV, CMMI-SVC, and NIST 800.53 security controls. She has previously held positions in multiple areas of program/project, security, service management (e.g., ITIL), and is passionate about increasing customer satisfaction, implementing realistic best practices across organizations, and mentorship. Beth is an award-winning speaker in her field; frequently invited to both local and international-level industry events to speak about such topics as customer satisfaction, organizational metrics development, CMMI, ISO, management reviews and techniques, as well as quality assurance. On a personal level, she is the mom of two boys, loves paddle boarding and aerial yoga, and has a blog about . Website: Twitter: @guruofprocess Linkedin; A couple of promos! First is a promo for my upcoming ITMPI Webinar! Wed, Oct 18, 2017 11:00 AM (EST) Product Owners In Agile – The Really Hard Role In this webinar, you will learn why an Agile team’s product owner has a special obligation for leadership and value delivery. It's a hard role but we will discuss making it work! ⇒ Second, I am participating in the Agile Online Summit At the summit, I talk about the power of storytelling with Tom Henricksen! ⇒ For other events, SPaMCAST team members will be attending check the recent blog entry titled Re-Read Saturday News This week we begin the re-read of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti. Actionable Agile Metrics is published by Leanpub, 2015 and has 17 chapters with a preface and bibliography across 307 pages. ! Re-read Game Plan: Vacanti indicates that he wrote the book to be read in a serial fashion, chapter by chapter, even though each chapter can be read and used alone. My re-read plan is to read and review the material a chapter a week. If the pacing is too slow I will combine chapters. This has been the standard re-read approach. A new twist that we will add to this re-read is that after every three chapters I will host a group discussion that will be posted on the feed. Our current plan is to complete the re-read in 19 weeks (tentatively completed on February 17th). Dead Tree Book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098643633X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098643633X&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=3488b22252fbe0c99b33ea226f9dcdf5 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZQ5TUQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013ZQ5TUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=f5bdfb462b1cb570344bba7dff6e3c37 Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action Can you tell a friend about Software Process and Measurement Cast? I know you enjoy the podcast and if you are like your friends, so will they. Tell them about the cast and perhaps show them how to download the podcast If you interested in promoting your conference or event on the Software Process and Measurement Cast please reach out to us at to discuss how that can happen! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 465 will feature our essay on re-booting teams. Not every team issue can be solved with a standard pallet of techniques. However, nearly every consultant (internal or external) will have a set of tools that they have ready just in case. We discuss techniques and impacts! We will also have columns from Kim Pries (The Software Sensei) and from Steve Tendon, who will bring chapter 20 of Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban (). Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 463 features our essay on using big picture stories to generate resonance. Early in the history of Agile, most descriptions of Agile included the need to define a central metaphor to help guide the work. Somewhere over time, the idea of a central metaphor has disappeared as Agile thought leaders have focused on more tactical facets of Agile methods and frameworks. It’s time to reconsider the big picture story! We will also have columns from Gene Hughson of Form Follows Function fame. Gene and I discuss his recent essay, . This essay is about the meaning and includes an appearance from . Anchoring the cast, Jeremy Berriault brings the QA Corner to the podcast. Jeremy and I discussed motivating testers. Testers like any other discipline require the correct care and feeding to effectively deliver value. Here is a promo for my upcoming ITMPI Webinar! Wed, Oct 18, 2017, 11:00 AM (EST) Product Owners In Agile – The Really Hard Role In this webinar, you will learn why an Agile team’s product owner has a special obligation for leadership and value delivery. It's a hard role but we will discuss making it work! ⇒ For other events, SPaMCAST team members will be attending check the recent blog entry titled Re-Read Saturday News This week we take a quick break to deliver a review of The Goal: A Business Graphic Novel. In the review I sought to answer three questions: Is the material true to the original author's ideas? Are critical concepts easier to consume? Do the characters translate from text to pictures well? Next in the Re-read Series is . . . . Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti (Author) Dead Tree Book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098643633X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098643633X&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=3488b22252fbe0c99b33ea226f9dcdf5 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZQ5TUQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013ZQ5TUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=f5bdfb462b1cb570344bba7dff6e3c37 Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action The Software Process and Measurement Cast needs your help! Please give the SPaMCAST a short, honest review in iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you are listening. If you leave a review somewhere, please send a copy to we will call you out on the show! Reviews help guide people to the cast and blog! If you interested in promoting your conference or event on the Software Process and Measurement Cast please reach out to us at to discuss how that can happen! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 464 will feature our interview with Beth Leonard. Beth and I talked about innovative thinking, risk-based reviews and making the software development process more effective and efficient. Beth is one of the most innovative and forward thinkers we have talked with on the podcast. Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 462 features our interview with Jon M Quigley We discussed his new book . Jon co-authored the book with Roopa Shenoy. The book and the ideas in the book are relevant to all types of projects whether they use Agile or not! A fun and informative conversation! Jon’s Bio: Jon M. Quigley PMP CTFL is a principal and founding member of Value Transformation, a product development training and cost improvement organization established in 2009, as well as being an Electrical / Electronic Process Manager at Volvo Trucks North America. Jon has an Engineering Degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and two Master Degrees from the City University of Seattle. Jon has nearly twenty-five years of product development experience, ranging from embedded hardware and software through verification and project management. Jon has written or contributed to a huge number of books, presentations, and articles including: ISBN 978-0768080773 ISBN 978-148222935 Contact Jon at: jon.quigley@valuetransform.com Here is a promo for my upcoming ITMPI Webinar! Wed, Oct 18, 2017, 11:00 AM (EST) Product Owners In Agile – The Really Hard Role In this webinar, you will learn why an Agile team’s product owner has a special obligation for leadership and value delivery. It's a hard role but we will discuss making it work! ⇒ For other events, SPaMCAST team members will be attending check the recent blog entry titled Re-Read Saturday News This week Steven completes Paul Gibbons’ book . Steven delivers final thoughts. Special thanks to Steven for tackling the re-read duties for the past thirteen weeks. Next in the Re-read Series is . . . . Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction by Daniel S. Vacanti (Author) Dead Tree Book https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098643633X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=098643633X&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=3488b22252fbe0c99b33ea226f9dcdf5 Kindle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZQ5TUQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B013ZQ5TUQ&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=f5bdfb462b1cb570344bba7dff6e3c37 Get your copy and begin reading (or re-reading)! A Call To Action The Software Process and Measurement Cast needs your help! Please give the SPaMCAST a short, honest review in iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you are listening. If you leave a review somewhere, please send a copy to we will call you out on the show! Reviews help guide people to the cast and blog! If you interested in promoting your conference or event on the Software Process and Measurement Cast please reach out to us at to discuss how that can happen! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 463 will feature our essay on using big picture stories to generate resonance. Early in the history of Agile, most descriptions of Agile included the need to define a central metaphor to help guide the work. Somewhere over time, the idea of a central metaphor has disappeared as Agile thought leaders have focused on more tactical facets of Agile methods and frameworks. It’s time to reconsider the big picture story! We will also have columns from Gene Hughson (Form Follows Function) and Jeremy Berriault (QA Corner). Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 461 features our essay - Agile -- Leadership Required. For an Agile transformation to be effective and then stay effective there are four cornerstones of Agile leadership constancy that must be addressed with passion and constancy of purpose. Our second column this week is from Kim Pries (The Software Sensei). Kim fills in the middle of the cast with a discussion of the conceptual skills a software developer should have. To be good in this industry you need to be more than a set of coding languages or testing techniques. Steve Tendon, brings chapter 19 of Tame The Flow: Hyper-Productive Knowledge-Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach and Its Application to Scrum and Kanban published J Ross (). We tackle Chapter 19, which is titled Understanding Common Cause Variation. Steve share insights that caused me to rethink the whole idea of common cause variation. Here is a promo for my appearance during the Denver Startup Week. On Thursday, September 28th at 8 AM I will be sharing Storytelling: Developing the Big Picture for Agile Efforts. The presentation, in Denver, Colorado, will be at held at Industry. !!!! A well-done Agile project reminds us that the focus of any set of requirements needs to be on an outcome rather than a collection of “whats” and “whos”. Storytelling is a powerful tool to elevate even the most diehard requirements analyst from a discussion of individual requirements to a discussion of outcomes. Attend this session and learn how to peel away the proverbial layers of the backlog evolution “onion” by using storytelling techniques to understand the big picture. Perfect for PMs and leaders of any agile driven project. For other events, SPaMCAST team members will be attending check the recent blog entry titled Re-Read Saturday News This week Steven completes Chapter 9 of Paul Gibbons’ book . Chapter 9 is the capstone of the book, putting all of the pieces-parts together. Steve sums the chapter up and ties a bow on it! We will have a final wrap up next week then . . . I will hold the poll open for a few more days. Currently, we seem to be experiencing a slugfest between Vacanti and Senge; however, I am starting to see rally flags for Kevin Kruse’s book! This week and previous installments: A Call To Action The Software Process and Measurement Cast needs your help! Please give the SPaMCAST a short, honest review in iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you are listening. If you leave a review somewhere, please send a copy to we will call you out on the show! Reviews help guide people to the cast and blog! If you interested in promoting your conference or event on the Software Process and Measurement Cast please reach out to us at to discuss how that can happen! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 462 will feature our interview with Jon M Quigley (remember him?) We discussed his new book Project Management for Automotive Engineers. Jon co-authored the book with Roopa Shenoy. The book and the ideas in the book are relevant to all types of projects whether they use Agile or not! A fun and informative conversation! Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 460 features our interview with Peter Varhol. Peter and I discussed machine learning and AI, and how it will impact software development and testing. We also discussed how anyone can stay current and enhance their careers. Peter’s Bio Peter Varhol is a well-known writer and speaker on software and technology topics, having authored dozens of articles and spoken at a number of industry conferences and webcasts. He has advanced degrees in computer science, applied mathematics, and psychology, and is Principal at his company, Technology Strategy Research, LLC. His past roles include technology journalist, software product manager, software developer, and university professor. Twitter: Blog: Email: A promo for 2017 Agile Leadership Summit: Mark your calendar for an entirely new class of business conference. More "business theater" than a conference, the 2017 Agile Leadership Summit (September 22nd in Washington, DC) is sponsored by AgileCxO (). It features an integrated mix of six vignettes on Agile leadership, two fantastic industry keynotes, and onstage jazz musicians who are demonstrating agility, iteration, and excellence throughout. Learn more at . For other events, SPaMCAST team members will be attending check the recent blog entry titled Re-Read Saturday News This week Steven dives into Chapter 9 of Paul Gibbons’ book . Chapter 9 is the capstone of the book, putting all of the pieces-parts together. Steve is tackling Chapter 9 in two parts. Two more weeks are left in this re-read. This week and previous installments: A Call To Action The Software Process and Measurement Cast needs your help! Please give the SPaMCAST a short, honest review in iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you are listening. If you leave a review somewhere, please send a copy to we will call you out on the show! Reviews help guide people to the cast and blog! If you interested in promoting your conference or event on the Software Process and Measurement Cast please reach out to us at to discuss how that can happen! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 461 will feature our essay on the four leadership concepts that can double the chances that your agile transformation will be effective. We will also have columns from Kim Pries and Jon M Quigley! Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 459 features our essay on resistance. Organizational change is a common, almost ubiquitous, feature in today’s business world. Change is known under many monikers ranging from transformation to creative destruction. The variety of names is a portent to the one constant in any organizational change: resistance. Some resistance is inevitable, even if everyone is involved in the plan.Organizational change will always foment some degree of resistance that unless recognized can fester and lead to failure. This essay will help you find and mitigate the risk of resistance! The second column this week is from Gene Hughson and his Form Follows Function column. Gene discusses his essay titled . One of the gems Gene delivers in our discussion is that effectiveness requires reasoned, intentional action. While we might all agree, why is it so hard to remember that when push comes to shove in a project? Jeremy Berriault brings his r to the cast in order to discuss testing packages. Jeremy weighs in on whether testing a package is any different than testing any other piece of code. A promo for 2017 Agile Leadership Summit: Mark your calendar for an entirely new class of business conference. More "business theater" than conference, the 2017 Agile Leadership Summit (September 22nd in Washington, DC) is sponsored by AgileCxO (). It features an integrated mix of six vignettes on Agile leadership, two fantastic industry keynotes, and onstage jazz musicians who are demonstrating agility, iteration, and excellence throughout. Learn more at . For other events, SPaMCAST team members will be attending check the recent blog entry titled Re-Read Saturday News This week Steven dives into Chapter 8 of Paul Gibbons’ book . Change is a central activity of every organization. Three more weeks are left Steven intends to spend two weeks on Chapter 9 and then we will have a grand finale. Remember to use the link in the essay to buy a copy of the book to support the author, the podcast, and the blog! Special note – I will publish a poll for the next book early next week soon. Are there other suggestions? The current list of suggestions are: Peter Senge – The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization Daniel S. Vacanti – Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability (An Introduction) Kahneman – Thinking fast and slow Burrows – Kanban from the inside Kruse – 15 secrets successful people know about time management This week and previous installments: A Call To Action You can help bring more listeners to the Software Process and Measurement Cast! If you even got a single new idea this week while listening to the podcast, please give the SPaMCAST a short, honest review in iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you are listening. If you leave a review somewhere, please send a copy to we will call you out on the show! Reviews help guide people to the cast and blog! If you interested in promoting your conference or event on the Software Process and Measurement Cast please reach out to us at to discuss how that can happen! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 460 features our interview with Peter Varhol. Peter and I discussed machine learning and how it will impact software development and testing. Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 458 features our interview with Billie Schuttpelz. We discussed why many organizations need help learning to use agile and lean. We delved into the role of the coach and facilitator in helping an organization change and shape the message of change. If you are involved in organizational transformations this is a must-listen interview. Billie’s short bio: Billie is a ‘force of nature’ breaking up the boulders blocking transformation; building bridges between technical people and business partners. She applies the perspective gained in a 20 year career including engagements in 5 countries to provide dynamic creativity and positive energy to everything she does. Billie’s ability to make the impossible seem possible is what powers agile transformations. We also have a promo for 2017 Agile Leadership Summit: Mark your calendar for an entirely new class of business conference. More "business theater" than conference, the 2017 Agile Leadership Summit (September 22nd in Washington, DC) is sponsored by AgileCxO (). It features an integrated mix of six vignettes on Agile leadership, two fantastic industry keynotes, and onstage jazz musicians who are demonstrating agility, iteration, and excellence throughout. Learn more at . For other events, SPaMCAST team members will be attending check the recent blog entry titled Re-Read Saturday News This week Steven dives into Chapter 7 of Paul Gibbons’ book T. Change is a central activity of every organization. How changes happen is not as straightforward as commanding that change happens. No one likes to be changed or manipulated. Self-organization maximizes the impact of change but alas no change is like waving a magic wand. Remember to use the link in the essay to buy a copy of the book to support the author, the podcast, and the blog! This week and previous installments: A Call To Action You can help bring more listeners to the Software Process and Measurement Cast! If you even got a single new idea this week while listening to the podcast, please give the SPaMCAST a short, honest review in iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you are listening. If you leave a review somewhere, please send a copy to we will call you out on the show! Reviews help guide people to the cast and blog! If you interested in promoting your conference or event on the Software Process and Measurement Cast please reach out to us at to discuss how that can happen! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 459 will feature our essay on resistance. Organizational change is a common, almost ubiquitous, feature in today’s business world. Change is known under many monikers ranging from transformation to creative destruction. The variety of names is a portent to the one constant in any organizational change, that of resistance. Some resistance is inevitable even if everyone is involved in the plan. We will also have columns from Gene Hughson (Form Follows Function) and Jeremy Berriault (QA Corner). Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.

SPaMCAST 457 features our essay on cognitive biases and their impact on decision making. If you doubt the impact of biases on decision making, read chapter five of T (current Re-read Saturday Book) and listen to this week's podcast! Our second column this week is from Jon M Quigley (The Alpha and Omega of Product Development), Jon continues his theme of learning organizations with penetrating insight on how a learning organization evolves. Kim Pries (The Software Sensei) anchors the cast this week with a strong argument that if you want to improve the software you are delivering begin by hiring the right people! We also have a promo for 2017 Agile Leadership Summit: Mark your calendar for an entirely new class of business conference. More "business theater" than a conference, the 2017 Agile Leadership Summit (September 22nd in Washington, DC) is sponsored by AgileCxO (). It features an integrated mix of six vignettes on Agile leadership, two fantastic industry keynotes, and onstage jazz musicians who are demonstrating agility, iteration, and excellence throughout. Learn more at . Re-Read Saturday News This week Steven dives into Chapter 6 of Paul Gibbons’ book T. There are a lot of techniques that I see used on a daily basis that are based on pop psychology. Confronting the true believers is often a lot like jousting at windmills. Remember to use the link in the essay to buy a copy of the book to support the author, the podcast, and the blog! This week and previous installments: A Call To Action You can help bring more listeners to the Software Process and Measurement Cast! If you even got a single new idea this week while listening to the podcast, please give the SPaMCAST a short, honest review in iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you are listening. If you leave a review somewhere, please send a copy to we will call you out on the show! Reviews help guide people to the cast and blog! If you interested in promoting your conference or event on the Software Process and Measurement Cast please reach out to us at to discuss how that can happen! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 458 will feature our interview with Billie Schuttpelz. We discussed why many organizations need help learning to use agile and lean. We delved into the role of the facilitator helping an organization change and shaping the message. If you are involved in organizational transformations this is a must-listen interview. Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: “This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book nglish and Chinese.