SPaMCAST 38 - Yourdon, Collaborate or Die, Number

Show 37 is my interview with Ed Yourdon.  We discussed Web 2.0 and it’s impact on the software development worlds. I  have titled the interview, “Collaborate or Die!”  A bit over the top you say, well Denis Waitley once said, “on line or in the bread line."  The people I was with thought that was a bit over the top.  He was right and I would suggest the use of Web 2.0 tools is another watershed. Ed is a one of those rare polymaths in the IT world. His bio from Wikipedia begins Edward Nash Yourdon (born 1944) is a computer consultant, an author and lecturer, and a recognized pioneer in the software engineering methodology of structured programming world. He is a graduate of MIT, earning a BS in Mathematics in 1965. The December 1999 issue of Crosstalk: The Journal of Defense Software Engineering named Yourdon one of the ten most influential people in the software field. In June 1997, he was inducted into the Computer Hall of Fame Yourdon is widely known as the lead developer of the Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method (SSADM), as well as co-developer of the Yourdon/Whitehead method of object-oriented analysis/design and the popular Coad/Yourdon OO methodology of the late 1980s and 1990s. He has authored over 550 technical articles and authored or coauthored 26 computer books since . He founded and published American Programmer magazine (now titled Cutter IT Journal). He is the author of the best-selling Decline and Fall of the American Programmer. Mr. Yourdon currently serves as an internationally-recognized expert witness and computer consultant who specializes in project management, software engineering methodologies, and Web 2.0 development. I asked Ed how people could contact him and the part of the response that struck me was, “I am online”.    Blog: Website:  Email:    You can also find Ed on Twitter (Yourdon), Plaxo and other Web 2.0 social networks. The essay for this cast is titled “Just How Badly Do You Want A Number?”  The essay challenges managers and project managers to think about that initial estimate and the impact it might actually have. The text of the essay can be found at .  Comments and suggestions are welcome. Check out the SPaMCAST Facebook page.  I wil be posting information on which shows relates to which theme.  For example Kenji’s recent interview, Scott Amblers and Kent Becks all have an agile flavor.  This will be a quick way to hit all of the shows in a general thematic area. There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . Email SPaMCAST at  Voice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111 Twitter – BLOG – !!!! Software Process and Measurement Future Events and the next . . . Conference season is beginning! I will be speaking at IFPUG’s 3rd Annual ISMA Conference and Fall Workshops Sunday, September 14 – Friday, September 19, 2008 at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel information at .  The presentation is call “Counting Facebook” and will be on Friday September 19, 2008 at 10:25 AM - 11:25 AM, I am speaking at Quest Toronto 2008 Conference, September 22- 26, 2008, at the Hilton Hotel in Toronto, Canada.  I will be presenting “Good Numbers Go Bad” on Wed Sept 24th from 1:30 - 2:30 pm and also joining in as a subject matter expert in the end of day solutions workshop.  Information can be found at http://www.qaiquest.org/toronto/ Finally I will be speaking at the Northeast Quality Council 57th Conference.  The conference is scheduled for October 14 – 15 , 2008 in Marlborough, Massachusetts at Best Western Royal Plaza.   The presentation is titled “One Size Fits . . .Someone Other Than Me”.  Information can be found at . Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: On the next SPaMCAST we will feature an interview with Roo Reynolds of IBM.  Roo is one of the leading forces in using metaverses such as Second Life to rewrite how software development and collaboration happen.  In SPaMCAST 39 you are going to see the future so do not miss it!