Software Process and Measurement Cast

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.    .