Software Process and Measurement Cast

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.