Software Process and Measurement Cast

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.