Software Process and Measurement Cast

Welecome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 234 Over the past seven years at the end of every interview I have asked "what two issues would you fix and why" or some close variant of that question.  In that question each of my interviewees has left thier own mark on how I think about software process and measurement.  This week I am continuing with a walk down memory lane with three of the most popular segments from 2011 I have also included an entry from the Daily Process Thoughts titled "Perception."   A few months ago I arrived at a conference in Chicago a few hours early and spent the afternoon wandering around the downtown area.  I love Chicago!  There are always new things to see and do.  Regardless of my mission, I always try to make time to see the Cloud Gate (the metal bean); rain or shine, hot or cold).  Why?  Cloud Gate reminds me that regardless of how I try to see things from different angles there are always different ways to see and experience the world around me. Seth Godin, the marketing guru, counsels us to have a bias toward action; to  have the guts deliver our products, ideas and processes to market. The advice is sound because without delivering there is no possibility of feedback. Incorporating techniques such as diverse, cross functional teams, short development cycles, incremental deliveries and constant feedback loops into how you deliver process improvements will let you deliver and then gather feedback. In other words use techniques from agile and lean development to change how you improve your processes. Deliver and then stand under your own Cloud Gate and watch, listen and gather feedback from all of the possible perspectives then deliver again. The Daily Process Thoughts is my project designed to deliver a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent. Each day you will get piece of thought provoking text and a picture or hand drawn chart to illustrate the idea being presented. The goal is to deliver every day; rain or shine, in sickness or in health or for better or worse! Check it out at .  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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes!  It helps people find the cast.  Next:In the next SPaMCAST I will continue with the vacation format with excerpts from 2010.

Welecome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 233 Over the past seven years at the end of every interview I have asked "what two issues would you fix and why" or some close variant of that question.  In that question each of my interviewees has left thier own mark on how I think about software process and measurment.  Over the next three weeks I am going to share three of the most popular responses from each of the last three years.   Today we begin with three segments from 2012 I have also included an entry from the Daily Process Thoughts titled "Transatlantic Crossing."  Daily Process Thoughts: , January 30, 2013 Last year my wife took a transatlantic cruise on the Queen Mary II (Southampton to New York City) with her cousin. The crossing was made on the 100th anniversary of the the sinking of the Titanic and followed the same basic path. While the trip on Barb’s part was last second to fill in for another traveler,  the planning required  by the Cunard Line to make the crossing and meet the needs of a demanding contingent of guests is awe inspiring. By the way it is hard to conceive of what 14 tons of meat would look like piled up on the dock waiting for the ship to be loaded. Any significant mistake in planning could not only jeopardize the revenues of the Cunard Line but also potentially safety of the crew and guests.  Just think of the riot that might happen if there was no milk for people’s coffee! Planning any project requires balancing flexibility so that change can be accommodated and looking forward in an attempt to avoid risk. Barb had to rearrange a number of projects to take advantage of the opportunity. Barb’s planning techniques had to be extremely flexible. Cunard’s planning techniques did not have to be as flexible to deal with the one passenger being switched for another but it did have to show some flexibility. Agile uses techniques that include backlogs, short iterations, feedback loops and re-planning to address in a focus on flexibility and risk avoidance. Other techniques can be leveraged based on your organizations culture however regardless of how you “do it” planning is needed to increase the chances of making the crossing safely. Organizational process improvement programs might not require a plan that calls for 2.5 tons of rice but like a transatlantic crossing you will need to know where you are headed, have a good compass and know when to change direction. The Daily Process Thoughts is my project designed to deliver a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent. Each day you will get piece of thought provoking text and a picture or hand drawn chart to illustrate the idea being presented. The goal is to deliver every day; rain or shine, in sickness or in health or for better or worse! Check it out at .  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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes!  It helps people find the cast.  Next: In the next SPaMCAST I will continue with the vacation format with excerpts from 2011.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 232 The Software Process and Measurement Cast 232 features a column for Kim Pries titled "Introduction To Scrum Planning." The column is based on Kim's experience in both hardware and software.   Contact Kim at http://ow.ly/jOzvK  I have also included audio versions of three Daily Process Thoughts on planning. The format of the Software Process and Measurement Cast will be a little different through show 236.  My intent is to provide a bit of new content combined with some special highlights from years one through six.  I will be on vacation in China or recovering.  SPaMCAST listeners in China shoot me an email and perhaps we can have a listeners meet up.   Daily Process Thoughts:, March 27, 2013 Every project has a birthday, whether it is every two weeks or every month. It is an opportunity to remember that we are one step closer to our final goal. The calendar is the most important measuring stick used to gauge progress on any project. Regardless of whether the it is really the most important measure, it is the measure everyone understands and can keep track of. Pay attention to the markers that show that time is passing (sprint reviews, demonstrations or milestones), and let everyone know what has been accomplished since the last important date. Everyone likes a celebration whether it is because of  a piece of cake or the demonstration of some tasty bit of promised functionality. Daily Process Thoughts: , March 16, 2013 Hand Drawn Chart Saturday The word ‘plan’ evokes many emotions, not all of them pleasant.  The root of the problem is a nearly racial memory (I have been reading Jung again) of an intricate project schedule developed before the first requirement was ever collected.  The plan even went so far as to promise a delivery date.  The knee jerk reaction to what is perceived as over-planning has always been to avoid planning altogether and to trust that feedback loops will guide you to the goal. The problem is that without even the most rudimentary planning, you are just reacting you are guilty of tampering. Paraphrasing a bit, tampering is defined by Dr. W. Edward Deming as changes to the system based on feedback without at least some knowledge of the path you want to take and the capacity of the system. Deming’s Funnel Experiment (changes are made to the system based on single observations of an outcome – see http://www.spcforexcel.com/over-controlling-process-funnel-experiment) proves that tampering with a system without a bigger picture will cause greater variance than if you do nothing at all, and we know how well that works. Having enough of a plan, for example a release plan in Agile, can provide the context needed to reduce variability, or at least saving the variability for the real surprises. Our goal in any project is to deliver value as fast and as well as possible.  The right kind of plan and feedback will help stop you from wandering aimlessly. Daily Process Thoughts:, March 13, 2013 You can have a plan, a destination and a ticket and still not get where you want to go. In the end it all comes down to execution.  Disasters, big or small, can lay waste to the best plans unless you stay observant and ready to react (some planning and muscle memory also helps). Remember to check with your carrier before you travel to the airport to begin your trip and also, it never hurts to have a clean pair of socks just in case you are delayed. The Daily Process Thoughts is my project designed to deliver a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent. Each day you will get piece of thought provoking text and a picture or hand drawn chart to illustrate the idea being presented. The goal is to deliver every day; rain or shine, in sickness or in health or for better or worse! Check it out at .  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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes!  It helps people find the cast.  Next: The next few Software Process and Measurement Casts will continue swtch thing around just a bit with a combination of new content and highlights from years past! I hope that until I get back from vacation that the content in the feed will provide a bit of pleasant surprise!

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 231   The Software Process and Measurement Cast 231 features an entry in the Metrics Minute.  In the SPaMCAST 231 we tackle burden rate. Burden rate is the tax paid for not having perfect engineering practices. Perfection is ruined by many factors including miscommunication, mistakes, poor processes or management overhead.  Daily Process Thoughts! Many of you visit or have subscribed to the . Others of you have not been introduced yet. The Daily Process Thought is delivering a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent. I am including one of my favorite entries after the essay, to whet your whistle so to speak. Check it out at . The entry I have included is titled, A Map Is Not Enough! for March 6, 2013. 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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes!  It helps people find the cast.  Next: The next few Software Process and Measurement Casts may well swtch thing around just a bit with a combination of new content and highlights from years one through six.  I will be on vacation in China or recovering.  SPaMCAST listeners in China shoot me an email and perhpas we can have a listeners meet-up.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 230    The Software Process and Measurement Cast 230 feature my interview with Alex Papadimoulis.  We discussed continuous delivery and Dev Ops just to mention a few topics.  Great interview on really important topics. Alex is speaker and writer who's passionate about looking beyond the code to build great software. In addition to founding – the makers of , the popular platform – Alex also started , a fun site dedicated to building software the wrong way. You can also find Alex on Twitter as @apapadimoulis. Daily Process Thoughts! Many of you visit or have subscribed to the . Others of you have not been introduced yet. The Daily Process Thought is delivering a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent. I am including one of my favorite entries after the essay, to whet your whistle so to speak. Check it out at . The entry I have included is titled, A Map Is Not Enough! for March 6, 2013. 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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes!  It helps people find the cast.  Next: The Software Process and Measurement Cast 231 will feature my essay about burden rate or staffing . . . If staffing you can do it the hard way OR the easy way, it is up to you. If burden rate it will be about a tax on engineering.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 229!    The Software Process and Measurement Cast 229 features my essay titled, Act or Be Acted Upon, Revisited.Stephen Covey's book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People has resonated with me across the years. The single most important principle for me has been “act or be acted upon”. I have thought a lot about that principle this week.  Daily Process Thoughts! Many of you visit or have subscribed to the . Others of you have not been introduced yet. The Daily Process Thought is delivering a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent. I am including one of my favorite entries after the essay, to whet your whistle so to speak. Check it out at . The entry I have included is titled, A Map Is Not Enough! for March 6, 2013. 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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes!  It helps people find the cast.  Next: The Software Process and Measurement Cast 230 will feature an interview with Alex Papadimoulis.  We discussed continuous delivery and Dev Ops just to mention a few topics.  Great interview on really important topics.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 228 The Software Process and Measurement Cast 228 features my interview with Charles Araujo.  We discussed his great new book, .  The interview and book is about change and how the coming change in IT will affect us all! Charles Araujo is the founder and CEO of The IT Transformation Institute and author of the book The Quantum Age of IT: Why Everything You Know About IT is About to Change. He is a recognized leader and expert in the areas of IT transformation and IT organizational change, is presently at work on two new books and is the creator of DeepRoots, an organizational change methodology designed for IT teams. He speaks and writes frequently on a wide range of subjects related to his vision of the future of IT. He serves on the boards of itSMF USA and The Executive Next Practices Institute, is a regular contributor to CIO Insight Magazine and has been quoted in or published in magazines, blogs and websites including ZDNet, IT Business Edge, ITSM Portal, TechRepublic, itSMF USA’s Forum, HDI SupportWorld, Computerworld and USA Today. IT as we know it is DEAD!   Find out why in Charles's new book The Quantum Age of IT Buy ! Contact Information: Web:   Twitter:    Twitter:    Web:      New Project! Have you checked out ?  Daily Process Thoughts is delivering a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent.  Check it out at www.tcagley.wordpress.com.  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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.com Voicemail:  +1-206-888-6111 Website: www.spamcast.net Twitter: www.twitter.com/tcagley Facebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes!  It helps people find the cast.  Next: The Software Process and Measurement Cast 229 will feature my essay about staffing . . . you can do it the hard way OR the easy way, it is up to you.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 227    I am continuing and concluding my essay, "Under Performing Agile?" Part two of the essay tackles the process and contract scenarios that cause issues with Agile implementations.  The punch line of the essay is . . . Is your Agile under-performing? Who cares if you are not going to fix it! You can listen to Part One on or read the essay by clicking this Have you checked out Daily Process Thoughts? Daily Process Thoughts is my project designed to deliver a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent. The goal is to deliver every day; rain or shine, in sickness or in health or for better or worse! Check it out at www.tcagley.wordpress.com.   Have you checked out ?  Daily Process Thoughts is delivering a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent.  Check it out at www.tcagley.wordpress.com.  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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes!  It helps people find the cast.  Next: The Software Process and Measurement Cast 228 will feature my interview with Charles Araujo.  We discussed his great new book, The Quantum Age of IT.  The interview and book is about change and how the coming change in IT will affect us all!

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 226!    The Software Process and Measurement Cast 226 features my interview with John Hunter.  We talked about his new book Management Matters: Building Enterprise Capability.  A great interview with someone who has an amazing perspective on the world!  Jo Ann Sweeney also stopped in to talk about the Worth Working Summit  . . . I was one of the speakers and higly recommend checking it out! John Hunter combines technology with management expertise to improve the performance of organizations. He has served as an information technology program manager for the American Society for Engineering Education, the Office of Secretary of Defense Quality Management Office and the White House Military Office. In 2013, he published his first book - . John currently lives in Malaysia and serves as a senior facilitator for The W. Edwards Deming Institute and a senior consultant for Hexawise.  He also write blogs for both of those organizations in addition to authoring many other blogs. John created and operates one of the first, and still one of the most popular, on the internet.  He continues to use the internet to aid managers in their efforts to improve their organizations.  His is widely recognized as a valuable resource for leaders and managers. He is the founder and CEO of Curious Cat ltd., managing over 20 web sites on management, software development, investing, engineering, travel and other topics. Contact Information:http://curious-cat-media.comhttp://johnhunter.com/blogging_honors.cfm Have you checked out ?  Daily Process Thoughts is delivering a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent.  Check it out at www.tcagley.wordpress.com.  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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:              +1-206-888-6111      Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes! It helps people find the cast.  Next: The Software Process and Measurement Cast 227 will wrap up my essay titled "Underperforming Agile?"  What should you do if you have embraced Agile and it is not embracing you back?

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 225!    The Software Process and Measurement Cast 225 features part one of my essay titled "Under-performing Agile." The essay begins: Agile is not a panacea. Regardless of methodology, technique or framework; delivery is not assured. Realistically just about anything can happen in the world we practice our profession. Tomorrow a storm could interrupt operations; another project of greater value might catch management’s eye changing the resources or staffing available for the project...  Have you checked out Daily Process Thoughts?  Daily Process Thoughts is delivering a quick daily idea, thought or simple smile to help you become a better change agent.  Check it out at www.tcagley.wordpress.com.  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, neither for you or your team." NOW AVAILABLE IN CHINESE!  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:              +1-206-888-6111      Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV One more thing!  Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating the Software Process and Measurement Cast on ITunes! It helps people find the cast.  Next: The Software Process and Measurement Cast 226 will feature an interview with John Hunter.  We talked about his new book Management Matters: Building Enterprise Capability.  A great interview with someone who has an amazing perspective on the world!