Software Process and Measurement Cast

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 144! SPaMCAST 144 features my interview with Mary Lynn Penn. We discussed the CMMI, Six Sigma, Lean, SCAMPI appraisals and more! Mary Lynn Penn is the Director of Strategic Process Engineering, at Lockheed Martin Corporation, Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS), Lynn oversees policies and process command media, process compliance via audits and process improvement activities. She develops and manages compliance to multiple standards including CMMI DEV, CMMI SVC, ISO 9001/AS910, ISO 20000 and ISO 27001.   Her Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Capability Maturity Model (CMM) involvement began with version 1.0 and has progressed to the current CMMI version 1.3. She has participated in multiple formal SPAs, CBA IPIs, Assessments using the Acquisition Model, Risk Evaluations and supported multiple Software Capability Evaluations per versions 1, 2, and 3. She has supported multiple assessments using both CMMI DEV and CMMI SVC.  She is currently certified as a CMMI Instructor and a SCAMPI B/C Team Lead and an SEI Affiliate. She is the Industry lead for the CMMI V1.3 model release. Lynn has a BS in Mathematics from Villanova University, she has done graduate studies in Computer Science and Management Information Systems.  She is a certified ISO 9000 internal auditor at Lockheed Martin.  She is also a Certified Greenbelt and Blackbelt in Six Sigma and Lean Techniques. She has published a book “”. Please feel free to reach out the MS Penn on LinkedIn Shameless Ad for my book!  co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received great unsolicited reviews and the book has been picked up as a text book for university level work.  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement CastEmail:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV Next! In the SPaMCAST 145 we will return to the Metrics Minute with an overview of IFPUG Function Points!

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 143! In the SPaMCAST 143, I ask, "Do you have management support?" I recently asked many of my colleagues what they thought were the precursors to beginning a CMMI change program. Almost to a person, they began their list with senior management support which makes sense as the CMMI has become the top-down process improvement framework of choice. Shameless Ad for my book! Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques 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." Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement CastEmail:  Voicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: Twitter: Facebook:  Next!SPaMCAST 144 features my interview with Mary Lynn Penn!  We discussed the CMMI, Six Sigma, Lean, SCAMPI appraisals and more!

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 142! SPaMCAST 142 features my interview with Capers Jones.  Capers is an iconic figure in the field of software measurement and estimation.  In this interview, we discussed function points, value metrics, software inspections and more.  As always Capers is evocative and thought-provoking. Capers Jones is currently the President and CEO of Capers Jones & Associates LLC.  He is also the founder and former chairman of Software Productivity Research LLC (SPR).  He holds the title of Chief Scientist Emeritus at SPR.   Capers Jones founded SPR in 1984. Before founding SPR Capers was Assistant Director of Programming Technology for the ITT Corporation at the Programming Technology Center in Stratford, Connecticut.  He was also a manager and researcher at IBM in California. Capers is a well-known author and international public speaker.  Some of his books have been translated into six languages.  All of his books are translated into Japanese and his newest books are available in Chinese editions as well.   Among his book titles are Patterns of Software Systems Failure and Success (Prentice Hall 1994), Applied Software Measurement, 3rd edition; (McGraw Hill 2008), Software Quality: Analysis and Guidelines for Success (International Thomson 1997), Estimating Software Costs, 2nd edition (McGraw Hill 2007), and Software Assessments, Benchmarks, and Best Practices (Addison Wesley Longman 2000).  The 3rd edition of his book Applied Software Measurement was published in the Spring of 2008. His book entitled Software Engineering Best Practices was published by McGraw Hill in October of 2009.  His current book is The Economics of Software Quality with Olivier Bonsignour as co-author, Addison Wesley, 2011. Capers and his colleagues have collected historical data from more than 600 corporations and more than 30 government organizations.  This historical data is a key resource for judging the effectiveness of software process improvement methods.  More than 13,000 projects have been reviewed.   In addition to his technical books, Mr. Jones has also received recognition as a historian after the publication of The History and Future of Narragansett Bay in 2006 by Universal Publishers. His research studies include quality estimating, quality measurement, software cost and schedule estimation, software metrics, and risk analysis. Mr. Jones has consulted at more than 150 large corporations and also at a number of government organizations such as NASA, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Courts.  He has also worked with several state governments. Email:  cjonesiii@cs.com Shameless Ad for my book!  Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received great unsolicited reviews and the book has been picked up as a textbook for university-level work.  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 Next! In the SPaMCAST 143 will deliver a checklist for use when preparing for a journey along the CMMI highway.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 141! In the SPaMCAST 141, I ask, "Are you ready to implement agile?"  It might sound like a simple question but it is imperative that you not only have an answer but a structured rational for the answer.  I propose a simple quiz (part of my simple checklist series) to structure the discussion when you want to know whether you are ready or not.  It should be noted that like any readiness discussion, determining whether you are ready to implement agile should be viewed as a continuum.  Your journey, whether remediating issues or planning for change, shouldn’t be thought of in absolutes; approach readiness as a journey. Shameless Ad for my book!  Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques 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." Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement CastEmail:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV Next! SPaMCAST 142 features my interview with Capers Jones!  We discussed extending function points, his new book and how to improve quality.  Capers is always thought provoking!

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 140! SPaMCAST 140 features my interview with Raja Bavani.  We talked about his great article "." The article was originally publised in the SDTime  This was a wide ranging interview went beyond influences and wrestles with the future!   Raja Bavani is Technical Director of MindTree’s Product Engineering Services (PES) group and plays the role of Product Engineering Evangelist and Agile Coach. He has more than 20 years of experience in the IT industry and has published papers at international conferences on topics related to Code Quality, Distributed Agile, Customer Value Management and Software Estimation. His PES experience started during the early 90s, when he was involved in porting a leading ERP product across various UNIX platforms. Later he moved onto products that involved data mining and master data management. During early 2000, he worked with some of the niche independent software vendors in the hospitality and finance domains.  At MindTree, he has worked with some of the top vendors of virtualization platforms, business service management solutions and health care products.  His areas of interests include Global Delivery Model, Agile Software Development, Requirements Engineering, Software Architecture, Software Reuse, Customer Value Management, Knowledge Management, and IT Outsourcing.  He is a member of IEEE and IEEE Computer Society.  He regularly interfaces with educational institutions to offer guest lectures and writes for technical conferences. His Product Engineering blog is available at http://www.mindtree.com/blogs/category/software-product-engineeringHis articles and white papers on Agile Software Development are available at: http://mindtree.com/category/tags/agileHe can be reached at raja_bavani@mindtree.comRaja's personal blog -    Shameless Ad for my book!  Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received great unsolicited reviews and the book has been picked up as a text book for university level work.  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement CastEmail:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV Next! So you want to go agile . . .in the SPaMCAST 141 I will present a simple checklist of factors you need to deal with as you progress with change.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 139! In the SPaMCAST 139  we begin an exploration of financial metrics.  The first class of financial metrics is those metrics that are used to decide which projects should be done.  I call these return metrics and they ask the questions: Should we do this project? And more broadly, are their better uses for our assets? Generally these are questions are asked at the beginning of a project but can be equally powerful at different times during the project life cycle. Return metrics are focused on the financial aspect of project but less tangible assets can be incorporated.  Attributes such as risk and strategy are examples of attributes that are often quantified and incorporated.  Examples of this class of metric include Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Investment (ROI), payback period and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). In all cases these metrics account for income, a hurdle rate (interest rate or expected rate of return) and a comparison cost either based on assets, income, or equity. While these ratios are a rich source of decision making information, what they are not are tools to manage a project or programs.  We begin with Return on Assets (ROA) is a ratio of the earnings generate from a project compared to the assets used to generate that revenue. ROA is a classic financial metric that when applied to projects, is typically used as a technique for project acceptance or in retrospective as a tool to evaluate overall performance.  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." 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 Next! SPaMCAST 140 features my interview with Raja Bavani from Mindtree.  We discussed his recent article,“The 10 best influences on software product engineering.”  THis is a fantastic interview that gives context to the world of software engineering we inhabit.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 138! SPaMCAST 138 features my interview with Jo Ann Sweeney.  I think we would all agree that communication is an important tool for taming the clash of organizational perspectives, for creating a platform for collaboration or in other words for making projects work.  Our interview covered these points and more and is a must for all of my listeners! Meet Jo Ann Sweeney Some years ago my husband and I were having an argument. We had opposite views and seemed to be going round in circles. I couldn’t understand why. Then the penny dropped. It was all about perspective. He sees things in black and white; I see in shades of grey. Once he realised I understood his point of view he expected me to agree with him. For him my understanding equalled agreement. Since then I’ve come to realise this same clash of perspectives happens in organisations all the time. Leaders and employees have very different outlooks that can undermine the whole organisation. Either they trust each other’s perspectives and are willing to collaborate. Or they use up huge amounts of energy trying to coerce each other – creating frustration, resistance, delays and escalating costs. In my 25+ years with multinationals, SMEs, government departments and charities I’ve come to realise this is all about relationships of trust. And about people listening to and understanding each other; being willing to put themselves in other people’s shoes. Today I lead , a consultancy dedicated to helping communicators and project professionals deliver communication activities that build trust and rapport with their audiences both internally and externally. My role invariably is as a catalyst, asking the difficult questions that help clients understand what their leaders expect of them. Then holding their hands while they win the buy-in of key people – executives, team members, government, customers. Much of what I’m learning I share through the   and ; and the annual virtual Jo Ann Sweeney is a chartered marketer and trained journalist, and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and of the Institute of Internal Communication.   Shameless Ad for my book! co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received great unsolicited reviews and the book has been picked up as a text book for university level work.  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement CastEmail:  Voicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: Twitter: Facebook:  Next!In the SPaMCAST 139 we will return to the Metrics Minute and tackle one or two of the financial metrics that are important for projects.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 137! SPaMCAST 137 features an essay titled Abstractions.  The essay begins: The world is complex; it is comprised of a myriad of processes each with their own slice of complexity. We all fear being sucked into whirlpool of complexity as evidenced by the laundry list of best selling books that purport to provide the tools needed to take control of our personal and professional worlds.  Also included in this SPaMCAST is a product review by Joseph Hurtado, a long time SPaMCAST listener, for Agile Board which is an IPad app for agile / Kanban tool.  Thank you for the review Joseph! Shameless Ad for my book!  Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques 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."  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement CastEmail:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV Next! SPaMCAST 136 features my first live interview with Paul Brynes.  We discussed the changes in the SCAMPI methodology used to appraise the CMMI.  Important stuff if you have anything to do with the CMMI.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 136! SPaMCAST 136 features my interview with Dr Ginger Levin and J. LeRoy Ward discussing their new book, (ESI International Project Management Series).  We discussed program management, the impact of agile techniques and why competency is critical.  A wonderful information packed interview! Dr. Ginger Levin is a senior consultant and educator in project management. Her specialty areas are portfolio management, program management, the Project Management Office, knowledge management, metrics, and maturity assessments. She is certified as a PMP®, PgMP®, and as an OPM3 Assessor and Consultant. She was the second person in the world to receive the PgMP. In addition, Dr. Levin is an Adjunct Professor for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she teaches in its M.S. in Project Management Program and for SKEMA (Esc Lille) University, France, in its project management program at the master’s and doctoral level. Also, she is a Visiting Professor for RMIT in Melbourne, Australia. In consulting, she has served as Project Manager in numerous efforts for Fortune 500 and public-sector clients, including UPS, Citibank, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, General Electric, SAP, EADS, John Deere, Schreiber Foods, TRW, the New York City Transit Authority, the U.S. Joint Forces Command, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Prior to her work in consulting, she held positions of increasing responsibility with the U.S. Government, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Personnel Management, and the General Accounting Office. She is the co-author of Implementing Program Management: Forms and Templates Aligned with the Standard for Program Management, Second Edition (2008); Project Portfolio Management: Tools & Techniques; Metrics for Project Management; Achieving Project Management Success Using Virtual Teams; The Advanced Project Management Office: A Comprehensive Look at Function and Implementation; People Skills for Project Managers; Essential People Skills for Project Managers; The Business Development Capability Maturity Model; and ESI’s PMP Challenge! PMP Study Guide and the PgMP Study Guide (along with J. LeRoy Ward). Her book entitled Interpersonal Skills for Portfolio, Program, and Project Managers also was published in 2010.  Dr. Levin received her doctorate in Information Systems Technology and Public Administration from The George Washington University, and received the Outstanding Dissertation Award for her research on large organizations. She also was inducted into Phi Alpha Alpha, the National Honorary Society for Public Affairs and Administration. J. LeRoy Ward, Executive Vice President, is responsible for ESI’s worldwide product offerings and international partnerships. Complementing a 17-year career with four U.S. federal agencies, Ward has delivered project management programs to clients around the world.A noted author and speaker, Ward has served on the adjunct faculties of The George Washington University and The American University, presenting courses in remote sensing, cartography, computer systems management, and information systems. He has authored numerous articles and publications, including the Dictionary of Project Management Terms (3rd ed.); the PMP® Exam Practice Test and Study Guide, PMP® Challenge!, and the PgMP® Exam Practice Test and Study Guide (with Ginger Levin); a set of audio CDs entitled Conversations on Passing the PMP® Exam (with Carl Pritchard); and, ProjectFRAMEWORK, a Project Management Maturity Model (with multiple authors).  His articles have appeared in PMNetwork, Chief Learning Officer, and Project Manager Today (U.K.). A popular and dynamic presenter, he speaks frequently on project management and related topics at professional association meetings and conferences around the world. Ward holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Southern Connecticut State University in geography and an MSTM degree, with distinction, in Computer Systems Management from The American University, where he was inducted into Phi Alpha Alpha, the National Honorary Society for Public Affairs and Administration. He is an alumnus of the General Services Administration’s Trail Boss Program (for major systems acquisitions) and the Federal Executive Institute. Ward is a member of several technical societies, including the American Society of Training and Development, the International Project Management Association, and the Project Management Institute where he is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP - Number 431) and a Program Management Professional (PgMP), one of the first to earn the credential. Contact Information:Leroy's email:  LWard@esi-intl.comGinger's emai:  GINLEVIN@AOL.COM  (Listen to Ginger's comments on the topic on the podcast!) Both Ginger and Leroy can found on LinkedIn also! Shameless Ad for my book!  co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received great unsolicited reviews and the book has been picked up as a text book for university level work.  Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement CastEmail:  spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail:  +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV Next! In the SPaMCAST 137 I will tackle the topic of the "One" Number or as I call it fear of uncertainty.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 133! SPaMCAST 135 features an entry in the Metrics Minute.  We are covering a Value at Risk.  WValue at Risk represents the potential impact of risk on the value of a project or portfolio of projects.  Risk is monitored at specific points (a topic of further discussion in the near future) of the project life cycle.  Monitoring includes an evaluation of the potential cost impact of remediating the risks that have not been fully remediated weighted by the probability of occurrence.  Where the cost impact of risk is above program risk tolerance specific remediation plans will be established to reduce the estimated risk impact.  The value at risk metric provides the team with a tool for prioritizing risks and risk management activities.   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." 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 Next! SPaMCAST 136 features my first live interview with Paul Brynes.  We discussed the changes in the SCAMPI methodology used to appraise the CMMI.  Important stuff if you have anything to do with the CMMI.