Software Process and Measurement Cast

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 127! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast I feature the first part of my essay titled, Agile is from Venus and PMOs from Mars. I also have news from MAIN brought to us by Manfred Bundschuh. The essay begins . . . Over the past few years I have spent time with many organizations that been struggling with the role of PMOs in their organization as they transitioned to agile. There are a couple of important words in the last sentence. The first critical word is struggling, struggling is important because many PMO's have become more administrative and control oriented rather than being coaches and leaders. Agile focuses on self organization rather than control functions. Also I suggest that combining the roles of administration and control with coaching and leading creates conflict because the goals of these roles are different. It gets even more difficult and stressful when project managers and administrators are asked to change roles that they have invested substantial time and effort into developing capabilities. Changing a leopards spots is difficult especially when the organization has developed a taste for the control data created by a PMO. All is not lost however because I have found that a path to support both sets of goals and needs can be found if everyone can be flexible and no one is building empires. The second critical word in the first statement is the term agile itself. It is critical because its meaning has become a bit nebulous; everyone seems to have appended the word agile to a product, process or service. It is as if adding the word agile will magically convert an non-agile idea into something new. Remember that just calling graphite a diamond in the raw won't change pencil lead into something far more alluring. Many Software Process and Measurement Cast Listeners have purchased Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chemuturi and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. Thank you! If you are one of those many listeners, please consider posting a review on Amazon or one of the many online book review sites. Reviews help sell books. So if you agreee with Robert C. Anderson, Director, Process Development and Quality Assurance, Computer Aid, Inc that "Mastering Software Project Management is a masterpiece of clarity, organization and depth of practical knowledge" why not let the world know with a review? Finally do want me to sign a bookplate for your copy of the book? Email me and include a picture of you with your copy of the book and I will send you a personalized, signed bookplate! 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 Check out my blog and show notes for upcoming conferences and webinars! Next!In SPaMCAST 128 I will feature my interview with Dave Garmus, Janet Russac and Royce Edwards discussing thier book, Certified Function Point Specialist Examination Guide.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 126 SPaMCAST 126 features my interview with Phillip A. LaPlante discussing his book Requirements Engineering for Software and Systems in specific and requirements in general. A real powerhouse discussion of requirements. Dr. Phil Laplante is Professor of Software Engineering at Penn State. His interests are in software and systems engineering, project management, and software testing and security. Prior to his academic career Dr. Laplante spent several years as a software engineer and project manager working on avionics, computer aided design and software test systems. He has authored or edited 27 books and has published more than 200 scholarly papers. Recently, he was named by the National Council of Engineering Examiners to Chair the committee that will develop the examination, which will be used to license Professional Engineers in the practice of Software Engineering. Laplante received his B.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D. in Systems Planning & Management, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science, respectively, from Stevens Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Colorado. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and SPIE and a member of numerous other professional societies, program committees, and boards. He is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and a Certified Software Development Professional. Email: plaplante@gv.psu.eduWebsite: http://www.personal.psu.edu/pal11/ Remember: This podcast will post at the beginning of the SEPG NA in Portland, Oregon, March 21-24, 2011 http://www.sei.cmu.edu/sepg/na/2011/index.cfm I will be attending the conference and manning the David Consulting Booth. Look me up! I will be speaking at the QAI Quest 2011 in Boston April 6 - 8 http://www.qaiquest.org/boston/If you are attending and would like to get together just drop me a note, text, tweet or phone call! 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 127 I will begin reading my paper on PMOs in an Agile Organization titled "Agile is from Venus and PMOs are from Mars". I promise . . . unless less another topic demands that I address it!

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 125! I recorded this Cast before the earthquake in Japan but did want to let all of the SPaMCAST friends and all of the people of Japan that my thoughts are with you. In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast I feature a short entry I wrote on coaching, a comment on the blog entry on coaching and two calls to action. The paper on Agile is from Venus and PMOs from Mars will begin in SPaMCAST 127. The essay begins . . . Coaching is a core agile technique, however the impact of the differing coaching technique has not been thoroughly understood which has meant that practices were driven based on individual style. That is until now. Why is coaching important? Coaching is important because it can lead it to smoothly functioning organizations; higher productivity and profits. Call to Action One:Last year I interviewed Bertrand Meyer about SEMAT (see SPaMCAST 96 at www.SPAMCAST.libsyn.com). During the interview he indicated that one the reasons he was participating was to find a means to bridge the gap between practitioners and academia. The idea that there was a gap has been weighing on my mind since, to a great or lesser extent. So why do you think there is a gap? Is the gap (if it exists) driven by distrust or is that practitioners do not value input from academics? Your thoughts and ideas will help me frame a future essay. Call to Action Two and Book Plug . . .Many Software Process and Measurement Cast Listeners have purchased Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chemuturi and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. Thank you! If you are one of those many listeners, please consider posting a review on Amazon or one of the many online book review sites. Reviews help sell books. So if you agreee with Robert C. Anderson, Director, Process Development and Quality Assurance, Computer Aid, Inc that "Mastering Software Project Management is a masterpiece of clarity, organization and depth of practical knowledge" why not let the world know with a review? Finally do want me to sign a bookplate for your copy of the book? Email me and include a picture of you with your copy of the book and I will send you a personalized, signed bookplate! 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 Check out my blog and show notes for upcoming conferences and webinars! Next!In SPaMCAST 126 I will feature my interview with Phillip A. LaPlante on his book Requirements Engineering for Software and Systems. This was a powerhouse interview on requirements; you will not want to miss it.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 124 SPaMCAST 124 features my interview with Gerard "Jerry" Hill. Gerald and I talked about his book The Complete Project Management Methodology and Toolkit specifically and project management generally. A ton of good advice on instituting project management methodology in any organization. Gerard Hill is the Principal of Hill Consulting Group, and has more than 25 years experience in project management practice design and implementation, information systems integration, and business process engineering. His specialty is enabling businesses to gain and sustain a competitive edge through development and implementation of total-practice project management solutions. He has conceived and constructed processes and practices that have enabled Fortune 100 and other client organizations to realize maximum benefit from their investment in project management. Prior to introducing Hill Consulting Group, Mr. Hill was with ESI International, where he served as Vice President of Technical Services. His work included responsibility for international consulting programs, technical product design and development, and knowledge management. Mr. Hill has led or contributed to the design and development of project management methodologies currently deployed by organizations around the world. He is the architect of capability and maturity assessments for business and project management. He also has particular expertise in designing and developing practical Project Management Office (PMO) solutions. His recent work includes development of the new matrix-based, ProjectPRISM™ Project Management Methodology, and this has been introduced in his new project management methodology publication. He has refined an approach to “PMO design and implementation” in a workshop based on the content of his first PMO Handbook publication. In recent years, Mr. Hill has chaired two annual and national-scope Project Portfolio Management conferences in the U.S., in 2008 he was an invited keynote speaker and presenter at two professional conferences in Milan, Italy; and in 2009 he was a keynote speaker and presenter at the National PMI Project Management Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and at the Greece PMI Chapter Congress in Athens, Greece. Mr. Hill’s broad competencies are based in an extensive educational background that includes a bachelor degree in Applied Mathematics (NC State University), a master degree in Human Resource Management/Organization Development (Pepperdine University), and completion of the Advanced Management Program for Executives (Duke University, Fuqua School of Business). Mr. Hill also holds a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from The George Washington University, and he is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP®) by the Project Management Institute. Mr. Hill is author of two books: The Complete Project Management Office Handbook, 2nd Edition, Auerbach Publications, 2007 (752pp), and The Complete Project Management Methodology and Toolkit, CRC Press, 2009 (520pp); which includes 96 tools on CD. Email: Ghill@HillConsultingGroup.comWebsite: www.HillConsultingGroup.com Remember: Attending:SEPG NA in Portland, Oregon, March 21-24, 2011 http://www.sei.cmu.edu/sepg/na/2011/index.cfmSpeaker: QAI Quest 2011 in Boston April 6 - 8 http://www.qaiquest.org/boston/ If you are attending and would like to get together just drop me a note, text, tweet or phone call! Shameless Ad for my book! By the way if you liked Gerald's book and I do recommend that you buy it, I also recommend 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 125 I will begin reading my paper on PMOs in an Agile Orgnaizaition titled "Agile is from Venus and PMOs are from Mars".

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 123! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast we have an entry in the Metrics Minute. We cover Burn down charts are a critcial part of what makes agile work. The esay begins . . . Burn Down Charts are a graphical representation of the work left to be done and of the progress that has been made. The chart is typically drawn to show progress against predictions. The analogy of a glide path has been used to paint a picture of the slope and the ultimate destination of a burn down chart which targeted at completion. One of the most powerful attractions of the burn down chart is that it involves psychology by emotionally tying the metric to completion through the visual representation of a path counting down to zero. Book Plug . . .Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chemuturi and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing has hit the bookshelves! According to Robert C. Anderson, Director, Process Development and Quality Assurance, Computer Aid, Inc, "Mastering Software Project Management is a masterpiece of clarity, organization and depth of practical knowledge." If you a project manager or know project managers buy yourself a copy and a second to lend co-workers! PS -- Want me to sign a bookplate for your copy? Email me and include a picture of you with your copy of the book and I will send you a personalized, signed bookplate! 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 Check out my blog and show notes for upcoming conferences and webinars! Next!In SPaMCAST 124 my interview with Gerald Hill will run. Gerald and project management are words that go together. We talk about project management and his book The Complete Project Management Methodology and Toolkit.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 120. SPaMCAST 122 features my interview with Ted Theodoropoulos. Ted and I talked about technical debt and whether the definition of techincal needs to be expanded to address the needs of our industry. Ted’s background in technology began in the early 1980s developing applications in BASIC on the first personal computers. It was during a school project that he first came in contact with technical debt while collaborating with classmates to develop a video game for the TI-99/4a. The project was loosely coordinated and faced immediate integration challenges when collaborators submitted their code forcing an extensive refactoring exercise. Ted went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters in Business Administration from the Belk College of Business at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As a Senior Vice President at Bank of America, Ted held a number of leadership roles during his ten years in Technology Audit and Operational Risk Management. These roles focused on identifying and managing technology related risks throughout the Bank’s vast infrastructure. Ted integrated Six Sigma methodologies into his technology risk management work, earning DFSS Green and Black Belt Certifications. His Green Belt work led to a United States Patent for which he was recognized with the 2007 Best of Six Sigma Award. Prior to joining Bank of America, Ted was a product specialist at Microsoft providing guidance and support on database technologies where he became a Microsoft Certified Professional and a Certified Scrum Master. Ted is currently the president of Acrowire! Work Website: www.acrowire.comTed's Blog: http://blog.acrowire.com/tdEmail: ted@acrowire.comtwitter: http://twitter.com/tedtheo 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 is on the bookshelves! According to Firas Al-Sheikh of Amman,Jordan, "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 123 will talk about burn down charts (and maybe burn up charts) which will be part of the Metrics Minute.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 121! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast we revist an essay originally broadcast in SPaMCAST 2. We revisit the essay because I believe the events in TUnisia and Egypt over the past few weeks have driven the point home that gates can impact the value of IT. The essay begins . . . A few weeks ago (now three years later) I attended a lecture by Jared Diamond. His lecture was in support of his book. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (2005). The ideas in the book concern the anthropology of societies however they are equally relevant to why process improvement programs succeed or fail. Two of the ideas Dr. Diamond put forth on why societies collapse that are instantly germane to SPI programs were: • Elites isolate themselves, and• An inability to reassess core values Can anyone say gates or silos? Book Plug . . .Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chemuturi and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing has hit the bookshelves! According to Robert C. Anderson, Director, Process Development and Quality Assurance, Computer Aid, Inc, "Mastering Software Project Management is a masterpiece of clarity, organization and depth of practical knowledge." If you a project manager or know project managers buy yourself a copy and a second to lend co-workers! PS -- Want me to sign a bookplate for your copy? Email me and include a picture of you with your copy of the book and I will send you a personalized, signed bookplate! 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 Check out my blog and show notes for upcoming conferences and webinars! Next!The Metrics Minute entry on burn down charts will appear in SPaMCAST 123. The SPaMCAST 122 will feature my interview with Ted Theodoropoulos. Ted and I discussed technical debt. Ted has some great ideas on expanding the defintion of technical debt and why taking a broad view matters . . . alot.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 120. SPaMCAST 120 features my interview with Peter Thomas, a techincal specialist in software sizing and related fields at Steria. He is also a member of the Counting Practice Committee in International Function Point User's Group. We discussed the attributes of mature metric programs. Peter is a Chartered IT Professional with experience in project management, design, implementation, test, and deployment of defence and commercial software.He is recognised as a technical specialist in software sizing, IT measurement, and estimating, in Steria, IBM, and the IT industry. Steria is an IT Services company whose revenues have exceeded 1 billion Euros each year since 2005. He has been an International Function Point User’s Group (IFPUG) Certified Function Point Specialist (CFPS) since the late 90s and a member of the IFPUG Counting Practices Committee, “owner” of International Standards Organisation (ISO) standard ISO/IEC 20926 since January 2007.He was the technical lead of IBM’s Function Point Centre of Competence, which is the successor to Allan Albrecht’s IBM Research team which developed the Function Point software sizing technique. His role in Steria requires him to ensure productivity measurements are performed correctly, in particular Function Point counts to minimise contract penalties. Also he advises executives responsible for delivery on methods to manage the productivity performance against other targets including off shoring and contribute to bids. His role in IBM involved business operations measurement coordination, quality assurance reviews, estimating support to bids, and Software Engineering Institute Capability Maturity Model Integrated (SEI CMMI) appraisals as well as occasional function point analysis to keep in contact with the real world of project delivery. Since 2004, he has regularly presented at technical conferences in the UK and USA and been invited to speak again as a result of the feedback. In 2006 & 2010 he presented the Ian Drummond Memorial lecture at the United Kingdom Software Metrics Association annual conference. Work Website: http://bit.ly/g7KkMdIFPUG Counting Practice Committe Web Page: http://bit.ly/gKn6DnLinked In: http://linkd.in/gINRRrEmail: peter3292004@hotmail.co.uk 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 is on the bookshelves! According to Firas Al-Sheikh of Amman,Jordan, "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 121 will talk about burn down charts (and maybe burn up charts) which will be part of the Metrics Minute.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 119! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast we have another installment of the Metrics Minute. This Metrics Minute is focused on Velocity. The esay begins . . . The simple definition of velocity, as it is currently used, is the amount of work that is completed in a period of time (typically a sprint). The definition is related to productivity which is the amount of effort required to complete a unit of work and delivery rate which measures the speed that work is completed. The inclusion of a time box (the sprint) creates a fixed duration which transforms velocity into more of a productivity metric than a speed metric (how much work can be be done in a specific timescale by a specific team). Therefore to truly measure velocity you need to estimate the units of work completed, have a definition of complete and have a time box. Book Plug . . .Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chemuturi and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing has hit the bookshelves! According to Robert C. Anderson, Director, Process Development and Quality Assurance, Computer Aid, Inc, "Mastering Software Project Management is a masterpiece of clarity, organization and depth of practical knowledge." If you a project manager or know project managers buy yourself a copy and a second to lend co-workers! PS -- Want me to sign a bookplate for your copy? Email me and include a picture of you with your copy of the book and I will send you a personalized, signed bookplate! 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 Check out my blog and show notes for upcoming conferences and webinars! Next!SPaMCAST 120 will feature my interview with Peter Thomas. I picked his brains on his presentation on mature measurement programs!

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 118. SPaMCAST 118 features my interview with Elizabeth Harrin author of Social Media for Project Managers and the influential blog A Girl’s Guide to Project Management. Elizabeth and I had a wonderful conversation about how social media can improve project and project manager performance. Elizabeth Harrin, BA (Hons), MA, MBCS is an author and portfolio manager living and working in London. She has a decade of experience in projects. Elizabeth has led a variety of IT and process improvement projects including e-commerce and communications developments. She is also experienced in managing business change, having spent eight years working in financial services (including two based in Paris, France). She writes the award-winning blog, A Girl’s Guide to Project Management and is author of Project Management in the Real World and Social Media for Project Managers. She is also a founding member of PMI’s New Media Council. Blog: www.pm4girls.co.ukwebsite : www.otobosgroup.comTwitter: www.twitter.com/pm4girls 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 is on the bookshelves! According to Firas Al-Sheikh of Amman,Jordan, "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 119 will feature an installment of the metrics minute on velocity, news from associations and MAYBE or maybe not a guest essay!