Software Process and Measurement Cast

Software Process and MeasurementShow 16! Show 16 features an interview with Mary Poppendieck discussing Lean  Software Development processes.  Mary Poppendieck As a seasoned leader in both operations and new product development, she brings a  practical, customer-focused approach to software development problems. A popular writer and speaker, Mary’s classes on managing software development offer a fresh perspective on project management.  Her book  Lean Software Development: An Agile Toolkit, was published in 2003 and won the Software Development Productivity Award in 2004.  A sequel, Implementing Lean Software Development: From Concept to  Cash, was published in 2006.  Mary’s contact data is: Phone:  952-934-7998Email:  mary@poppendieck.   The essay on this instatllment of the Software Process and Measurement Cast is a titled “A Pattern of Failure, A Pattern of Change.�?  The essay is a commentary on the lack of systemic thinking we sometimes  see in process improvement programs The text of this commentary can  be found at .  Comments and corrections are welcome.  Remember that comments and         feedback are welcome!  There are a number of ways to         share your thoughts . . .    Email SPaMCAST at spamcastinfo@gmail.com Voice messages can be left at 1.206.888.6111 Twitter   BLOG     Future Events: In September, I will  be presenting ‘Life on the Edge: Counting Weird Things on the Web’ on Thursday September 13th at 11:20 at the International Software Measurement and Analysis Conference in Las Vegas.  The conference and workshops run from Sunday September 9 through the 14th.  Details are available at http://www.ifpug.org/educational/workshopagenda2007.htm   Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature an interview with Paul Radford of Charismatek Software Metrics, if you are interested in software process and measurement this is a must cast.

Software Process and Measurement Show 15! Show 14 features an interview with Scott Goldfarb discussing software baselines and benchmarks.  Scott, the President of Q/P Management Group (http://www.qpmg.com/), is an international consultant and speaker with over thirty years of software experience.  Scott specializes in helping organizations improve software quality and productivity through measurement.   Scott can be contacted at sgoldfarb@qpmg.com. Ray Rosenblatt has contributed a review of the book “Metrics and Models in Software Quality Engineering�? by Stephen H Kan for the essay.  The text of this commentary can be found at my blog, . Remember that comments and feedback are welcome!  There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . .  Email SPaMCAST at spamcastinfo@gmail.com Voice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111 Twitter – BLOG – Future Events: On August 23 I will present a DCG / CAI Webinar: titled Measure Twice, Implement Once at 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EDT .  See for details. In September, I will  be presenting ‘Life on the Edge: Counting Weird Things on the Web’ on Thursday September 13th at 11:20 at the International Software Measurement and Analysis Conference in Las Vegas.  The conference and workshops run from Sunday September 9 through the 14th.  Details are available at http://www.ifpug.org/educational/workshopagenda2007.htm Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature an interview with Mary Poppendieck on Lean, if you are interested in software process efficiency this is a must cast.

Software Process and MeasurementShow 14! Show 14 features an interview with M.A. Parthasarathy discussing estimation and his new book “Practical Software Estimation Function Point Methods for Insourced and Outsourced Projects."  Partha is the Head of Outsourcing Academy at the Strategic Global Sourcing unit at Infosys. In this role, he is responsible for enabling and developing competencies of the SGS Delivery team, specific to large outsourcing engagements.  Partha can be reached at .  The essay for this cast is a review of Partha’s book “Practical Software Estimation".  If you skip the review (really bad choice) just remember this is book is one to buy and use.  The text of this commentary can be found at my personal blog, . Remember that comments and feedback are welcome!  There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . .  Email SPaMCAST at         spamcastinfo@gmail.com Voice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111 Twitter – BLOG – It is my intent to share all emails and voice messages!  Future Events: On August 23 I will present a DCG / CAI Webinar: titled Measure Twice, Implement Once at 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EDT .  See for details. In September, I will  be presenting ‘Life on the Edge: Counting Weird Things on the Web’ on Thursday September 13th at 11:20 at the International Software Measurement and Analysis Conference in Las Vegas.  The conference and workshops run from Sunday September 9 through the 14th.  Details are available at http://www.ifpug.org/educational/workshopagenda2007.htm News from Friends of SPaMCAST  I got a note from Kenji Hiranabe, I interviewed Kenji in SPaMCAST 7.  We discussed agile and mind maps.  He provided an update on some of the things he is up to – 1. Ruby and Agile combination rant. I have a chance to talk with Matz, the father of Ruby. We talk about Ruby and Agile and video taped and added English subtitles. 2. Sustainable Software Development, book review mind map.  Great book. I made a fancy mind map of the concept. The two can be found in my English blog. Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The next Software Process and Measurement Cast features an interview with Scott Goldfarb on benchmarks.  This interview included tons information for people interested in software metrics.

Software Process and MeasurementShow 13! Six Month Anniversary Show Thirteen features an interview with Gary Gack on Lean Six Sigma.   The interview is phenomenal!  Gary is the founder of Process-Fusion.net and holds an MBA from the Wharton School.  He is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. In addition an ASQ Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSQE), a Visiting Scientist with the Software Engineering Institute where he co-authored the "Measuring for Performance Driven Improvement 1" course for which he is an authorized instructor, and he holds the ITIL Foundation Certification. He has more than 40 years of diverse experience in the software and IT industry, including more than 20 years focused on process improvement.  Gary can be reach by email at or by phone at (904) 579-1894.   The essay for this cast is titled, “Achieving Balance in Outsourcing Governance.""  The text of this commentary can be found at my personal blog, . Remember that comments and feedback are welcome!  There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . .  Email SPaMCAST at         spamcastinfo@gmail.com Voice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111 Twitter – www.twitter.com/tcagley It is my intent to share all emails and voice messages!  Future Events: On August 23 I will present a DCG / CAI Webinar: titled Measure Twice, Implement Once at 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM EDT .  See for details.   In September, I will  be presenting ‘Life on the Edge: Counting Weird Things on the Web’ on Thursday September 13th at 11:20 at the International Software Measurement and Analysis Conference in Las Vegas.  The conference and workshops run from Sunday September 9 througth the 14th.  Details are available at http://www.ifpug.org/educational/workshopagenda2007.htm Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The next Software Process and Measurement Cast features an interview with M.A. Parthasarathy, Mr. Parthasarathy is the author of Practical Software Estimation which was recently published by Addison Wesley.  It is interviews like this that remind of why I started SPaMCAST. I enjoyed the discussion and you will get a ton out of it.

Show Twelve features the second part of an interview with Charles Symons on Cosmic Full Function Points. COSMIC – Full Function Points are one of the 4 functional metrics recognized by ISO as international standards. The two interviews included great material for anyone interested in IT measurement. Charles is the creator of MARKII Function Points and one of the founding members of COSMIC. Information on COSMIC can be found at http://www.cosmicon.com/advantagecs.asp and http://www.gelog.etsmtl.ca/cosmic-ffp/index.html. The essay for this cast is titled, Why Are Requirements So Hard to Get Right, Process. This is Part Two of the essay cycle on requirements. The text of this commentary can be found at my personal blog, www.tcagley.wordpress.com. Remember that comments and feedback are welcome! There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . . Email SPaMCAST at spamcastinfo@gmail.com Voice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111 Twitter – www.twitter.com/tcagley It is my intent to share all emails and voice messages! Future Events: In September, I will be presenting Counting Weird Things on the Web at the International Software Measurement and Analysis Conference in Las Vegas. The conference and workshops run from Sunday September 9 through the 14th. Other Notes:Past Shows Included interviews with (current to oldest): * Charles Symons on COSMIC-FFP * David Herron - "Thoughts of a SPI Warrior" * Patricia Ferdinandi discussing Requirements, * Kenji Hiranabe on Mind Mapping, * Michael Bragen on Parametric Estimation, * Ian Brown on the Basics of Estimation, * Stasia Iwanicki covering Six Sigma and the CMMI, * Capers Jones expounding on the Future of Measurement, and * Will McKnight on PPQA. Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The next Software Process and Measurement Cast (six month anniversary) will feature an interview with Gary Gaack on Lean Six Sigma.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 11! Show Eleven features Part One of an in depth interview with Charles Symons on the topic of COSMIC Full Function Points.  Charles Symons is currently joint project leader of COSMIC, the Common Software Measurement International Consortium. Before leading the development of COSMIC-FFP, Charles invented the Mk II Function Point Analysis technique for sizing software requirements.  Information on COSMIC can be found at and http://www.gelog.etsmtl.ca/cosmic-ffp/index.html.    "Inca Trail and Process Improvement: A Ritual Purification".   The text of this commentary can be found at my personal blog, . Remember that comments and feedback are welcome!  There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . .  Email SPaMCAST at spamcastinfo@gmail.com Voice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111It is my intent to share all emails and voice messages!    Future Events: On June 21 at 3 PM I will be presenting "When Good Numbers Go Bad" at Better Software 2007 in Los Vegas.  The conference and workshops run from Monday June 18 though Thursday June 21 at the Venetian in Las Vegas.  Information is available at http://www.sqe.com/bettersoftwareconf/.  If you are attending let me know and we can schedule a get together. News on the Second Annual International Software Measurement and Analysis Conference on the next cast! Other Notes Ian Brown's article Controlling Software Acquisition Costs With Function Points and Estimation Tool in the May 2007 Crosstalk can be found at Also Caper's Jones Estimating Software Costs Second Edition has hit the book stores!  Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature the conclusion of the interview with Charles Symons discussing COSMIC Full Function Points.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 10! Show Ten features an interview with David Herron focusing on the thoughts and wisdom of a process improvement warrior.  David is one of the founders of David Consulting Group, a practicing consultant and author.  He is now actively invloved with professional coaching and can be reached throught either David Consulting Group () or Ontrack Coaching and Consulting(   The essay for this cast is titled, The Seven Deadly Sins of Metrics Programs?  We pick up with the sin of sloth. Remember that comments and feedback are welcome!    There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . .  Email SPaMCAST at spamcastinfo@gmail.com Voice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111It is my intent to share all emails and voice messages!    Future Events:   On June 21 at 3 PM  I will  be presenting "When Good Numbers Go Bad" at Better Software 2007 in Los Vegas.  The conference and workshops run from Monday June 18 though Thursday June 21 at the Venetian in Las Vegas.  Information is available at http://www.sqe.com/bettersoftwareconf/  If you are attending let me know.   Other Notes  Ian Brown's article Controlling Software Acquisition Costs With Fnciton Points and Estimation Tool in the May 2007 Crosstalk can be found at   Also Caper's Jones Estimating Software Costs Second Edition has hit the book stores!  Review soon.   Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The next Software Process and Measurement Cast features an interview with Charles Symons discussing COSMIC Full Function Points.

Show Nine features an interview with Patricia Ferdinandi which begins an arc on the thorny topic of requirements.  Patricia is uniquely qualified to begin this discussion as both a practicing consultant and author of the book titled A Requirements Pattern: Succeeding in the Internet Economy.  Requirements are a core (maybe the core) concept of delivering ANY type of project.  The essay for this cast is titled, The Seven Deadly Sins of Metrics Programs?  We begin with the sin of pride or one metric to rule them all.Remember that comments and feedback are welcome!  There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . . Email SPaMCAST at spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111It is my intent to share all emails and voice messages!  Future Events: On June 21 at 3 PM  I will  be presenting "When Good Numbers Go Bad" at Better Software 2007 in Las Vegas.  The conference and workshops run from Monday June 18 though Thursday June 21 at the Venetian in Las Vegas.  Information is available at http://tinyurl.com/d9fau  If you are attending let me know.Other Notes: Ian Brown's article Controlling Software Acquisition Costs With Fnciton Points and Estimation Tool in the May 2007 Crosstalk can be found at http://tinyurl.com/86wxf3Also Caper's Jones Estimating Software Costs Second Edition has hit the book stores!  Review soon.Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The next Software Process and Measurement Cast features an interview with David Herron discussing executive coaching.  David is the founder of the David Consulting Group, author, presenter and runner.

Show Eight features an interview with Stephen Finegoldon on the topic of build management.  Build Management is one of those basic blocking and tackling issues that every organization must wrestle with but few do well.  This is especially true for small and medium sized IT shops. Stephen Finegold is the managing partner of SFT Consulting, LLC (www.sftconsulting.com).  SFT Consulting provides outsourced project management, custom software development, and process improvement consulting.  Over the past 15 years, Steve has managed software development in the government, non-profit and the commercial sectors. Stephen Finegold is a Project Management Professional and a Microsoft Certified Professional. The essay for this cast is titled, Involvement:  Whose Industry Is It Anyway?   The essay throws down the gauntlet on the obligation to get involved in the industry you involved in.  Involvement and content creation is CRITICAL to the intellectual vitality of the world around you! Remember that comments and feedback are welcome!  There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . .  Email SPaMCAST at spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111It is my intent to share all emails and voice messages!  Future Events: On June 21 at 3 PM  I will  be presenting "When Good Numbers Go Bad" at Better Software 2007 in Las Vegas.  The conference and workshops run from Monday June 18 though Thursday June 21 at the Venetian in Las Vegas.  Information is available at http://tinyurl.com/d9fau.  If you are attending let me know.Other Notes: Ian Brown's article Controlling Software Acquisition Costs With Fnciton Points and Estimation Tool in the May 2007 Crosstalk can be found at http://tinyurl.com/86wxf3Also Caper's Jones Estimating Software Costs Second Edition has hit the book stores!  Review soon.Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The next Software Process and Measurement Cast features a great interview with Patricia Ferdinandi author of A Requirements Pattern:  Succeeding in the Internet Economy.  The interview will cover the topic of build management.  The essay will be on the first of the deadly sins of metrics.

SPaMCAST Seven! Show Seven features an interview with Kenji Hiranabe on using mind mapping in agile projects.  Mind Mapping is a powerful technique to order information and concentrate communication.  The interview with Mr. Hiranabe includes a large number of practical applications of the method to agile and plan based projects.  Kenji Hiranabe, CEO of Change Vision, Inc (http://www.change-vision.com/index_en.html).  Change Vision develops tools to help deliver effective projects.  He is a Japanese software development consultant and book translator of Extreme Programming Installed, Lean Software Development, Agile Project Management, and other Agile books. He's also an author of JUDE, a UML and MindMap editor software and TRICHORD, an agile project management tool. You can read his blog at .He specializes in agile development, object-oriented software construction and project facilitation.  The essay for this cast is titled, Why are requirements so hard to get right? Part 1.   The essay focuses on the people factors affecting the requirements process.  The people factors typically are the most volatile and a seemingly least controllable of the people, process and environment variables within the requirements process.  Process,  and environment will be discussed in subsequent essays.   Remember that  comments and feedback are welcome!  There are a number of ways to share your thoughts . . .  Email SPaMCAST at Voice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111It is my intent to share all emails and voice messages!   Future Events:  On June 21 at 3 PM  I will  be presenting "When Good Numbers Go Bad" at Better Software 2007 in Los Vegas.  The conference and workshops run from Monday June 18 though Thursday June 21 at the Venetian in Las Vegas.  Information is available at   If you are attending let me know.   Next Software Process and Measurement Cast:  The next Software Process and Measurement Cast features an important interview with Stephen Finegold of SFT Consulting, LLC.  The interview will cover the topic of build management.  The essay will be on the first of the deadly sins of metrics.