Software Process and Measurement Cast

SPaMCAST 574 features our interview with Ian Reynolds, chief Solutions Architect at Zibtek  We answered the question, What is a solution architect? The discussion coved ideas across starts-ups, medium, and large-sized businesses. Ian paints the solutions architect as an action hero whose raison d'être is to deliver business value.

SPaMCAST 573 features our essay using a workflow to prioritize a backlog. Items on any backlog proliferate. Product backlogs used in agile and lean development approaches are no different.  Many outsiders have the mistaken notion that once on the list that that is the end of the story -- let’s dissuade them of this idea. Gene Hughson brings his Form Follows Function column to the podcast.  Gene and I discussed his experience as an application architect. 

SPaMCAST 572 features our interview with Michael Larsen.  Mr. Larsen and I battled fires, Santa Ana winds, and power cuts to have a great conversation on testability.  Anyone that has participated in delivering software EVER has wrestled with a discussion of whether a story or requirement can be proved.  Michael brings fresh and actionable insights into how to assure testability.  

SPaMCAST 571 features our essay titled the Art of Saying No.  I recently presented a workshop on saying no -- a simple word that is very difficult to say.  During the session, three specific reasons why participants could not say no generated a huge debate. Feel free to share your opinion.  We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault.  In the QA Corner this month, Jeremy provides observations about outside interests and their ability to improve focus and reduce burnout.

SPaMCAST 570 features our essay on the components of good sprint goals. Sprint goals provide direction and energy, and they communicate with the outside world. We provide a structure to keep goals simple and impactful.   We will also have a visit from Susan Parente. In this installment of Susan’s Not a Scrumdamentalist column, we discuss value.  Value is core to many practices, the problem is that value is a very nebulous concept. Susan provides guidance.

SPaMCAST 569 features our essay on the five types of meetings.  Meetings are the most important event in any organization — well that is what it seems like.  Let's put a name on the five most common types in software-centric organizations. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault.  In the QA Corner this month, Jeremy provides observations about the inclusion (and sometimes the lack of inclusion) of QAs in ceremonies such as the Daily Scrum. 

This week in SPaMCAST 567 [568 OR 567?] marks the return of Sandeep Koorse.  Sandeep brings deep insight into the Agile mindset, passion, and experimentation. All three are required for a healthy team. Sandeep last appeared as part of SPaMCAST 511.

This week in SPaMCAST 567  we discuss the impact of herding on work entry.  Herding in decision making effectively takes “no” off the table, leading to uncontrolled work entry. This type of behavior is response-driven and dangerous. We will also have a visit from Gene Hughson to complete his three-part discussion of the solution architect. Today we discuss the solution architect as risk mitigation. 

SPaMCAST 566 features our interview with Christopher Gerg. Security issues can range from clicking on the wrong thing in emails to ransomware and is painful and costly. Security might be everybody’s responsibility however someone needs to lead the charge. Our conversation covered the role of the CISO in today’s organization, security in software development, and cybersecurity in the real world.  

The dates for the third Agile Online Summit is getting close! If history is a harbinger, Tom Henricksen will serve up marvelous content for all agile practitioners in easily consumed chunks. I hope to "see" you there!  Watch the video and then sign up at  https://www.agileonlinesummit.com/2019 October 7 -11th online!  

SPaMCAST 565 tackles three ways to mess up sprint goals. Sprint goals are a statement of the value that teams strive to deliver.  It is possible to complete all of the stories or work items only to realize that the team has lost sight of the goal. We also have a promo for the Agile Online Summit https://www.agileonlinesummit.com/2019 T Rounding out the cast, we have a visit from Jon M Quigley with an installment of The Alpha and Omega of Product Development. 

SPaMCAST 564 is part 2 of my conversation with Steve Tendon and Daniel Dioron.  We discussed their book Tame Your Work Flow. Steve and Danie ask the question “Do you need a high-performance enterprise management & governance approach improving planning, execution, and delivery while dealing with multiple projects, events, and teams?”, the interview probes potential answers. In order to answer the question, the three of us take a deep dive into applying Goldratt’s ToC in the real world.

SPaMCAST 563 is part one of my conversation with Steve Tendon and Daniel Dioron.  We discussed their new book Tame Your Work Flow. Steve and Daniel share deep insights into applying Goldratt’s Theory of Constraints in the real world. After you have listened to the conversation you will never view the flow of work as an esoteric topic.  Steve, Daniel, and I had a wide-ranging conversation, I decided to ignore my own guideline on two-part interviews and let the tape run (metaphorically).

SPaMCAST 562 features our essay on the power of saying no.  I firmly believe that unless you have control over the amount of work you take, you are asking for a trainwreck.  The problem is that saying no is often harder than being late or over budget.   We will also have a visit from the Software Sensei.  Kim Pries is back to kick off September with an essay titled, Real Planning. While the actual plan might not be exactly what happens in real life, the act of planning is crucial. 

In SPaMCAST 561 we discuss making the Daily Scrum work for the mission it was intended.  When the goal of a daily meeting is something other than group planning there are more efficient and less expensive approaches even for highly agile teams to address status and have a social event. Also in this podcast, Susan Parente brings us her Not A Scrumdamentalist column.  Susan discusses the product owner's role and why it is important.