Better ROI from Software Development

Continuing my mini-series on the Scrum Framework, I look at stopping a sprint. Should you ever stop a sprint?  And if you do, under what circumstances? ----- Find this episodes show notes at: https://red-folder.com/podcasts/80 Have an idea for an episode topic, or want to see what is coming up: https://red-folder.com/podcasts/roadmap

Continuing my mini-series on the Scrum Framework, I look at Problems. We commonly struggle to raise and discuss Problems in our Organisations; but in this episode, I talk about how Scrum drags those problems into the light and actively encourages us to resolved them. ----- Find this episodes show notes at: https://red-folder.com/podcasts/79 Have an idea for an episode topic, or want to see what is...

Continuing my mini-series on the Scrum Framework, I take a look at the potential warning flag of the team asking for more. While the team asking for more maybe a good thing, it can also be a sign of a problem in the team - and maybe in the management team. ----- Find this episodes show notes at: https://red-folder.com/podcasts/78 Have an idea for an episode topic, or want to see what is coming up:...

Continuing my mini-series on the Scrum Framework, I look at conflict. We commonly have negative contentions about conflict; but in this episode, I talk about why healthy conflict is so important for our teams to produce the best work. ----- Find this episodes show notes at: https://red-folder.com/podcasts/77 Have an idea for an episode topic, or want to see what is coming up: https://red-folder.co...

Over the last few episodes, I've been talking about Scrum, an agile framework. In this episode, I want to talk about the Definition of Done. The Definition of Done comes from the Increment description - the Increment being on...

Continuing my mini-series on the Scrum Framework, I look at some of the common problems I see with its adoption. I discuss problems with transitioning the traditional Project Manager and Business Analysis role into Scrum, and dangers of using pick 'n' mix Scrum.

Following on from last week's primer of the Scrum, I take a look at some of the theories and values behind the Agile Framework.

In this episode I introduce Scrum - an Agile Framework popular within Software Development. This episode serves as a primer for future episodes - in which I will dig deeper.

Is a bonus the best form of employee motivation? In this podcast I talk about the dangers of a bonus culture and how to think about it differently.

In this week's episode I talk about meetings as they relate to Software Development - I introduce you to the good, the bad and the ugly.

In this episode I ask if we are making enough time for focused work. Focused work is critical to us to allow us to solve problems and do the most valuable work. Do we need to think about the time we are providing for ourselves, our teams, and our organisations?

In this episode I talk about the similarities between our New Year resolutions and major business initiatives; why we set them, why they are attractive and why they often fail.

Happy New Year and welcome to 2021.  In this episode I share my predictions for the year ahead. With Covid-19 doing more to drive technical disruption last year than any of the leadership team, I expect the trend to continue. Listen to hear my predication on becoming more people centric, more security, IR35 disruption, cloud, and Microsoft Blazor. 

Today's marketing is full of the promise of miracle cures for our problems. Full of "Do this one thing to achieve amazing results". Full of Silver Bullets. In this episode, I talk about why there are no Silver Bullets in Software Development. Please note; I'll be taking some time off over the Christmas and New Year period.  Listen out for my next episode the second week of January.  Stay safe, Mar...

In this episode, I talk about a recent software project and how I've used many of the processes I have introduced in prior podcasts. I talk about how I applied them. And how they fit together to allow me to develop software with confidence - minimizing risk and maximizing the ability to adapt.

Having your team working at 100% utilisation is a good thing for ROI, right? Software Developers are expensive, surely maximizing their available time is the best way to achieve ROI? In this episode, I discuss why maximizing time is not as important as value to the end customer - and that focus on 100% utilisation is bad for ROI.

Doing "Big Bang" releases may seem like an effective use of time and people.  They may carry huge prestige and bragging rights for their leadership.  But are they good for ROI? In this episode, I talk about the dangers they bring - from dangerously high levels of risk to reduced agility to respond to market pressures. 

We think we want to employ the "Rockstar" developer.  We want the superstar. We actively recruit for it - we even put it into the job adverts. But is the "Rockstar" good for ROI? In this episode, I discuss why I believe they are actually the reverse - they are "Bad for ROI".

Gantt Charts are a popular tool for visualising dependencies for complex activities.  In this episode I discuss why the use of Gantt Charts are bad for ROI in Software Development.

Through September I ran a survey to establish UK Executive's attitudes towards custom Software Development. Unfortunately the survey failed to obtain enough respondents to be useful, but I want to share my experience. So in this podcast, I largely cover how the survey was designed, how I promoted it and the lessons learnt.

In this episode I continue to look at professionalism in software development. I take a look at the ninth oath from the Programmer's Oath by Uncle Bob Martin, introduced in episode #51, to explore further: "I Promise that, to the best of my ability and judgement: I will never stop learning and improving my&nb...

In this episode I continue to look at professionalism in software development. I take a look at the eighth oath from the Programmer's Oath by Uncle Bob Martin, introduced in episode #51, to explore further: "I Promise that, to the best of my ability and judgement: I will produce estimates that are honest both...

In this episode I continue to look at professionalism in software development. I take the seventh oath from the Programmer's Oath by Uncle Bob Martin, introduced in episode #51, to explore further: "I Promise that, to the best of my ability and judgement: I will continuously ensure that others can cover for me, and that I can cover for them."

During September, I'm running a short survey to understand UK Executive's attitudes to custom software development.  Please take the time and have your say at: https://software-survey.red-folder.com/ In this episode I continue to look at professionalism in software development. I take the sixth oath from the Programmer's Oath by Uncle Bob Martin, introduced in episode #51, to explore further:...

During September, I'm running a short survey to understand UK Executive's attitudes to custom software development.  Please take the time and have your say at: https://software-survey.red-folder.com/ In this episode I continue to look at professionalism in software development. I take the fifth oath from the Programmer's Oath by Uncle Bob Martin, introduced in episode #51, to explore further:...