Software Process and Measurement Cast

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 157! The SPaMCAST 157 answers the question, "why measure?" The essay begins:I was recently asked the question that, by its sheer simplicity, stopped me in my tracks. It was "why measure?" I wandered through a number of high minded and academic reasons describing why you should measure. Interested in sponsoring the SPaMCAST? If you are interested...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 156! The SPaMCAST 156 features my interview with Linda Rising. One word, AGILE! Another word, IMPORTANT! Linda Rising has a Ph. D. from Arizona State University. Her background includes university teaching as well as work in industry in the areas of telecommunications, avionics, and strategic weapons systems. She is an internationally known pres...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 155! The SPaMCAST 155 features the first part of my essay Systems Thinking and Process Improvement: Systems and Systems Thinking, Part 1. A short part of a larger essay (flying today to Ireland). The essay begins:Have you ever researched, prototyped, piloted and implemented changes to processes only to find that that the final product takes just...

The SPaMCAST 154 features my interview with Bill Fox. We discussed process improvement and his publishing project, 5 Minutes to Process Improvement Success. 5 Minutes to Process Improvement Success provides a wealth of process improvement advice and information. Bill is a project management and performance improvement, consultant. Progressive organizations seeking to gain extraordinary value and r...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 153! A funny thing happened on the way to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 153, I was distracted by a nice shiny idea therefore we have a short essay titled, "Impetus for Change". Because this essay was short I have included an essay from SPaMCAST 8 (May 2007) on Involvement. The topic is just as relevant today as then! Shameless Ad for...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 151! The SPaMCAST 152 will features an interview with Ron Rosenhead. We discussed all things project management! Are you a project manager, know a project manager or are looking for project management training? This interview is for you! Ron's Bio: Ron Rosenhead is and has been the Chief Executive Officer for Project Agency – a London based proj...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 151! The SPaMCAST 151 features my essay Urgency and Importance: A Balance? Today's world is complicated. The lines between home and work have all but been erased due to tools that provide 24x7 connections and data feeds. The competition for our attention is daunting. Interested in being a sponsor? Contact Tom Cagley at SPaMCASTinfo@gmail.com for...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 150! The SPaMCAST 150 features my interview Yuval Yeret. We discussed Kanban, Agile, life, the universe and everything. Ok I might have gotten a bit carried away but only a bit. SPAMCast listener ordering an AgileSparks Assessment and Management Focusing workshop by end of 2011 will get a 25% discount from list price - Mention SPAMCast when cont...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 149! The SPaMCAST 149 features my simple checklist focusing on CMMI Readiness. We look at three categories in this checklist; resources, plans and attitude. Even if you are not contemplating the CMMI this checklist will be of interest. THe SPaMCAST 149 is sponsored by LeanKit Kanban. LeanKit Kanban is a software tool for kanban that is as simple...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 148!The Software Process and Measurement cast 148 is sponsored by LeanKit Kanban. The interview in the SPaMCAST 148 is with Mattias Skarin. We talked about kanban, effectiveness and software development philosophy. I think it was a great interview and I hope you will like it! Biography: Mattias Skarin Sun Tzu once said the ultimate responsibilit...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 147! The Software Process and Measurement cast 147 is sponsored by LeanKit Kanban. The essay in the SPaMCAST 147, which was edited as I flew to Zurich Switzerland, is titled Selfishness and Process Improvement. This essay suggests when marketing process changes to critical influencers you must understand the strategies they use to derive value f...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 146! SPaMCAST 146 features my interview with SPaMCAST 146 features my interview with Michael West! Mr West wrote "Real Process Improvement Using the CMMI." We discussed the book and how and why the CMMI can be a tool for process improvement. Michael West has over 30 years experience innovating how software and systems are developed and delivered...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 145! In the SPaMCAST 145 we have an entry of the Metrics Minute. IFPUG Function Points are a measure of the functionality delivered by the project or application being counted based on a set of rules documented in the IFPUG Counting Practices Manual. The measure of delivered functionality is a proxy for size which can be used in estimating and m...

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...

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....

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 Jo...

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...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 140! SPaMCAST 140 features my interview with Raja Bavani. We talked about his great article "The ten best influences on software product engineering." 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 Eng...

I have combined the blog entries titled "Agile is from Venus and PMOs from Mars" into a single paper with some tweaks and edits for those that do not want to listen to the podcast or read the blog in serial fashion. Read it and let me your thoughts and comments then give it to a friend and let them know about the blog and podcast.

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 question...

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 listener...

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...

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, Program Management Complexity: A Competency Model (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. Gi...

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...

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 134! SPaMCAST 134 features my interview with Cynthia Kurtz on narratives and stories and how stories can be a VERY powereful tool for gathering requirements and for knowledge management. I am already planning to listen to this one again because of the huge amount of value Cynthia provided! Cynthia Kurtz is an independent researcher, writer and s...