SPaMCAST 347 – Agile Project Management, Conway’s Law and Microservices, Hardcore Testing

The Software Process and Measurement Cast includes three columns.  The first is our essay on managing Agile projects and teams. I often say project management is dead. That does not mean that the pressures that drive the need to manage work have gone away. In the end the “what” of project management is important because control, discipline and coordination are needed tools to deliver value; the journey toward Agile is the reframing of the “how” of project management. This week Gene Hughson returns with an entry from his Form Follows Function column.  Gene tackles the topic of whether the application of Conway’s Law makes microservices more of an organizational approach than an architecture.   After listening, check out Gene’s Form Follows Function blog! The third column in this SPaMCAST magazine is from the Software Sensei, Kim Pries.  Kim tackles hardcore testing.  Kim discusses the implications and uses of this aggressive type of testing in hardware, software and wetware. A great line up! Call to action! Reviews of the Podcast help to attract new listeners.  Can you write a review of the Software Process and Measurement Cast and post it on the podcatcher of your choice?  Whether you listen on ITunes or any other podcatcher, a review will help to grow the podcast!  Thank you in advance! Re-Read Saturday News We just completed the Re-Read Saturday of Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox’s The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement which began on February 21nd. What did you think?  Did the re-read cause you to pick  The Goal back up for a refresher? Visit the Software Process and Measurement Blog and review the whole re-read. Note: If you don’t have a copy of the book, buy one.  If you use the link below it will support the Software Process and Measurement blog and podcast. Dead Tree Version or Kindle Version  Next week we will begin re-reading The Mythical Man-Month. Get a copy now and start reading! Upcoming Events Software Quality and Test Management  September 13 – 18, 2015 San Diego, California http://qualitymanagementconference.com/ I will be speaking on the impact of cognitive biases on teams!  Let me know if you are attending!   More on other great conferences next week.   Next SPaMCast The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature our interview with Woody Zuill.  Some people might think “that there is no Woody only Zuul” (apologies to the Ghostbusters) when it comes to topics like #NoEstimates.  However as Woody points out, it is important to peer past the “thou musts” to gain greater understanding of what you should be doing! 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.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book here. Available in English and Chinese.