SPaMCAST 319 – Requirements, Communications, Fixing IT

SPaMCAST 319 includes three segments! The first segment is our essay, Why Are Requirements So Hard To Get Right?  Much of the problems with requirements boil down to people, and while people are not the only factor driving the quality of requirements, they are a critical factor.  Pay attention to how people are being deployed, provide support and instruction and make darn sure the right people are in the right place at the right time. The second segment marks the debut of Jo Ann Sweeny’s new column Explaining Change.  Jo Ann’s first installment tackles the need for defining the impact you expect communication activities to make – knowledge, attitudes, action.  Visit Jo Ann’s website at http://www.sweeneycomms.com/ and let her know what you think of her new column. The third segment features a new entry of Gene Hughson’s column: Form Follows Function.  In this installment, Gene talks about his blog entry, Fixing IT – Credible or Cassandra? Gene points out that credibility is a precious commodity that, if squandered, is difficult to recover even when you are correct! Call to action! We are in the middle of a re-read of John Kotter’s classic Leading Change of on the Software Process and Measurement Blog.  Are you participating in the re-read? Please feel free to jump in and add your thoughts and comments! After we finish the current re-read will need to decide which book will be next.  We are building a list of the books that have had the most influence on readers of the blog and listeners to the podcast.  Can you answer the question? What are the two books that have most influenced you career (business, technical or philosophical)?  Send the titles to spamcastinfo@gmail.com.  First, we will compile a list and publish it on the blog.  Second, we will use the list to drive future  “Re-read” Saturdays. Re-read Saturday is an exciting new feature that began on the Software Process and Measurement blog on November 8th.  Feel free to choose you platform; send an email, leave a message on the blog, Facebook or just tweet the list (use hashtag #SPaMCAST)! Next In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast we will feature our interview with Alfonso Bucero. We discussed his book, Today Is A Good Day. Attitude is an important tool for a project manager, team member or executive.  In his book Alfonso provides a plan for honing your attitude. Upcoming Events DCG Webinars: Agile Risk Management - It Is Still ImportantDate: December 18th, 2014Time: 11:30am ESTRegister Now The Software Process and Measurement Cast has a sponsor. As many you know I do at least one webinar for the IT Metrics and Productivity Institute (ITMPI) every year. The ITMPI provides a great service to the IT profession. ITMPI’s mission is to pull together the expertise and educational efforts of the world’s leading IT thought leaders and to create a single online destination where IT practitioners and executives can meet all of their educational and professional development needs. The ITMPI offers a premium membership that gives members unlimited free access to 400 PDU accredited webinar recordings, and waives the PDU processing fees on all live and recorded webinars. The Software Process and Measurement Cast some support if you sign up here. All the revenue our sponsorship generates goes for bandwidth, hosting and new cool equipment to create more and better content for you. Support the SPaMCAST and learn from the ITMPI. 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.