SPaMCAST 290 – Jan Beaver, The Agile Team Handbook

Listen to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 290. SPaMCAST 290 features our interview with Jan Beaver, author of The Agile Team Handbook. Jan’s book provides team members with the resources needed not only to become Agile but to practice Agile. Jan Beaver is a Ph.D. educator with over 25 years of experience in the software industry. His experience covers the gamut of management, development, QA, and technical writing. His first practical exposure to Scrum was a dramatic eye-opening experience that for the first time demonstrated that there really was a better way not just to develop software, but a better way to work in general. Jan is an expert Agile trainer and coach who has worked with a wide variety of companies in an equally wide variety of industries including telecommunications, medical, insurance, financial, media, utilities, and smart-grid energy. He specializes in bringing Scrum and broader Agile and Lean principles and practices to teams, helping them to become effective, productive, and self-sustaining. He also works at the enterprise level using both training and coaching to help organizations become successful in their Agile practice. Jan recently brought his passion for teams and teamwork to bear in a concise, content-rich volume. Applying Agile values and principles through Scrum practices provides teams and organizations with a roadmap for success in today's challenging business environment. The Agile Team Handbook is a practical, hands-on guide to building great teams and great organizations. Buy The Agile Team Handbook (I did!) Contact Jan:Twitter: @Jan_BeaverWebsite: http://www.greyrockagile.com/home.htmlEmail: jbeaver@greyrockagile.com I have shortened the introduction of the cast this week. I would like your feedback. Get in touch with us anytime or leave a comment here on the blog. Help support the SPaMCAST by reviewing and rating it on iTunes. It helps people find the cast. Like us on Facebook while you’re at it. Next week we will feature our essay on splitting user stories.  User stories are a powerful tool used by many agile teams to conceptualize the value they will deliver. Generally when stories are captured they can range from granular units of work that can be accomplished in a day to gargantuan features that will require multiple sprints to complete (epics).  Epics are very difficult to work with therefore all Agile teams need techniques for splitting user stories into smaller units of work. Next week we will feature hands on practical advice. Upcoming Events ITMPI Webinar! On June 3 I will be presenting the webinar titled “Rescuing a Troubled Project With Agile.” The webinar will demonstrate how Agile can be used to rescue troubled projects.  Your will learn how to recognize that a project is in trouble and how the discipline, focus, and transparency of Agile can promote recovery. Register now!   Upcoming DCG Webinars:May 22 11:30 EDT – Agile User StoriesJune 19 11:30 EDT – How To Split User StoriesJuly 24 11:30 EDT - The Impact of Cognitive Bias On Teams Check these out at www.davidconsultinggroup.com I look forward to seeing or hearing all SPaMCAST readers and listeners at all of these great events! 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.