Software Process and Measurement Cast

Empathy Is Not A Dirty Word In Leadership, A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 859

SPaMCAST 859 features a panel discussion on the role of empathy in getting work done in teams and organizations. This is not a black or white issue, the panel suggests there are nuances. The panel includes , , , and Please welcome Brad to the cast!  I have wanted to get Brad on the podcast for several years. The stars finally aligned!  Visit Mr Bittorf on LinkedIn     Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Overwhelmed? Find your focus. Readers praise "Mastering Work Intake" for its practical, actionable advice. Learn to prioritize effectively and eliminate bottlenecks. Real results, real change. Discover the system that simplifies complex projects. Order your copy today! Links to buy a copy… JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Interested in continuing the conversation on work intake with peers in a safe space?  Join the Mastering Work Intake Community on LinkedIn   Re-read Saturday News In our re-read of , we reach Chapter 12. The idea that I continue to return to when I contemplate this chapter, titled Individual Freedom As A Social Commitment, is that we are responsible for the consequences of our actions. Sen points out that we “cannot escape that the terrible occurrences that we see around us, are quintessentially our problems.”  He continues, “As competent human beings, we can not shirk the task of judging how things are and what needs to be done.”  Logistics note:  Next week, we will feature a few parting thoughts.   Previous installments of : All previous installments can be found at or Next SPaMCAST  The SPaMCAST 860 will feature a conversation with Paul Gibbons.  We discussed his new book, . As with my other interviews with Paul, we covered a wide range of topics from ethics to leadership.  

A Tale Of Work Intake Woe, Safety, Essays and Conversations With Jeremy Bearriult, SPaMCAST 858

SPaMCAST 858 features a tale of work intake woe set in the Innovatech world that and I created. In this world, we use a bit of fiction to highlight real-world problems without pointing fingers or calling anyone a box of rocks. I would love your feedback about using allegory to highlight real issues.  We will also have a visit from Jeremy Bearriult, The Evolutionary Agilist, who will bring his humor and wisdom to the podcast.  Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Overwhelmed? Find your focus. Readers praise "Mastering Work Intake" for its practical, actionable advice. Learn to prioritize effectively and eliminate bottlenecks. Real results, real change. Discover the system that simplifies complex projects. Order your copy today! Links to buy a copy… JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Interested in continuing the conversation on work intake with peers in a safe space?  Join the Mastering Work Intake Community on LinkedIn     Re-read Saturday News In our re-read of , we reach Chapter 10 titled Culture And Human Rights. This chapter explores the “intellectual edifice of human rights.” The concept of human rights is often trotted out almost as a totem in debates. We need to get beyond that perspective. Logistics note:  We have two more weeks in this re-read.  Next week, we will reflect on Chapter 12 (we did Chapter 11 earlier due to its relevance to current events), followed by a wrap-up.   Previous installments of : All previous installments can be found at or Next SPaMCAST  The SPaMCAST 859 will be a surprise. It will either be a panel discussion of the role of empathy in project management or an interview with Paul Gibbons. Whichever gets recorded first will be presented first. 🙂

The Future Of Software Development, A Conversation with Andy Hillard, SPaMCAST 857

SPaMCAST 857 features our interview with Andy Hilliard, CEO of Accelerance and author of . In this episode, we talk about the future of software development and how global teams fit into the current geopolitical perspective. Nothing light and frothy in this week's discussion!   Andy Hillard's Bio:  As CEO of Accelerance, Andy leads and advocates for the globalization and collaboration of great software teams with our clients in search of talent and innovation Building a distributed extension of their engineering function and culture. At Accelerance, we’re passionate about global software development and committed to making your global relationship an enviable success. Accelerance helps companies create and execute better software engineering strategies using global software outsourcing partnerships by providing professional guidance for planning, sourcing, and managing global teams… to achieve valuable benefits without risks and challenges. Accelerance has certified software engineering partners in more than 35 countries that are "large enough to scale but small enough to care". Website:      Linkedin:     YouTube:    Synergea:      Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Overwhelmed? Find your focus. Readers praise "Mastering Work Intake" for its practical, actionable advice. Learn to prioritize effectively and eliminate bottlenecks. Real results, real change. Discover the system that simplifies complex projects. Order your copy today! Links to buy a copy… JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Interested in continuing the conversation on work intake with peers in a safe space?  Join the Mastering Work Intake Community on LinkedIn   Re-read Saturday News In our re-read of we reach Chapter 9: Population, Food, and Freedom. Sen begins with the sentence: “The contemporary age is not short of terrible and nasty happenings, but the persistence of extensive hunger in a world of unprecedented prosperity is surely one of the worst.” Previous installments of : All previous installments can be found at and Next SPaMCAST  The SPaMCAST 858 will revisit the topic of work intake. Over the past year, and I have been discussing the topic of work intake in support of our book, Mastering Work Intake, Almost unanimously everyone we have talked to agrees that it is the root cause of a wide range of problems. Impacts (but are not limited to) include quality issues, reduced value, job insecurity, and failures of trust. The tragedy is not that the problem is not recognized but that many people believe they lack agency even though there are ways to take control of work intake. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Bearriult, The Evolutionary Agilist, who will bring his humor and wisdom to the podcast. 

Playing Billiards On A Boat, Essays and Conversations with Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 856

Consider sailing on a lake. It is a great day, there is only a slight rolling swell to contend with. Because you are so relaxed, you slip below and start a game of billiards with your mate. Its not too hard to time the rocking, but nothing is perfect. Then, out of nowhere, a thunderstorm. Who knows where the cue ball will land?  How different is this example to any organizational transformation (or project or program) you have been involved in? The SPaMCAST 856 features an essay on delivery in an unstable environment and why it is like playing billiards on a boat. The outcome is unpredictable. We also have a visit from ! Mr Quigley brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the cast. In this installment, we talk about configuration management.  Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! From ad-hoc to optimized! Dive deep into work intake with this insightful book. Learn the "Gold Standard" and practical deviations, plus how to use flow metrics effectively. Understand the human element and align with Agile principles for better delivery. Perfect for executives, managers, and coaches. Links to buy a copy… JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Interested in continuing the conversation on work intake with peers in a safe space? Join the Mastering Work Intake Community on LinkedIn     Re-read Saturday News In our re-read of , we tackled Chapter 8, Women’s Agency and Social Change. Paraphrasing Wikipedia (to make it a bit less technical), the definition of agency is a person's ability to initiate and control their actions and the feeling they have of being in charge of their own actions. The concept of agency is important in all human endeavors, not just economic and social development.  Previous installments of : Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8:   Week 9: Week 10: Week 11:   Next SPaMCAST  The SPaMCAST 857 will feature our interview with Andy Hilliard, CEO of Accelerance and author of the book Synergea. We talk about the future of software development and how global teams fit into the current geopolitical perspective. Nothing light and frothy in this week's discussion!  

Squeezing Testing Has Predictable Results, A Conversation with Khurram Mir, SPaMCAST 855

The SPaMCAST 855 features my conversation with Khurram Mir. We talked about testing, quality assurance, control, and frameworks. We discussed whether we would still discuss the link between continual schedule pressure and reduced quality in 19 years. What is your opinion? Let's face it: Effective testing is essential for the effective delivery of value.   Bio Steering Kualitatem as Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Khurram focuses on nurturing client relationships through transparency and a commitment to quality. The team's dedication to customer satisfaction and growth has been unwavering for over 15 years. With a distinct proficiency in new business development and software applications, they have successfully positioned Kualitatem as a leader in quality assurance. Founding Kualitee highlighted Khurram's journey in product management, channeling his competencies into creating a tool that simplifies and enhances the testing process for teams. The platform reflects their mission to make quality management both efficient and enjoyable. Contact Data: LinkedIN: Web: (Company) Web: (Personal) Email: khurram@kualitatem.com Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Look at your to-do list and tell me your work intake process is perfectly balanced. Whether you are reacting to your work or personal backlog, it's time to learn to take control!  Buy a copy of Mastering Work Intake (your work-life balance will improve). Keyan Reid bought a copy and wrote a review titled “” Links to buy a copy… JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Interested in continuing the conversation on work intake with peers in a safe space?  Join the Mastering Work Intake Community on LinkedIn   Re-read Saturday News In our re-read of , we tackle Chapter 7, Famines and Other Crises. This chapter examines the impact of freedoms and leadership through the lens of famines and other crises.  This chapter also builds upon Chapter 6’s discussion of democracy. Human agency can cause and sustain famines and other crises at all levels of society.  Previous installments of : Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Social Choice and Individual Behavior Week 9: Famines and Other Crises Next SPaMCAST  The SPaMCAST 856 will feature an essay on delivery in an unstable environment and why it is like playing billiards on a boat. The outcome is unpredictable. We will also have a visit from ! Mr Quigley will bring his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column.