SPaMCAST 308 – Michael West, Return on Process

Software Process and Measurement Cast number 308 features our interview with Michael West discussing his book Return on Process.  Process improvement can have a dramatic impact to an organization's bottom line BUT ONLY with careful thought and planning.  Michael West explains that process improvements with real impact are rarely an accident. Michael’s bio . . . Michael West is a life-long practitioner and student of process improvement. He is the co-founder of Natural Systems Process Improvement (Natural SPI), a consultancy specializing in designing, developing, and deploying process systems that enable measurable business performance improvement gains. Mr. West’s process insights and innovations have helped many organizations in various sectors of the economy achieve real process and performance improvement. His process consulting clients include ATK, Autodesk, AVL, BAE, BB&T, Crane Aerospace, DCS, Deloitte, Sandia National Labs, Reliability First, and the US Navy. Mr. West frequently presents and speaks at industry conferences, and is the author of Real Process Improvement Using the CMMI (CRC Press, 2004) and Return On Process (ROP): Getting Real Performance Results from Process Improvement (CRC Press, 2013). Contact Michael at:Web: http://www.naturalspi.com/Email: michael@naturalspi.comTwitter: @ItsTheProcess Did you like the interview?  Buy Michael's booksReturn On Process (ROP): Getting Real Performance Results from Process ImprovementReal Process Improvement Using the CMMI Next SPaMCAST 309 features our essay on Agile user acceptance testing. Agile user acceptance testing (AUAT) confirms that the output of a project meets the business’ needs and requirements. The concept of acceptance testing early and often is almost inarguable, whether you are using Agile or any other method. AUAT generates early customer feedback, which increases customer satisfaction and reduces the potential for delivering defects. The problem is that implementing an effective and efficient AUAT isn’t always easy.   Upcoming Events DCG Webinars: Agile Risk Management – It Is Still Important! October 24, 2014 11:230 EDT Has the adoption of Agile techniques magically erased risk from software projects? Or, have we just changed how we recognize and manage risk?  Or, more frighteningly, by changing the project environment through adopting Agile techniques, have we tricked ourselves into thinking that risk has been abolished?   Upcoming Conferences: I will be presenting at the International Conference on Software Quality and Test Management in San Diego, CA on October 1.  I have a great discount code!!!! Contact me if you are interested. I will be presenting at the North East Quality Council 60th Conference October 21st and 22nd in Springfield, MA. More on all of these great events in the near future! I look forward to seeing all SPaMCAST readers and listeners that attend 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.