SPaMCAST 65 - Brandau, Business Analysts, Ferdinandi

The interview in SPaMCAST 65 is with Laura Brandau.  We discussed business analysis, the role of the business analyst, how business analysts impact projects and the organizations they serve and how we can measure both the role and the impact of the role. Laura Brandau is passionate about helping organizations create value through their investments in software.  She helps stakeholders conceptualize comprehensive solutions and creates alignment about project outcomes through proactive communication and analysis. Laura is the President and Principal Consultant at Clear Spring Business Analysis, a company she founded to deliver results-oriented services enabling clients to achieve a greater return on their software investments. Prior to founding Clear Spring, Laura worked in a variety of roles across multiple disciplines, including enterprise business analysis, project management, quality assurance, and information architecture.Laura is actively involved in the International Institute of Business Analysis, working at the international level as the Career Center Product Manager and the local level as the Vice President of Marketing for the Denver chapter. She also contributes to the business analyst profession by hosting Bridging the Gap between Business and IT, a blog dedicated to helping technology professionals improve how they engage with the business community. She recently published How to Start a Business Analyst Career, an eBook to help professionals looking to become BAs.Contact:Email:     laura@clearspringanalysis.comBlog:     http://www.bridging-the-gap.comWebsite: http://www.clearspringanalysis.comTell a friend about the Software Process and Measurement Cast and show them how to subscribe.  Let me know and I will acknowledge you on the next show!  We have a guest essay on SPaMCAST 65.  Pat Ferdinandi is back with her essay the Valley of Indecision.  Pat explores what happens if you love what you do but you can't do it anymore. For many, change is an imperative.  Pat shares her ideas and motivation with SPaMCAST listeners.Join the SPaMCAST’s community by joining the SPaMCAST Facebook page and get involved!!!!  http://tinyurl.com/62z5elThere are a number of ways to share your thoughts with SPaMCAST: •    Email SPaMCAST at spamcastinfo@gmail.com•    Voice messages can be left at 1-206-888-6111•    Twitter – www.twitter.com/tcagley•    BLOG – www.tcagley.wordpress.com•    FACEBOOK!!!! Software Process and Measurement               http://tinyurl.com/62z5elUpcoming Speaking Engagements:ITMPI webinarProcess Improvement in a Multi-Model World September 15, 2009 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Eastern Time Model based process improvement typically has centered on a single model or framework as the lynch pin to control software process improvement within an organization. The use of a model or framework is an excellent means of reducing random activity unfortunately one model does not cover the whole organization. Process improvement has matured to a point where the span of control needs to be extended which suggests the use of more than one model (e.g. CMMI, ISO, ITIL and Business Process Re-engineering to name a few). This webinar with Tom Cagley will discuss how to manage process improvement in a complex, multi-model environment. More information - http://solutions.compaid.com/forms/WebinarB20090915?ProcessType=PreRegISMA 4 ConferenceBoundaries, Boundaries EverywhereSeptember 15, 2009 9:00 - 9:45 AM              Identifying applications and project boundaries are critical to accurate and repeatable counts however the rules have a lot of flexibility. The presentation will evaluate a variety of types of applications to evaluate the impact of varied perspectives on application boundaries. The presentation will include at least one hands-on exercise to drive home the impact of boundariesThe ISMA conference will be held this September 13-16, 2009 at the Palmer House Hilton – Chicago, Illinois see More informaton - http://www.IFPUG.org    Next Software Process and Measurement Cast: The interview in the Software Process and Measurement Cast is with Chuck Tryon.  We discussed knowledge management.  Chuck provides solid advice on knowledge management while explain why not dealing with knowledge management is a burning platform you should not ignore.  Frankly this one of the most important interviews SPaMCAST has recorded.