SPaMCAST 590 - Future of Testing, An Interview with Nancy Kastl
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Release Date: 03/15/2020
Spring 2025 Rewind 2 - It's All About the People, A Panel Discussion with Laberge, Parente, Voris, Sweeney, and Cagley
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Software Process and Measurement Cast Crew is on vacation. Until then, we are revisiting some fabulous panel discussions we have had during the last 19 years. We will be back on June 21st. Poor work intake equals out-of-control. Being out of control leads to stress and poor quality. Mastering Work Intake is the path to bringing order out of chaos. Buy a copy today! JRoss Publishing or Amazon. JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Original Show Notes: In March 2020, as our world was shrinking and words like 'lockdown' and 'zoom-bombing' were becoming a reality,...
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Spring 2025 Rewind 1 - Intentional Serendipity, A Panel Discussion with Laberge, Parente, Voris, Sweeney, and Cagley
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Software Process and Measurement Cast Crew is on vacation. Until then, we are revisiting some fabulous panel discussions we have had during the last 19 years. We will be back on June 21st. Poor work intake equals out-of-control. Being out of control leads to stress and poor quality. Mastering Work Intake is the path to bringing order out of chaos. Buy a copy today! JRoss Publishing or Amazon. JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Original Show Notes: SPaMCAST 597 features a special panel of leaders who discuss working from home now and after the initial...
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Adopting AI, Ethics, Pragmatism, and Optimism, A Discussion with Paul Gibbons, SPaMCAST 860
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The SPaMCAST 860 features a conversation with Paul Gibbons. We discussed his new book, , which he co-authored with James Healy. This is not our first conversation with Paul, they have all been fabulous. Paul Gibbons is a keynote speaker and author of five books, including the acclaimed Adopting AI: The People-first Approach, which came out in March 2025. Before that, he was IBM's thought-leader on the future of work, and before that, a professor of business leadership at the University of Denver. In the Jurassic era, he was CEO of Europe's top leadership consulting...
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Empathy Is Not A Dirty Word In Leadership, A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 859
Software Process and Measurement Cast
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....
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A Tale Of Work Intake Woe, Safety, Essays and Conversations With Jeremy Bearriult, SPaMCAST 858
Software Process and Measurement Cast
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...
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The Future Of Software Development, A Conversation with Andy Hillard, SPaMCAST 857
Software Process and Measurement Cast
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...
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Playing Billiards On A Boat, Essays and Conversations with Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 856
Software Process and Measurement Cast
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...
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Squeezing Testing Has Predictable Results, A Conversation with Khurram Mir, SPaMCAST 855
Software Process and Measurement Cast
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...
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Accountability, Responsibility, Performance, and Freedom, Essays and Conversations with Susan Parente, SPaMCAST 854
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The SPaMCAST 854 features an essay on the linkage of accountability, responsibility, performance, and freedom. In our ongoing Re-read Saturday series featuring Amartya Sen's "Development As Freedom," we've found a compelling connection between Sen's insights and this week's discussion on personal accountability and performance. Specifically, Chapter 12's exploration of the interdependence between freedom and responsibility resonates deeply with the core concepts of our essay. We also have a visit from . In this installment of Not A Scumdamentalist, we discuss accountability. Mastering...
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Real-time Collaboration Is Key to Success, A Conversation WIth John Conafay, SPaMCAST 853
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The SPaMCAST 853 features our interview with John Conafay. CEO and Co-Founder of Integrate. John and I talked about program management in complex environments and real-time collaboration. In complex environments with multiple teams, real-time collaboration not only saves time but also saves money. John Conafay is a US Air Force Veteran and the CEO and Co-Founder of Integrate, building program management software with a systems engineering approach for the world’s most ambitious machines. Previously he was an early employee at three space unicorns – Head of BD at ABL Space Systems,...
info_outlineThe SPaMCAST 590 features my interview with Nancy Kastl. Nancy and I discussed testing and the future of the testing profession. The future of testing is not cut and dry; in the short run more automation and in the long-term more codeless testing and AI might replace entry-level testers. An eye-opening interview!
Nancy’s Bio:
Nancy Kastl is an accomplished professional with over thirty-five years of experience as a consultant, facilitator, and instructor in software quality and testing. As an entrepreneur and consultant, she brings her expertise in strategic planning, quality management, software testing, process re-engineering, and measurement to every engagement.
As the executive director of SPR’s Testing Services, she provides thought leadership to clients, formulates solutions to their needs, and provides daily guidance and oversight to SPRs on-shore testing team in Chicago. She is the founder and President of the Chicago Quality Assurance Association. Nancy is a frequent conference speaker and served as the QUEST conference chairperson for twelve years. She loves photography, being surrounded by nature, and traveling.
Reach out to Nancy on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/nancy-kastl-416170
And check out SPR at https://spr.com/work/
Re-Read Saturday News
This week we continue our re-read of Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler with Chapter 3, Start With Heart. This chapter begins to teach the reader “how” to dialog. Start with heart means that we have to establish our goal before getting involved in a dialog.
Week 1 - Logistics, Forewards, and Preface - http://bit.ly/2wls1Mq
Week 2 - Chapter 1: What’s a crucial conversation? And who cares? - http://bit.ly/3a7Kivp
Week 3 – Chapter 2: The Power of Dialogue – http://bit.ly/3aO4cMa
Week 4 - Chapter 3: Start With Heart - http://bit.ly/2UbJizK
If you do not have a copy or have tossed it at someone during a crucial conversation, it is time to buy a copy. Please use the link https://amzn.to/34RuZ6V (using the link helps support the blog and podcast).
Book Club Starting Soon
Jon M Quigley and I are starting an online book club to read and discuss the classic books that underpin the lean, quality and agile movements. The name of the book club is “Quality, Agile, and Lean Classic Books: Greatness in the Workplace”. The first book is Out Of The Crisis by Deming (don’t have a copy — https://amzn.to/32XAH81)
We are starting our dialog on Friday, April 10th and the event will run over 7 sessions (we will avoid as many religious and national holidays as possible). We are only opening 10 seats for each group of sessions. We are changing a one time fee of $3.13 which equates to 4.95 (ish) once Eventbrite factors in their fees to encourage people that sign up to show up.
More information and sign up at http://bit.ly/2IsPPkf
Next SPaMCAST
The SPaMCAST 591 will feature my interview with Shelisa Bainbridge. Shelisa is the Head of Human Centered Delivery (HCD) at Agile by Design. We talked about human-centered design, why design thinking is important, women in tech and agile, and more. This is a powerful interview with a ton of useful ideas.
Also, I may have some special content in the feed over the next few weeks. A little lagniappe because we all deserve it right now.