SPaMCAST 654 - Monotasking, A Conversation With Staffan Nöteberg
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Release Date: 06/06/2021
Applying The Nine Core Principles of Work Intake and Why Organizations Do Projects with Susan Parente, SPaMCAST 804
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Nine Core Principles of Work Intake are a key backbone of Mastering Work Intake by Jeremy Willets and Tom Cagley. Teams and organizations need to apply these principles to avoid chaos. In the SPaMCAST 804, we illustrate the application of the Nine Core Principles based on role and organizational hierarchy beginning with the classic Scrum team roles. We also have a visit from Susan Patente, who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast. This installment discusses why organizations do projects and their role in society. Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy...
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Mastering Work Intake - What is Work Intake?
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Our video provides a quick overview of Work Intake and its importance. Enjoy and let's discuss the concept. Learn to solve IT’s dirtiest secret — work intake. Stop ignoring it. Start fixing it. Today we are also announcing two new Mastering Work Intake training opportunities. Diagnose and solve work intake anti-patterns Become a work intake master. Work intake is the biggest challenge facing organizations today. If you don’t get work intake right, you won’t be in business for very long. We offer two different versions of the cohort — One with pre-recorded videos and less...
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Time For Agile To Buy Mom or Dad Jeans? A Conversation with Mark Metze, Jeremy WIllets, and Tom Cagley, SPaMCAST 802
Software Process and Measurement Cast
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Winning Without Focus, Myth Debunked and Soft Skills Are Hard - SPaMCAST 801 with Kies Kostaqi
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The SPaMCAST 801 will examine the question, “When is not having clear priorities a winning strategy?” While the answer might seem self-evident, I am not sure people and organizations put their money where their mouth is. We also have Kies Kostaqi’s You Are Not Alone column. This installment highlights the soft skills required to be an effective Scrum Master. Soft does not mean unimportant or easy to develop. How can you spread the word about ? The best way is to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you buy your books. Reviews increase the likelihood that someone like...
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Mastering Work Intake - Principles Matter, A Conversation with Johanna Rothman, Jeremy Willets, and Tom Cagley - SPaMCAST 800
Software Process and Measurement Cast
In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 800 Johanna Rothman takes over the podcast and interviews Jeremy Willets and me. We discussed , why principles make more sense than best practices, and how disciplined work intake is the core to getting work done. We learn that in practice, stop starting and start finishing only works when you pay attention to the work that goes into a system. Contact info: Johanna Rothman LinkedIn: Website: Jeremy Willets LinkedIn: Website: Tom Calgey LinkedIn: Website: https://tomcagley.com/ I was asked the best way...
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Beyond Buzzwords - Rethinking Collaboration in Software Development and Prioritization vs. Micromanagement - Finding the Right Balance - SPaMCAST 799
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 799 discusses why all communication is not collaboration. It is a commonly held belief that complex problems require collaborative efforts to solve. Couple that with an almost fad-like insistence that if a little collaboration is good, more is better, which leads to everything being deemed collaboration. We can do better with a little effort. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column. Mr Quigley and I talk about prioritization as micromanagement. And how if you are not there to pick up the...
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Exploring the Power of Nearshore Software Development and Uplifting Organizational Culture An Interview with Steve Taplin, SPaMCAST 798
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 798 features my interview with Steve Taplin of Sonatafy Technology. Steve and I discussed the nuances and benefits of nearshore software development. Steve also provided his thoughts on why building an uplifting culture both inside and outside the organization reaps powerful rewards for everyone it touches. Steve Taplin leads Sonatafy Technology as its CEO, bringing an entrepreneurial flair and inspirational leadership to the forefront of nearshore software development. His career is marked by a series of successful business scalings, showcasing his...
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Unraveling the Paradox of Process, QAs As Servants, Essays and Conversations SPaMCAST 797
Software Process and Measurement Cast
In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 797 we ponder a statement from Roger Turnau in SPaMCAST 796, “You can’t expect the process to save you from yourself in every circumstance.” The statement poses a leadership quandary leading to questions every leader must ask. When does process guidance make sense? When do processes infantilize teams and leaders? These are not the basis for an after-work philosophical discussion. Vast movements within the software industry have been spawned as cultures have swayed between directive and laissez-faire poles. We also have a visit from...
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Roger Turnau - Taming the Backlog with Cost of Delay, A Conversation, SPaMCAST 796
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 796 features a conversation with Roger Turnau. Roger and I talk about prioritization using the cost of delay. Every organization and team I have ever worked with has a backlog of work and lots of people screaming that their piece of the backlog is the most important. The cost of delay is an important tool to filter out the noise and it can be as nuanced as you need it to be. Roger Turnau is an Agile Coach at Accenture. His mission is to empower and inspire leaders and organizations to create an environment where high performance feels effortless. His...
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Jargon - Bridging Bonds or Building Barriers, Essays and Conversations
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Part of every profession is the jargon practitioners adopt. Having a language links people together and creates a sense of community. It also creates private gardens: a profession set off from those around it. Jargon is a form of secret handshake. Jargon is a two-edged sword, both gathering and excluding people. Be wary! We also have a visit from Susan Parente and her Not A Scrumdamentalist column. We discussed her recent mini-sabbatical. Stepping back has the power to clear your mind. Slay Work Intake Chaos: Become a Master in 5 Weeks! Based on Tom Cagley and Jeremy WIllet’s new...
info_outlineThis week is a doubleheader (baseball term for two games played by the same teams on the same day against each other). We begin our re-read of Monotasking by Staffan Nöteberg and we have my interview with Staffan. Several years ago I read Staffan’s book on Pomodoro which changed how I work. Monotasking might be even more useful and impactful. We discussed how to apply the ideas in the book to improve focus, productivity, and quality of life.
Staffan Nöteberg is an enterprise agility coach with years of experience in improving personal productivity. He is also the author of Pomodoro Technique Illustrated (2009) and teaches seminars on monotasking to companies in North America, Europe, and East Asia.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/staffannoteberg
Website: https://monotasking.staffannoteberg.com/
Re-Read Saturday News
We start our re-read of Monotasking by Staffan Nöteberg. The book is 237 pages published by Racehorse Publishing (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) and was released in English on June 1, 2021. For most of the readers of the blog and listeners to the podcast, this will be an initial read. The book’s contents include a Preface, Introduction, 7 numbered chapters, an Afterword, and then other stuff like index and more (we will not cover the other stuff but I am glad for the index and endnotes).
Now the fun part. Instead of a straight re-read and discussion. I am going to read a chapter, highlight the parts I am going to implement in the next week, tell you what I am going to do, and then the following week admit how well I performed.
Week 1 - Logistics, Game Plan, and Preface - https://bit.ly/3x1oVap
As a reminder, all of the entries from Fixing Your Scrum, Practical Solutions to Common Scrum Problems, by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller are available!
Week 1: Re-read Logistics and Front Matter - https://bit.ly/3mgz9P6
Week 2: A Brief Introduction To Scrum, and Why Scrum Goes Bad - https://bit.ly/37w4Dv9
Week 3: Breaking Bad Scrum with a Value-Driven Approach - http://bit.ly/3stGc9Q
Week 4: The Product Owner - https://bit.ly/3qpKvSn
Week 5: The Product Backlog - http://bit.ly/3cAEk9c
Week 6: The Development Team - http://bit.ly/2OLVAAs
Week 7: Embracing The Scrum Master Role - https://bit.ly/3m0HB5D
Week 8: Management - https://bit.ly/31Kv39l
Week 9: Thinking In Sprints - https://bit.ly/321wXTg
Week 10: Sprint Planning - https://bit.ly/3stWOhx
Week 11: Sprint Backlog - https://bit.ly/3njezit
Week 12 - Reclaiming The Daily Scrum - https://bit.ly/3eNzMgz
Week 13: Deconstructing the Done Product Increment - https://bit.ly/3bedTGc
Week 14: The Sprint Review - https://bit.ly/3huZvgP
Week 15: The Retrospective - https://bit.ly/3bOK2Vg
Week 16 - Final Thoughts - https://bit.ly/3p3tbU0v
Upcoming Events!
ISMA 18 Virtual Conference, June 24th, 2021 8 AM EDT to 11:15 EDT
I will host the event. The event will have a host of great speakers on great topics!
ISMA 18 will be free for both IFPUG members and non-members. IFPUG members are eligible for 1 credit at the CFPS Extension Program (CEP) and also attract 3 Technical PDUs in the PMI Talent Triangle®, both by attending the full conference!
Register: https://www.ifpug.org/isma18/
Real Value of TMMi (SPaMCAST is a Friend of TMMi America)
Free webinar from TMMi America featuring Mark Summers
June 25th, 2 to 3 PM EDT
This webinar will explore the common usages of the TMMi Test Process Improvement framework. We will dive into how:
- You can leverage this framework to transform the way your organization delivers software.
- The model can transform your career.
- Next steps to take on your journey to becoming a Test Process Improvement superhero.
The real value of the TMMi is to help you dramatically change the frequency and quality of your software delivery.
Register at https://bit.ly/2RtoGpy
Next SPaMCAST
In the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, we talk with Ajit Ghuman, Head of Product Marketing at Narvar. Ajit and I talk pricing, marketing, product engagement/ownership, and development. Is there an ideal pattern for product and development to work together? If not, what are the consequences?