SPaMCAST 751 - Privilege and Fatalism, Continuous Improvement, Conversations and Essays
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Release Date: 04/16/2023
SPaMCAST 774 - Re-release SPaMCAST 436 - Incrementalism, UAT and Agile, and Systems Thinking
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 774 is a re-release of SPaMCAST 436. We are on our annual holiday and will be back with new programs on October 22nd. For the next four weeks, we will feature shows from our archives. Today SPaMCAST 436 - Incrementalism, UAT and Agile, and Systems Thinking was released originally on April 3, 2017. I hope you will enjoy today’s show! The original introduction - The Software Process and Measurement Cast 436 features our essay titled, , in which we answer the question of whether the state and culture of the organization or team, can have a large...
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SPaMCAST 773 - Continuous Improvement, Bass Guitars and Learning, Conversations and Essays
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 773 will feature our essay on why as professionals we should strive to grow a little every day. I overheard a team lead complaining that their team did not need to do a retrospective, they were “darn near perfect.” The inference was that their time would be better spent doing rather than reflecting and thinking. Fixed mindsets (Review our re-read of Mindsets by Carol Dweck) are foreign to the philosophy of agile and quality. The comment hurt my heart. We will also have a visit from Jon M. Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product...
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SPaMCAST 772 - New Engineering Managers, Don’t Be A Victim, A Conversation WIth Ahmed Wasfy
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 772 features our interview with Ahmed Wasfy. We discuss the role of the engineering manager and how people learn to be engineering managers. Coming to grips with the new role requires learning new skills not just rehashed technical skills. Ahmed, advises new leaders to take control of their careers and not to be a victim. Ahmed is an experienced engineering leader, having led teams at Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. In addition to his day job, Ahmed also helps engineering managers become effective leaders through his coaching. Links Instagram: ...
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SPaMCAST 771 - Critical Thinking An Indispensable Defense Science, Evolution and Maturity, Essays and Conversations
Software Process and Measurement Cast
To paraphrase Ghostbusters, critical thinking is the indispensable defense science of the next decade. Over the summer we have investigated the concept so we are better positioned to take part in a boisterous world. As decision-makers, the onus is on us to use critical thinking. Also, Jeremy Berriault joins bringing his QA Corner to the podcast. In this installment, Jeremy discusses the difference between maturity and evolution. Do agile organizations mature or evolve? Re-Read Saturday News We have spent the majority of the summer re-reading . While I didn't take the book to the beach,...
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SPaMCAST 770 - Dojo, Slow Down For Learning, A Conversation With Jess Brock
Software Process and Measurement Cast
This week the Software Process and Measurement Cast 770 features my interview with Jess Brock. Jess and I talked about her new book, (the book is excellent but doesn’t really fit in your pocket), learning, and career pivots. Jess’s talk at Agile 2023 helped me reframe how I conceived of dojos as an intense learning environment, not a transformation technique. Jess’s Bio Jess is a dynamic coach, technologist, and author who has been involved in developing tech products since the mid-2000s. Jess attributes her diverse career experience as one of her greatest strengths...
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SPaMCAST 768 - Teams, SaaS, Entrepreneurship, A Conversation with Phil Alves
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 768 features our interview with Phil Alves, CEO of DevSquad. Phil and I covered a wide range of topics starting with how he structures teams to perform in dynamic environments and culminating in a discussion of SaaS and entrepreneurship. Software development of any stripe is a team sport; either get it right or suffer the consequences. Phil describes himself as a SaaS Aficionado! He builds products for bootstrapped founders, fast-growing startups, and big enterprises at DevSquad. His SaaS company, DevStats, helps product and engineering...
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SPaMCAST 767 - Critical Thinking, Research and Evidence, User Stories, Conversations and Essays
Software Process and Measurement Cast
In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 767, we continue our summer dive into critical thinking. In this installment, we consider research and evidence. The discussion of research and evidence ties into this week's installment of Re-Read Saturday (Chapter 4 of which is about credibility). Research and evidence provide credibility and that is not always a good thing. Tony Timbol brings his To Tell A Story column to the podcast. In this installment, Mr. Timbol continues to unravel the mystery of the agile requirements and user stories. Re-Read Saturday News Credibility is the...
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SPaMCAST 766 - It Is All About Teams, A Conversation With Ben Johnson
Software Process and Measurement Cast
This week the Software Process and Measurement Cast 766 features our interview with Ben Johnson, Founder of Particle41. Ben and I discuss the importance of teams, communication, and dependability. Ben Johnson, founder of Particle41, is a serial Entrepreneur with a track record of success and is an active investor. He is a results-driven leader, skilled in managing high-functioning teams for exceptional outcomes. Ben cultivates collaboration, motivation, and effective communication. As a leader, he aligns team efforts with organizational goals and drives innovation. Ben delivers complex...
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SPaMCAST 765 - Authority, Meetings and More Meetings, Essays and Conversations
Software Process and Measurement Cast
In the Software Process and Measurement Cast 765, we will continue with our summer theme on critical thinking by discussing authority. When deciding what to believe, the authority we place on the source has a significant impact. Authority bias is the name for this cognitive bias. We will also have a visit from the one and only Susan Parente, who brings her Not A Scrumdamentalist column to the podcast. In this installment, we discuss why meetings seem to be the only mechanism for making decisions. Re-Read Saturday News And now for something completely different…is both the title of the...
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SPaMCAST 764 - Successful Independent Consulting, A Conversation with Johanna Rothman
Software Process and Measurement Cast
In Software Process and Measurement Cast 764 we feature my conversation with Johanna Rothman. We discussed her new book Successful Independent Consulting. Well, we started there and then hit topics like personal value and the impact of success. This might be the eleventy-first conversation I have had with Johanna, and each time I look forward to our time together with anticipation. They are always like attending a master class. Buy a copy of Successful Independent Consulting. Available everywhere including: Leanpub: Amazon: Johanna’s Bio: Johanna Rothman,...
info_outlineI have been considering the relationship between privilege and fatalism. Boiling down the impact of privilege to a single word, we find power. Whether it is the ability to make decisions about the work you will do, the power to direct others to do work, or even just to be heard, privilege is power. That power can generate fatalism in those without the power privilege delivers. In SPaMCAST 751 we discuss!
Jeremy Berriault brings his QA Corner to the podcast. Mr. Berriault and I discuss why continuous improvement is important. Our discussion ties neatly into the essay on privilege and fatalism. We all have to commit to getting better every day or risk becoming irrelevant.
Re-read Saturday News!
Chapter 2 of Team Topologies: Organizing Business And Technology Teams For Fast Flow by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais is a deep dive into Conway’s Law both forward and backward (the Reverse Conway Manuver). Conway’s Law states simply: the way people are organized influences software architecture.
Buy a copy and upgrade your coaching skills - Team Topologies: Organizing Business And Technology Teams For Fast Flow
Previous Installments:
Week 1: Front Matter and Logistics – http://bit.ly/3nHGkW4
Week 2: The Problem With Org Charts – https://bit.ly/3zGGyQf
Week 3 Conway’s Law and Why It Matters - https://bit.ly/3muTVQE
Next SPaMCAST
SPaMCAST 752 features our interview with Laura Bell Main. We will discuss the confluence of fast-growing companies and security. Maybe I should say collision instead of confluence.