Committees to Dodge Responsibility, Certifications, Essays and Conversations, SPaMCAST 811
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Release Date: 05/26/2024
Goal Conflicts Cause Work Intake Problems, Finding Time To Concentrate, Conversations with Jeremy Willets and Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 816
Software Process and Measurement Cast
A funny thing happened on the way to SPaMCAST 816, I had so much fun during our first Summer Camp session I talked Jeremy into letting me share the audio of our discussion on the podcast. We discussed goal conflicts, the first of eight work intake problems, from our book, Mastering Work Intake. If the video is more your style check out the video on LinkedIn and then join us at 11:30 EDT on June 16th. This week we also have a visit from . Jon and I discussed the question “If all work is collaborative, when do you find time to concentrate?” Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy...
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Mastering Work Intake Summer Camp!
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Earlier this year (JRoss Publishing) co-authored by Jeremy Willets and myself was published. The book focuses on the full pipeline that work follows as it enters and exits your organization, including the different types of work that enter at multiple levels and times. It is a must-read for agile coaches, Scrum Masters, product owners, project and portfolio managers, team members, and anyone who touches the software development process. Mr Willets and I are announcing a free Work Intake Summer Camp. The camp will help across eight LinkedIn Live sessions and cover the eight primary...
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Prioritization and Deep Seated Issues, A Conversation With Jim Benson, Replay, SPaMCAST 814
Software Process and Measurement Cast
This week on the Software Process and Measurement Cast we have a replay of an interview of Jim Benson from 2019. Jim and I focused on prioritization and how prioritization can be a reflection of more deep-seated problems. One of the ideas Jim shares is that processes are the social contract for getting work done. In the foreword of Mastering Work Intake, I wrote with (published in January 2024), we reflected that Mastering stood on the shoulders of Jim’s Why Limit WIP. Reflecting on this interview I continue to see the relationship between work intake and the travails of...
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Accountability and Responsibility Are Intertwined, Why Are There Still Testers, Essays and Conversations, SPaMCAST 813
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Accountability and responsibility are intertwined. In most businesses, the concepts are intertwined, and when hierarchies are present, layered. In other words, determining who is responsible and accountable is harder than deciding how many layers were in the seven-layer dip several hours after it has been served to a hungry softball team. Let’s use the example of developing a feature for a product for Innovatech, an imaginary firm. This ‘case study’ synthesizes several real-life stories. The story format protects the innocent and pokes fun at those acting like a “box of rocks.” This...
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Professionalize ML and AI, A Conversation With Brad Micklea, SPaMCAST 812
Software Process and Measurement Cast
In this week’s SPaMCAST we speak with Brad Micklea, Founder & CEO of Jozu. We talk about the professionalization of AI and Machine Learning, the topic of Machine Learning Operations (MLOps), and why agile is integral to getting work done. Brad is the Founder & CEO of Jozu and a project lead for the open-source Kitops.ml project, a toolset designed to increase the speed and safety of building, testing, and managing AI/ML models in production. This is Brad’s second startup, his first (Codenvy, the market’s first container-based developer environment) was sold to Red Hat in...
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Committees to Dodge Responsibility, Certifications, Essays and Conversations, SPaMCAST 811
Software Process and Measurement Cast
When I published Accountability vs. Responsibility I did not anticipate being drawn back into the discussion of whether committees can be accountable and responsible. Over the last few weeks, I have observed several “product meetings.” In these meetings, consensus decisions are being made about releases, what they will contain, and a marketing approach. These are committee meetings. Is the committee accountable for their decisions and to whom? It is not a moot point In mid-2008, I wrote “Responsibility, Got Some?” As I considered the topic of accountability and...
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Making The World A Better Place, A Conversation with D.J. Eshelman, SPaMCAST 810
Software Process and Measurement Cast
SPaMCAST 810 features our interview with D.J. Eshelman, author of . DJ and I cover a wide range of topics including why one size fits all approaches are a prescription for burnout. We also tackle why everyone should invest in an outside mentor. D.J. Eshelman, author of Just Do THIS - Photo Credit Sarah Goff DJ with over 25 years of IT experience, dedicated his career to Citrix Systems since 2004. He authored books, runs blogs at and , hosts the "THRIVE-IT" YouTube channel and "THRIVEcast" show, interviewing IT leaders. Recognized as a Citrix Technology Advocate in 2017, he has...
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Accountability vs. Responsibility Debate, Essays and Conversations w Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 809
Software Process and Measurement Cast
SPaMCAST 809 features our essay discussing whether accountability and responsibility are ever separated in real life. In a corporate setting, if you are interested in instigating a no-holds-barred debate bring up the topic of the relationship between accountability and responsibility. Get your popcorn ready BEFORE you start the discussion. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the podcast. Jon and I discuss a nefarious form of micromanagement. Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Whether you’re creating, enhancing,...
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Design Thinking, A Conversation with Steven Schkolne, SPaMCAST 808
Software Process and Measurement Cast
SPaMCAST 808 features our discussion with Steven Schkolne. We talk about design thinking and about how design thinking impacts users and user satisfaction. We answer what happens when a design thinker builds a business. Steven Schkolne is a computer scientist, designer, and entrepreneur who’s particularly passionate about the way humans work creatively with machines. His current focus is a web project called MightyMeld, a visualization and creation platform for sophisticated React codebases. LinkiedIn: Websites (biz) (personal) Steven called out Dinamo, a type design...
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Work Intake Nuances in Mid-Management, Seamless Communications, Essays and Conversation w/ Jeremy Berriult - SPaMCAST 807
Software Process and Measurement Cast
SPaMCAST 807 looks at the Nine Core Work Intake Principles from the organization’s middle. Each layer of the organization has an approach to work intake. While the macro outcome is the same for each layer – work is accepted – each has nuances. The simple three-tier view of organization design used in Mastering Work Intake begins with an executive layer followed by middle management and is anchored by teams. We addressed a team perspective in SPaMCAST 804. Middle management is an important anchor because it makes strategic or longer-term tactical decisions compared to teams. ...
info_outlineWhen I published Accountability vs. Responsibility I did not anticipate being drawn back into the discussion of whether committees can be accountable and responsible. Over the last few weeks, I have observed several “product meetings.” In these meetings, consensus decisions are being made about releases, what they will contain, and a marketing approach. These are committee meetings. Is the committee accountable for their decisions and to whom? It is not a moot point
In mid-2008, I wrote “Responsibility, Got Some?” As I considered the topic of accountability and responsibility, I re-read the piece and polished it a bit. It speaks to the idea of committees and the diffusion of responsibility. So a little detour on our summer road trip.
We also have a visit from Susan Parente. Susan and I discussed certifications. Does having a bunch make sense or does it reflect mass insanity? The answer is…it depends.
Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast!
Jeremy Willets and I are running two Mastering Work Intake cohorts over the next three months. Learn to solve IT’s dirtiest secret — work intake. Stop ignoring it. Start fixing it.
May 31—June 28, 2024 (only a few seats left)
Want to read the book first? Jeremy Berriault, The Evolutionary Agilist™, described Mastering Work Intake as a
“Fantastic work.
Very practical and helps improve workflows."
Purchase a copy of the book from:
JRoss Publishing: https://bit.ly/474ul6G
Amazon: https://bit.ly/3NWOKn0
Re-read Saturday News
We begin the meat of our re-read of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow with Chapter 1, Happiness. Csikszentmihalyi highlights that happiness requires an individual perspective stating, “The best moments usually occur when a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.” Read and discuss!
Buy a copy and read along - https://amzn.to/4b5kPmb
Week 1: Preface and Logistics - https://bit.ly/3WLjFHU
Week 2: Happiness - https://bit.ly/4dUSpNg
Next SPaMCAST
Next week we will feature our interview with Brad Micklea, Founder & CEO at Jozu on the topic of Machine Language Operations (MLOps) and why agile is integral to getting work done.