Playing Billiards On A Boat, Essays and Conversations with Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 856
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Release Date: 03/23/2025
🔐AI, the Future of Work, and Cybersecurity, A Conversation with Ephraim Ebstein, SPaMCAST 878
Software Process and Measurement Cast
AI, the Future of Work, and Cybersecurity Are Intertwined! Why it matters: Business processes are being transformed, yielding opportunities and RISKS - leaders should be aware. Bio: Ephraim Ebstein is the CEO and Co-founder of FIT Solutions, LLC. Ephraim is not just another cybersecurity guy-he's a $30M entrepreneur who built two national companies from the ground up, and now helps business leaders turn tech headaches into growth engines. .IG: @kingspear @fitsolutionsllc Web Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing Nothing One big thing:...
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Jetsons and Pinocchio - Work Life Balance, SPaMCAST 877
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Many firms are bringing everyone back to the office and demanding longer hours. They are conflating effort and productivity. Why this matters: Increasing productivity is NECESSARY for profitability and growth. Our panel flows with: Jeremy Berriault - Daniel Doiron - Jeremy Willets - - Me - Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing Nothing One big thing: Poor work entry means delivering less. Why it matters: Work Intake controls what a team works on and when they work on it. Overloaded teams deliver less value. ...
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☠️Constraints and Friction Are Our Friends, SPaMCAST 876
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Theory Of Constraints: A Real-World Tool Constraints and friction generate interest in process improvement. Why this matters: The lack of friction leads to overuse which is the tragedy of the commons. Our panel flows with: Jeremy Berriault - Daniel Doiron - Me - Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing Nothing One big thing: Poor work entry means delivering less. Why it matters: Work Intake controls what a team works on and when they work on it. Overloaded teams deliver less value. Poor prioritization leads to...
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☠️Constraints and Friction Are Our Friends, SPaMCAST 876
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The Theory Of Constraints: A Real-World Tool Constraints and friction generate interest in process improvement. Why this matters: The lack of friction leads to overuse which is the tragedy of the commons. Our panel flows with: Jeremy Berriault - Daniel Doiron - Me - Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing Nothing One big thing: Poor work entry means delivering less. Why it matters: Work Intake controls what a team works on and when they work on it. Overloaded teams deliver less value. Poor prioritization leads to...
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☠️No Dead Careers Here, SPaMCAST 875
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Impressions are NOT facts - No Matter What Your Gut Tells You! Stoic philosophy holds that impressions are not facts and must be tested. Why this matters: It is very easy to jump to conclusions. In some cases, this is harmless, while in others it leads to disaster. The question the panel faces is whether EVERY impression needs to be examined or is there a continuum. Our panel flows with: Jeremy Berriault - Jeremy Willets - Jon M Quigley - Daniel Doiron - Me - Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing...
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🪈 Dichotomy of Control, Stick with STIC, A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 874
Software Process and Measurement Cast
We only have control over ourselves! The dichotomy of control. Why it matters: We have direct control over our thoughts, judgments, and actions, but external events, other people's opinions, and the outcomes of our actions are not directly within our control. When discussing problem statements, Jeremy Berriault stated, “stick with STIC.” The alliteration was great! Our panel flows with: Jeremy Berriault - Jeremy Willets - - Me - Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing Nothing One big thing: Poor work entry means...
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🚣Flow, Flow and More Flow, A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 873
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Dry riverbeds or flash floods - flow matters! Why it matters: Understanding how value is created and moves through an organization is critical. The problem is that the concept is complicated. Freddie Clark stated, “measuring flow is a two-dimensional measure of a three-dimensional problem.” Our panel flows with: Jeremy Berriault - Freddie Clark - https://www.linkedin.com/in/freddie-clark/ - Me - Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing Nothing One big thing: Poor work entry means delivering less. Why it...
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Nerd Joy, A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 872
Software Process and Measurement Cast
The work has to get done, be miserable, or find JOY in it – it’s your choice. Why it matters: It is hard to motivate yourself and your team if you do not find joy in the work you do day in and day out. Our panel finds a joyful path: Jeremy Berriault - Jon M Quigley - - Me - Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing Nothing One big thing: Poor work entry means delivering less. Why it matters: Work Intake controls what a team works on and when they work on it. Overloaded teams deliver less value. Poor...
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When Management Won’t Buy In, A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 871
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Pushing cooked spaghetti uphill…is exhausting. Why it matters: It is hard to make change happen if leaders provide lip service to the cause. It is impossible if they actively oppose change. So what are you going to do? Panelists include: Jeremy Berriault - - Jon M Quigley - - Me - Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing Nothing One big thing: Poor work entry means delivering less. Why it matters: Work Intake controls what a team works on and when they work on it. Overloaded teams deliver less...
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Habits Stink, A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 870
Software Process and Measurement Cast
Habits, doing work without thinking, are the death of process improvement. Why it matters: When your brain goes on autopilot, it is easy to miss subtle changes and problems in product flow. Is it ever ok to stop thinking? Panelists include: Jeremy Berriault - - Jon M Quigley - Freddie Clark - Me - Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST! Starting Everything Means Finishing Nothing One big thing: Poor work entry means delivering less. Why it matters: Work Intake controls what a team works on and when they work on it. ...
info_outlineConsider 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 unpredictable.
We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley! Mr Quigley brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the cast. In this installment, we talk about configuration management.
Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST!
From ad-hoc to optimized! Dive deep into work intake with this insightful book. Learn the "Gold Standard" and practical deviations, plus how to use flow metrics effectively. Understand the human element and align with Agile principles for better delivery. Perfect for executives, managers, and coaches.
Links to buy a copy…
JRoss Publishing: https://bit.ly/474ul6G
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4236013
Interested in continuing the conversation on work intake with peers in a safe space? Join the Mastering Work Intake Community on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14483957/
Re-read Saturday News
In our re-read of Development as Freedom this week, we tackled Chapter 8, Women’s Agency and Social Change. Paraphrasing Wikipedia (to make it a bit less technical), the definition of agency is a person's ability to initiate and control their actions and the feeling they have of being in charge of their own actions. The concept of agency is important in all human endeavors, not just economic and social development.
Previous installments of Development as Freedom by Amartya Sen:
Week 1: Context and Logistics
Week 2: Introduction and Preface
Week 3: The Perspective of Freedom
Week 4: The Ends and the Means of Development
Week 5: Freedom and the Foundations of Justice
Week 6: Poverty as Capability Deprivation
Week 7: Markets, State, and Social Opportunity
Week 8: The Importance of Democracy
Week 9: Social Choice and Individual Behavior
Week 10: Famines and Other Crises
Week 11: Women’s Agency and Social Change
Next SPaMCAST
The SPaMCAST 857 will feature our interview with Andy Hilliard, CEO of Accelerance and author of the book Synergea. 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!