Software Process and Measurement Cast
Interviews, essays, facts, and tips about agile and lean agile development, process improvement, and measurement in delivery of value!
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Conway’s Law and Agile. Testers and Test Engineers, Essays and Conversations With Jeremy Berriault, SPaMCAST 832
10/06/2024
Conway’s Law and Agile. Testers and Test Engineers, Essays and Conversations With Jeremy Berriault, SPaMCAST 832
SPaMCAST 832 is a later summer-early fall rerun! In July 2019, SPaMCAST 550 premiered. The cast included an essay titled, Intertwining Conway’s Law And Agile and an episode of the QA Corner with Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy discussed the differences between test engineers and testers. These topics are favorites of mine, so…while I am hiking and camping I would like to reshare the core content of SPaMCAST 550 with you. Remember all 18 years of content are available at . We will be back next week with new programming. Master Work Intake! Mastering Work Intake by and myself is your path to addressing IT’s most nefarious dirty little secret…poor work intake. Simply put if you don’t control work intake IT CONTROLS YOU! Buy a copy and begin to control the flow of work for your team and organization. Order a copy of the book from JRoss Publishing - or via Amazon - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 833 will feature our interview with Brian Vallelunga. Brian and I will discuss the importance of managing secrets. This will not be an episode of true spies!
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Cracking Groupthink - Solutions When Balancing Urgency and Importance, SPaMCAST 831
09/29/2024
Cracking Groupthink - Solutions When Balancing Urgency and Importance, SPaMCAST 831
SPaMCAST 831 features our essay, Cracking Groupthink - Solutions When Balancing Urgency and Importance. Issues occur when groupthink affects the balance between urgency and importance in decision-making. This leads to inefficiencies, risk aversion, and misaligned priorities. The key challenge is that groups tend to perceive urgency and importance differently from individuals, often influenced by psychological and social dynamics such as the diffusion of responsibility, conformity, and shared information bias. There are solutions! We also have a visit from Keis Kostaqi who brings her You Are Not Alone column to the podcast. Master Work Intake! Mastering Work Intake by and myself is your path to addressing IT’s most nefarious dirty little secret…poor work intake. Simply put if you don’t control work intake IT CONTROLS YOU! Buy a copy and begin to control the flow of work for your team and organization. Order a copy of the book from JRoss Publishing - or via Amazon - Re-read Saturday News Chapter 6 of (buy a copy and read along) is titled God or Atoms? discusses the Stoic view of God. As I have discussed this chapter with friends it becomes very easy to conflate Stoism with religion. I remind myself in these scenarios that Stoicism is not a religion. At a high level, the difference is that philosophy seeks to understand and question while religion often provides answers and a framework for belief and practice. The difference and the interrelationship are stark. Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: God or Atoms? Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 832 is a rerun of SPaMCAST 550 (I will be hiking in the Appalachian Mountains). This cast features our essay titled, Intertwining Conway’s Law And Agile. Conway’s Law shines a spotlight on how an organization’s structure impacts its product. The “Law” states that the structure of a software product will mimic the structure of the organization that produces the software. It can (and has) been said that you are shipping the “org structure.” How you are structured therefore will impact just how much agility you can achieve. We also visit the QA Corner with Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy discusses the differences between test engineers and testers. We also tackle whether every person with the word test in their title should have the ability to code or script. Jeremy’s LinkedIn:
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Upcoming Book Club: Mastering Work Intake Announcement
09/26/2024
Upcoming Book Club: Mastering Work Intake Announcement
Jeremy and I will host a 4-session book club to discuss Mastering Work Intake (4 sections => 4 sessions!) beginning October 18th. We are looking forward to a great set of conversations! Join us by registering on Maven. Use the QR code below at or follow the link - Note: We are charging a nominal $1 fee, which Maven requires. Participation in the book club assumes you have (or have access to) a copy of the book and do the reading so you will be prepared.
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Beyond The Framework, A Conversation With Jeremy Berriault, SPaMCAST 830
09/21/2024
Beyond The Framework, A Conversation With Jeremy Berriault, SPaMCAST 830
SPaMCAST 830 features a conversation with Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy has a new book, “Beyond The Framework: Cultivating Agile Growth.” The back cover states, “Organizations that fail to embrace agility (small a-agiity) risk fading into obscurity.” we discussed the basic assumptions of agile and why business agility differs from adopting any specific agile framework. Buy a copy of the book: Check out Jeremy’s Company website: Master Work Intake! This episode is brought to you by Mastering Work Intake by and myself. Buy a copy and begin to control the flow of work for your team and organization. Simply put if you don’t control work intake IT CONTROLS YOU! Order a copy of the book from the publisher - or via Amazon - Re-read Saturday News Chapter 5 of (buy a copy and read along) is titled Playing Ball With Socrates. The author uses a sports analogy in the chapter to illustrate why we can be indifferent towards something and that something is still important. This chapter dives into the thorny concepts of preferred and dispreferred indifferences. Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Week 6: Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 831 will feature our essay on how to improve prioritization and work intake when using consensus-groupthink techniques. will return with his Evolutionary Agilist column to round out SPaMCAST 831.
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Conforming to Mediocrity and Core Hours, Essays and Conversations with Susan Parente, SPaMCAST 829
09/15/2024
Conforming to Mediocrity and Core Hours, Essays and Conversations with Susan Parente, SPaMCAST 829
In SPaMCAST 829 we will continue to expose the sometimes insidious impact of groupthink. Groupthink can lead a team to accept less challenging work, be misaligned with priorities, and poorly assess urgency and importance. The pressure to conform and maintain agreement can result in suboptimal decision-making, hampering effectiveness. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who will bring her Not A Scrumdmentalist column to the podcast. In this installment, Susan tackles the need for core hours for teams of all types. Master Work Intake! This episode is brought to you by Mastering Work Intake by and myself. Buy a copy and begin to control the flow of work for your team and organization. Simply put if you don’t control work intake IT CONTROLS YOU! Order a copy of the book from the publisher - or Amazon - Re-read Saturday News Chapter 4 of (buy a copy and read along) is titled “Living According To Nature.” Nature is defined as the community and world. In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius states, ”Even chance is not divorced from nature.” The laws of nature and physics define what is possible and we live within those possibilities/boundaries. There are several ideas within this chapter, I want to highlight two beginning with the relationship between nature and community. Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 830 will feature a conversation with Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy has a new book, “Beyond The Framework: Cultivating Agile Growth.” The back cover states, “Organizations that fail to embrace agility (small a-agiity) risk fading into obscurity.” We will discuss the rationale behind that statement.
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HYPERID Ignites - Arash Parsania's Breakthrough Methodology, A Conversation, SPaMCAST 828
09/08/2024
HYPERID Ignites - Arash Parsania's Breakthrough Methodology, A Conversation, SPaMCAST 828
The SPaMCast 828 spotlights Arash Parsania. We talk about his exciting new methodology, HYPERID. The method builds on and integrates pragmatic ideas from many disciplines to create something new. HYPERID is a flexible hybrid method that fits a wide range of different types of work. Arash Parsania is the creator of HYPERID, a hybrid methodology for project management and product development. He brings over 20 years of experience in project management, consulting, and digital business transformation. His expertise spans Software Engineering, Retail, Travel & Hospitality, Automotive, Telecommunications, Consumer Products, and Insurance industries. Throughout his career, he has advised numerous organizations on digital business transformation, process definition and optimization for project and product development, and project portfolio management. He has worked with global leaders to enhance project and product management quality, develop and establish specialized project management frameworks and methodologies, and implement audits, restructurings, and certification programs for project managers. HYPERID’s website: Master Work Intake! Have you signed up for the Mastering Work Intake Open House on September 11th at 11 EDT? If not, there is still time! Mastering Work Intake by and I hit the bookshelves earlier this year. We have also been running cohort-based workshops to help expose and solve this dirty little secret. Two of the questions we have gotten as we have promoted the workshops are: What is a cohort-based workshop? What value will I get if I join? Both are greater questions and we have an answer! Join us for a one-hour open house on September 11th at 11 am EDT to explore how to diagnose and solve work intake challenges, the most critical issue facing organizations today. This session will provide an overview of our course designed to help you master work intake and ensure your organization thrives. We’ll cover key takeaways such as effective prioritization, navigating organizational structures, measuring work intake flow, and diagnosing common work intake issues. You'll leave with actionable insights and a clear plan to address work intake problems immediately. Sign up on Eventbrite! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 3 of (buy a copy and read along) is titled “Some Things Are In Our Power, Others Or Not.” Chapter 3 begins to get into the nuts and bolts of Stoicism. Because Epictetus is the author’s guide the opening quote from Epictetus both sets the tone and summarizes the chapter neatly: “We must make the best of those things that are in our power, and take the rest as nature gives it.” If that does not work for you then there is always the Serenity Prayer. Check out Week 4 and all the previous weeks. Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Next SPaMCAST In SPaMCAST 829 we will continue to Crack Groupthink by unpacking the impact of groupthink on urgency and importance. They say knowledge is power, but I would rather consider it risk mitigation. We will also have a visit from Susan Parente who will bring her Not A Scrumdmentalist column to the podcast!
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Cracking Groupthink In Prioritization, Scrum Master - Career or Avocation, Essays and Conversations with Keis Kostaqi, SPaMCAST 827
09/01/2024
Cracking Groupthink In Prioritization, Scrum Master - Career or Avocation, Essays and Conversations with Keis Kostaqi, SPaMCAST 827
In the SPaMCast 827, we will begin cracking groupthink in prioritization with a discussion of urgency vs. importance Evaluating the interplay between urgency and importance is a powerful work intake approach. Teams and project management offices regularly use an Eisenhower Matrix or variant to visualize the relationship between these two factors. The bottom line in this approach is that you should prioritize work that is important and urgent above work that is just urgent. We also have a visit from who brings her You Are Not Alone column to the podcast. Keis and I discuss the career path of a Scrum Master. Is there a career path or is the role a life avocation? Master Work Intake! Mastering Work Intake by and I hit the bookshelves earlier this year. We have also been running cohort-based workshops to help expose and solve this dirty little secret. Two of the questions we have gotten as we have promoted the workshops are: What is a cohort-based workshop? What value will I get if I join? Both are greater questions and we have an answer! Join us for a one-hour open house on September 11th at 11 am EDT to explore how to diagnose and solve work intake challenges, the most critical issue facing organizations today. This session will provide an overview of our course designed to help you master work intake and ensure your organization thrives. We’ll cover key takeaways such as effective prioritization, navigating organizational structures, measuring work intake flow, and diagnosing common work intake issues. You'll leave with actionable insights and a clear plan to address work intake problems immediately. Sign up on Eventbrite! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 2 of (buy a copy and read along) is titled “A Roadmap For The Journey.” In recent months, my wife and I have been beginning to travel in a class B van. We are taking short trips (learning the ropes) with longer trips in the offing. We rely on GPS a lot. I guess that’s not very different from most travelers. However, the more we deviate from the heavily populated and traveled routes, the less ubiquitous and solid WiFi and cell coverage we find. GPS becomes somewhat unreliable. When the GPS is intermittent you must plan for it to be unreliable. We have discovered that we need an old-school paper map. For those of a certain age, a paper map provides turn-by-turn instructions via a static interface. It also provides a sense of the overall broad journey; an early version of a search albeit manual. Chapter 2 titled “A Roadmap For The Journey“ is a paper roadmap for the remainder of How To Be A Stoic. Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 828 will feature our conversation with Arash Parsania. We will talk about his exciting new methodology, Hyperid.is a flexible hybrid method that fits a wide range of different types of work.
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Mastering Work Intake Open House Video Trailer
08/30/2024
Mastering Work Intake Open House Video Trailer
Mastering Work Intake by and I hit the bookshelves earlier this year. We have also been running cohort-based workshops to help expose and solve this dirty little secret. Two of the questions we have gotten as we have promoted the workshops are: What is a cohort-based workshop? What value will I get if I join? Both are greater questions and we have an answer! Join us for a one-hour open house to explore how to diagnose and solve work intake challenges, the most critical issue facing organizations today. This session will provide an overview of our course designed to help you to master work intake and ensure your organization thrives. We’ll cover key takeaways such as effective prioritization, navigating organizational structures, measuring work intake flow, and diagnosing common work intake issues. You'll leave with actionable insights and a clear plan to address work intake problems immediately. Sign up on Eventbrite! https://bit.ly/MasteringWorkIntake
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AI, ML, and Lifelong Learning - A Great Combination, A Conversation With Richmond Alake, SPaMCAST 825
08/25/2024
AI, ML, and Lifelong Learning - A Great Combination, A Conversation With Richmond Alake, SPaMCAST 825
The SPaMCAST 825 features our conversation with Richmond Alake. During our conversation, we discussed AI, Machine Learning, and most importantly why being a lifelong learner is important (really important). Need more? We also will discuss what comes next now that AI Chat has been done. Richmond’s bio: Richmond Alake is an AI/ML Practitioner with an academic background in computer vision, robotics, and machine learning. He has worked in software development and machine learning roles since 2016. Richmond has also taught online AI/ML/Data courses and written over 200 technical articles with over 1 million views. He is passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems. Try out MongoDB for free: Get hands-on code for AI Agents: Connect with Richmond: Master Work Intake! Mastering Work Intake by and I hit the bookshelves earlier this year. We have also been running cohort-based workshops to help expose and solve this dirty little secret. Two of the questions we have gotten as we have promoted the workshops are: What is a cohort-based workshop? What value will I get if I join? Both are greater questions and we have an answer! Join us for a one-hour open house to explore how to diagnose and solve work intake challenges, the most critical issue facing organizations today. This session will provide an overview of our course designed to help you to master work intake and ensure your organization thrives. We’ll cover key takeaways such as effective prioritization, navigating organizational structures, measuring work intake flow, and diagnosing common work intake issues. You'll leave with actionable insights and a clear plan to address work intake problems immediately. Sign up on Eventbrite! https://bit.ly/MasteringWorkIntake Re-read Saturday News Chapter 1 of (buy a copy and read along) establishes that the central question of all cultures and philosophies is “how to live.” Let's begin by dispelling the notion that Stoicism eschews emotion and feeling, rather the ancient philosophy based on the importance of wisdom, character, and balance. Pigilucci states, “Stoicism is an approach to living in which moral character is the only truly worthy thing to cultivate.” While I believe Spock (Star Trek) has a high moral character, if you are expecting How To Be A Stoic to teach how to be a Vulcan, you will be disappointed. If nothing else, the Stoics have a wry sense of humor. Forewarned is forearmed. Week 1: Week 2: Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 826 will explore whether urgency has more power in prioritization in collaborative events. Importance is supposed to trump urgency but when you involve many voices things are murkier. We will also have a visit from Kies Kostaqi who will bring her You Are Not Alone column to the Software Process and Measurement Cast.
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You Can Never Cross The Same River Twice, Essays and Conversations with Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 824
08/18/2024
You Can Never Cross The Same River Twice, Essays and Conversations with Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 824
The SPaMCAST 824 compares the Great Avon Lake Tornado and power outage with the purported death of Agile. Cap that off with many in the industry doubling down on Agile purity to put the blush back on the rose. My upcoming high school reunion suggests you can never cross the same river twice but crossing any river is a challenge.. Also Jon M Quigley and I talk about who is the most important person on a team. This is a counterpoint to my recent conversation with on SPaMCAST 822. They agree but it…depends. Master Work Intake! Mastering Work Intake by and I hit the bookshelves earlier this year. We have also been running cohort-based workshops to help expose and solve this dirty little secret. Two of the questions we have gotten as we have promoted the workshops are: What is a cohort-based workshop? What value will I get if I join? Both are greater questions and we have an answer! Join us for a one-hour open house to explore how to diagnose and solve work intake challenges, the most critical issue facing organizations today. This session will provide an overview of our course designed to help you to master work intake and ensure your organization thrives. We’ll cover key takeaways such as effective prioritization, navigating organizational structures, measuring work intake flow, and diagnosing common work intake issues. You'll leave with actionable insights and a clear plan to address work intake problems immediately. Sign up on Eventbrite! https://bit.ly/MasteringWorkIntake Re-read Saturday News This week we begin the re-read of (buy a copy and read along). I bought this book while on a trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was there for a speaking engagement and my wife and I decided to make a weekend of it. My downfall was that the fabulous Literati Bookstore was near our Air B&B. Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 825 will feature our interview with Richmond Alake. We discussed AI and Machine Learning. We also will discuss what comes next now that AI Chat has been done.
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Learning From Data, A Conversation With Kirk Marple, SPaMCAST 823
08/11/2024
Learning From Data, A Conversation With Kirk Marple, SPaMCAST 823
The introduction and outro words are abbreviated this week. I will regale you with the tale of the Avon Lake Toronado next. Now I need to find a way of making everything work without electricity and the Internet. I am not sure which is making me crazier. The SPaMCAST 823 features a discussion with Kirk Marple, Technical Founder and CEO at Graphit, by Unstruk Data. What is a technical founder you might ask? No? Well, I did. More importantly, we discussed AI, knowledge graphs, leadership, and how organizations learn as they understand their data. Check out Graphit at Check out Kirk on LinkedIn at Re-read Saturday News This week we have the concluding thoughts of Flow. We will begin the re-read of (buy a copy and read along) next week. Buy a copy of Flow and read along – Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Week 9: Week 10: Week 11: Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 824 will include the story of the Avon Lake tornado, the sound of and smell of generators in the morning, an addiction to electricity and the internet, and a conversation with Jon M. Quigley.
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Urgency Versus Importance - Which Drives Your Work, Teams And Why We Need Them, Conversations with Jeremy Willets and Jeremy Berriault, SPaMCAST 822
08/04/2024
Urgency Versus Importance - Which Drives Your Work, Teams And Why We Need Them, Conversations with Jeremy Willets and Jeremy Berriault, SPaMCAST 822
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 822 features a discussion that and I had during the Work Intake Summer Camp. The tyranny of the urgent often eclipses work that is merely important. Not understanding the difference between the two concepts and the long-term implications of ignoring what is important can be catastrophic. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault, the Evolutionary Agilist. We discussed why teams exist. The answer can be simplified into four words. Getting to those words is a wild ride. Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Work Intake Summer Camp is in session! Like a swimming pool, there is always time to join the fun. Jeremy Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We’ll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event. The last weekly session begins at 12:30 EDT on August 7th (). Each session will: Define one work intake problem per session, Identify how to recognize the problem, Offer a pragmatic approach to tackling the issue, and At least one scary story of work entry gone wrong (this is summer camp) We would like you to register at our Maven page so we can remind you when the session goes live. If you register we also have a Work Intake Problem Worksheet that we use in our workshops that we will email. However, if you’d rather not register on Maven you can set a reminder on LinkedIn (). In either case, we will announce when the sessions go live on LinkedIn. Share the invitation with others, wear sunscreen, and be kind to your fellow campers! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 10, Making of Meaning, culminates the book, . Meaning provides a yardstick to evaluate the human condition and to consider what it means to be a human being in the context of our world. “Meaning” is a catalyst to provide energy and stimulate the intellectual vitality required for optimal experience. Without meaning it is difficult to find the rationale for tasks and cares that may feel mundane but are necessary to reach a goal or as we pivot toward another. Next week we will flow into concluding thoughts. Buy a copy and read along – Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Week 9: Week 10: Next SPaMCAST The SPaMCAST 823 will feature our discussion with Kirk Marple, Technical Founder and CEO at Unstruk Data. We will discuss AI, knowledge graphs, and how organizations learn as they understand their data.
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Building A Business And A Leader, An Interview With Alex Natskovich, SPaMCAST 821
07/28/2024
Building A Business And A Leader, An Interview With Alex Natskovich, SPaMCAST 821
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 821 features our interview with Alex Natskovich. We talk about the attributes of a leader when building a business but even more importantly learning to be a leader. Success requires knowing how to handle the transitions. Alex’s Bio Alex is a seasoned engineering leader and CEO. Born in Belarus, he harbored a lifelong dream of becoming an engineer. After graduating from university, he moved to the USA. During the initial years, he resided in New York, working as a software engineer in various companies. One of the most notable was the startup Conductor, where he joined as the 5th employee. It has now evolved into the leading global SEO and content intelligence platform. During his tenure there, Alex was responsible for building and maintaining an industry-leading link-building system. Simultaneously, he embarked on building his own company, MEV (named after the mega-electron-volt) – a strategic software development partner for fast-growing companies. Afterward, he decided to settle in the Bay Area. While at the helm of his company, he assisted esteemed companies such as Cartier, Novo Nordisk, Daiichi Sankyo, and Avadel in overcoming complex business challenges through software solutions. Additionally, he aided numerous startups in developing stable and scalable digital products, making them attractive for acquisition. Alex is passionate about empowering businesses with the right technology. He firmly believes in the power of teams. Building a high-performing team, in his view, necessitates being open-minded and always striving to thoroughly understand the team’s objectives and needs for success. This solution-oriented mindset and team focus form the cornerstone of his company. Website: LinkedIn: Email: Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Work Intake Summer Camp is in session! Like a swimming pool, there is always time to join the fun. Jeremy Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We’ll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event. The next weekly session begins at 11:30 EDT on July 31st (). Each session will: Define one work intake problem per session, Identify how to recognize the problem, Offer a pragmatic approach to tackling the issue, and At least one scary story of work entry gone wrong (this is summer camp) We would like you to register at our Maven page so we can remind you when the session goes live. If you register we also have a Work Intake Problem Worksheet that we use in our workshops that we will email. However, if you’d rather not register on Maven you can set a reminder on LinkedIn (). In either case, we will announce when the sessions go live on LinkedIn. Share the invitation with others, wear sunscreen, and be kind to your fellow campers! Re-read Saturday News Three main ideas struck me during this read of Chapter 9 of . Chapter 9 is titled: Cheating Chaos. The chaos we are working to cheat is the random energy pushing us in random directions from inside and outside ourselves. Creating order provides a space for optimal experience and flow. Logistics note: Including this week, we anticipate completing this re-read in 4 weeks. Are there recommendations for the next book in the Re-read series? Buy a copy and read along – Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Week 9: Week 10: Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature and me discussing Urgency versus Importance. We thought the Work Intake Summer Camp discussion was so important (not just urgent) that we decided to share it. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault, the Evolutionary Agilist.
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Baselining Ideas for Improvement, Who Is Most Important, Essays and Conversations with Susan Parente, SPaMCAST 820
07/21/2024
Baselining Ideas for Improvement, Who Is Most Important, Essays and Conversations with Susan Parente, SPaMCAST 820
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 820 continues the story of Innovatech. In this installment, Emma “sells” baselining the flow to generate ideas for improvement and a starting point. The story of Innovatech is an allegory for how a data-driven improvement initiative can be bootstrapped with courage and perseverance. We also have a visit from whose “Not a Scrumdamentalist” column delivers insights and advice. Susan and I discussed who the most important person on a team is and who isn’t. Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Work Intake Summer Camp is in session! Like a swimming pool, there is always time to join the fun. Jeremy Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We’ll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event. The next weekly session begins at 12:30 EDT on July 24th (). Each session will: Define one work intake problem per session, Identify how to recognize the problem, Offer a pragmatic approach to tackling the issue, and At least one scary story of work entry gone wrong (this is summer camp) We would like you to register at our Maven page so we can remind you when the session goes live. If you register we also have a Work Intake Problem Worksheet that we use in our workshops that we will email. However, if you’d rather not register on Maven you can set a reminder on LinkedIn ( 6%%%). In either case, we will announce when the sessions go live on LinkedIn. Replay Week 5: Share the invitation with others, wear sunscreen, and be kind to your fellow campers! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 8, of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book , titled Enjoying Solitude and Other People, discusses the impact of people on optimal experience and flow. The author grounds the chapter by reminding us that the quality of life depends on how we experience work and relationships with others. Chapter 7 wrestled with the work portion of the equation and Chapter 8 the people part. The two are highly intertwined. Logistics note: Including this week, we anticipate completing this re-read in 4 weeks. Are there recommendations for the next book in the Re-read series? Buy a copy and read along – Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Next SPaMCAST The Software Process and Measurement Cast features our interview with Alex Natskovich. We will talk about finding value in unstructured data, transitioning from developer to entrepreneur, and agile.
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Navigating Customer Data - Insights from Rudderstack's CEO, Soumyadeb Mitra, SPaMCAST 819
07/15/2024
Navigating Customer Data - Insights from Rudderstack's CEO, Soumyadeb Mitra, SPaMCAST 819
The Sofware Process and Measurement Cast 819 features our conversation with Soumyadeb Mitra, Founder and CEO of Rudderstack. We discuss the trials and tribulations of consolidating and effectively using customer data. Tools like machine learning and generative AI make generating insights easier but “easier” does not mean easy. We also discuss entrepreneurship and trust. Soumyadeb Mitra is the Founder and CEO of RudderStack, the Warehouse Native Customer Data Platform (CDP). RudderStack helps data leaders drive revenue by making it easy to collect, unify and activate customer data for every team and tool. With a strong background in software engineering and data analytics, Soumyadeb is passionate about helping data leaders and teams make data valuable in their companies. Before founding RudderStack in 2018, Soumyadeb worked in various technical roles at leading technology companies, where he gained valuable experience in big data, machine learning, and cloud computing. While Head of Machine Learning at 8×8 (Nasdaq: EGHT), a unified communication as a service company, he found existing CDP solutions unable to meet his requirements for security, reliability, and scalability. He left to start RudderStack to solve that critical roadblock for companies looking to deliver key projects like real-time personalization and recommendations. Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Work Intake Summer Camp is in session! Jeremy Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We’ll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event. The next weekly session begins at 11:30 EDT on July 17th (). Each session will: Define one work intake problem per session, Identify how to recognize the problem, Offer a pragmatic approach to tackling the issue, and At least one scary story of work entry gone wrong (this is summer camp) We would like you to register at our Maven page so we can remind you when the session goes live. If you register we also have a Work Intake Problem Worksheet that we use in our workshops that we will email. However, if you’d rather not register on Maven you can set a reminder on LinkedIn (). In either case, we will announce when the sessions go live on LinkedIn. Share the invitation with others, wear sunscreen, and be kind to your fellow campers! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 7 of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s is titled, “Work As Flow.” Work is one of the largest single blocks of time adults carve out of their 168 hours of breath in a week. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi states. “Work that requires skill and is done freely refines the complexity of self.” Flow is the result of this refinement, at the least the potential for optimal experience from work. Juxtaposition work generates opportunities for flow with work which is the energy used to realize someone else's dreams, hopes, and ambitions. This is not a formula for optimal experience and flow. Buy a copy and read along – Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Next SPaMCAST We will continue the story of Innovatech and how a data-driven improvement initiative can be bootstrapped with courage and perseverance. We will also have a visit from whose “Not a Scrumdamentalist” column delivers insights and advice.
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The Tale of Innovatech, Starting Over, Essays and Conversations with Keis Kostaqi, SPaMCAST 818
07/07/2024
The Tale of Innovatech, Starting Over, Essays and Conversations with Keis Kostaqi, SPaMCAST 818
This week we continue with the story of Innovatech, the business novella David Herron and I are writing. Innovatech, the once a tech darling is struggling. The delivery of new functionality used to be so easy. Now it isn’t, leading to all sorts of unproductive behaviors. Emma, the Director of Residential Construction Technology Products, leads a one-person crusade to wake the organization up before it approaches a death spiral. We also have a visit from Keis Kostaqi. In this installment of her You Are Not Alone column we discuss how Scrum Masters need to adapt when organizations “start over”. Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Work Intake Summer Camp is in session! Jeremy Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We’ll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event. The next weekly session begins at 11:30 EDT on July 10th (). Each session will: Define one work intake problem per session, Identify how to recognize the problem, Offer a pragmatic approach to tackling the issue, and At least one scary story of work entry gone wrong (this is summer camp) We would like you to register at our Maven page so we can remind you when the session goes live. If you register we also have a Work Intake Problem Worksheet that we use in our workshops that we will email. However, if you’d rather not register on Maven you can set a reminder on LinkedIn (). In either case, we will announce when the sessions go live on LinkedIn. Share the invitation with others, wear sunscreen, and be kind to your fellow campers! Re-read Saturday News While Chapter 5 of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s focuses on the body’s impact on optimal experience in Chapter 6 we move upstairs. Chapter 6, titled The Flow of Thought, focuses on the mind’s contribution. The author points out that most of us have little control over our minds. We are attracted to what is (seemingly) most important, at the moment. We fill the gaps with stimuli that don’t evoke flow or optimal experiences. Buy a copy and read along – Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Next SPaMCAST On the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, we will speak with Soumyadeb Mitra, Founder and CEO of Rudderstack. We will talk about the effective use of customer data.
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AI and Agents In The Workplace, Oh My, A Conversation With Artem Koren, SPaMCAST 817
06/30/2024
AI and Agents In The Workplace, Oh My, A Conversation With Artem Koren, SPaMCAST 817
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 817 features our conversation with Artem Koren, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Sembly AI. We talk about AI, the role of AI, and the impact of agents on the workplace. Artem Koren grew up in New York City. He graduated from Columbia University with a degree in Computer Science and later attended the NYU Stern School of Business where he earned his MBA. Artem is passionate about using AI to enrich humanity and create positive change. He combines his experience as a systems engineer, product manager, management consultant, and entrepreneur to create innovative products, bringing to life new ways that technology can help us reach our goals. Sembly AI, which he co-founded with Gil Makleff in 2019, is at the forefront of augmented worker intelligence, empowering hundreds of organizations around the world with AI agent solutions that bridge the gap between meetings and results. Website: Sembly’s LinkedIn: Artem’s LinkedIn: Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Work Intake Summer Camp is in session! Jeremy Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We’ll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event. The next weekly session begins at 11:30 EDT on July 3rd (). Each session will: Define one work intake problem per session, Identify how to recognize the problem, Offer a pragmatic approach to tackling the issue, and At least one scary story of work entry gone wrong (this is summer camp) We would like you to register at our Maven page so we can remind you when the session goes live. If you register we also have a Work Intake Problem Worksheet that we use in our workshops that we will email. However, if you’d rather not register on Maven you can set a reminder on LinkedIn (). In either case, we will announce when the sessions go live on LinkedIn. Feel free to share the invitation with others. Remind everyone to use sunscreen! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 5 of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s is titled, The Body In Flow. This Chapter deals with the kinesic contribution to optimal experiences and flow. The word contribute is an important descriptor; the author warns the reader: “The body does not produce flow merely by its movements. The mind is always involved as well.” Buy a copy and read along – Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: Week 6: Next SPaMCAST On the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, more of the story of Innovatech and what happens when responsibility and accountability get muddled. We will also have a visit from Keis Kostaqi who brings her You Are Not Alone column to the podcast!
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Goal Conflicts Cause Work Intake Problems, Finding Time To Concentrate, Conversations with Jeremy Willets and Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 816
06/23/2024
Goal Conflicts Cause Work Intake Problems, Finding Time To Concentrate, Conversations with Jeremy Willets and Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 816
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 Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We’ll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event. The next weekly session begins at 11:30 EDT on June 16th. Each session will: Define one work intake problem per session, Identify how to recognize the problem, Offer a pragmatic approach to tackling the issue, and At least one scary story of work entry gone wrong (this is summer camp) We would like you to register at our Maven page so we can remind you when the session goes live. If you register we also have a Work Intake Problem Worksheet that we use in our workshops that we will email. However, if you’d rather not register on Maven you can set a reminder on LinkedIn at . In either case, we will announce when the sessions go live on LinkedIn. Feel free to share the invitation with others. Remind everyone to use sunscreen! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 4 of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s is titled The Conditions of Flow. Flow states just don’t occur randomly. They require several factors to align. Some factors can be “arranged” while others are context-driven or part of a large feedback loop. I find three concepts central to Chapter 4. Buy a copy and read along – Week 1: – Week 2: – Week 3: – Week 4: – Week 5: Next SPaMCAST On the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, we will talk with , Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of - One of the topics we discussed is whether building an AI solution is different than building any other solution.
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Mastering Work Intake Summer Camp!
06/17/2024
Mastering Work Intake Summer Camp!
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 causes of work intake problems. The first session will be held on June 19th at 11:30 AM EDT (for more information ). Each session will: Define one work intake problem per session, Identify how to recognize the problem, Offer a pragmatic approach to tackling the issue, and At least one scary story of work entry gone wrong (this is summer camp) We would like you to register at our Maven page so we can remind you when the session goes live. If you register we also have a Work Intake Problem Worksheet that we use in our workshops that we will email. However, if you’d rather not register on Maven you can set a reminder on LinkedIn at . In either case, we will announce when the sessions go live on LinkedIn. Feel free to share the invitation with others. We will ensure we have enough virtual juice boxes for stories around the campfire.
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Prioritization and Deep Seated Issues, A Conversation With Jim Benson, Replay, SPaMCAST 814
06/16/2024
Prioritization and Deep Seated Issues, A Conversation With Jim Benson, Replay, SPaMCAST 814
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 prioritization. All of us at SPaMCAST look forward to your thoughts. Contact Jim LinkedIn: Personal Kanban: Modus Cooperandi: Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We’ll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event weekly beginning June 19th at 11:30. Register at - registration is not necessary but it will help get a count for virtual juice boxes. Re-read Saturday News This week we revisit our first re-read from 2015, The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement ( or ) written by Eli Goldratt. If you are interested in the flow of work you need to read The Goal – more than once. The link is Re-read Saturday Instalments Next week we will return to our re-read of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book, . Next SPaMCAST On the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, more of the story of Innovatech and what happens when responsibility and accountability get muddled. We will also have a visit from and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development.
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Accountability and Responsibility Are Intertwined, Why Are There Still Testers, Essays and Conversations, SPaMCAST 813
06/09/2024
Accountability and Responsibility Are Intertwined, Why Are There Still Testers, Essays and Conversations, SPaMCAST 813
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 is part of a larger business novella David Herron and I are developing that wh hope to share over the summer. Today we will begin with a bit of background. We also have a visit from the Evolutionary Agilist. and I wrestle with the question, why do we still have testers in the age of automated testing and AI. Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We’ll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event weekly beginning June 19th at 11:30. Register at - registration is not necessary but it will help getting a count for virtual juice boxes. Re-read Saturday News Chapter 3 of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s is titled Enjoyment and The Quality of Life. This chapter resonates strongly with me. I have always struggled with the idea that lounging around or mindlessly working is enjoyable. Thinking about those scenarios the word tedious comes to mind. Let’s explore! Buy a copy and read along - Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Next SPaMCAST Next week, I will be traveling to attend a funeral of a family member. We will revisit a favorite from 2019, SPaMCAST 553 - Prioritization and Capability, An Interview with Jim Benson. We will be back with new programming on June 23rd.
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Professionalize ML and AI, A Conversation With Brad Micklea, SPaMCAST 812
06/02/2024
Professionalize ML and AI, A Conversation With Brad Micklea, SPaMCAST 812
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 2017. In his 25-year career in the developer tools and DevOps software market, he’s been the GM for Amazon’s API Gateway, and built open- and closed-source products that have been leaders in Gartner Magic Quadrants. He enjoys cycling, reading, and vintage cars in his free time. Websites: Kitops: Jozu: LinkedIn: X: @BradMicklea 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. (Closed) Want to read the book first? Keyan Reid Stated in their review of : “What first struck me, was the immediate tie to the human equation. Purchase a copy of the book from: JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Re-read Saturday News We consider consciousness this week in our re-read of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s . Consciousness is a process of interpreting and processing thoughts and feelings. Buy a copy and read along - Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Next SPaMCAST We return to the topics of accountability and responsibility. Hierarchies generate a tangled web of overlapping relationships that can obscure who has the ball. This type of scenario might be good in sports but in business, not so much. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault, The Evolutionary Agilist.
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Committees to Dodge Responsibility, Certifications, Essays and Conversations, SPaMCAST 811
05/26/2024
Committees to Dodge Responsibility, Certifications, Essays and Conversations, SPaMCAST 811
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 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. (only a few seats left) Want to read the book first? , The Evolutionary Agilist™, described as a “Fantastic work. Very practical and helps improve workflows." Purchase a copy of the book from: JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Re-read Saturday News We begin the meat of our re-read of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s 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 - Week 1: - Week 2: - 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.
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Making The World A Better Place, A Conversation with D.J. Eshelman, SPaMCAST 810
05/19/2024
Making The World A Better Place, A Conversation with D.J. Eshelman, SPaMCAST 810
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 been a senior consultant/architect at Citrix Consulting Services since 2011, serving both independently and with white-label services through BOT Consulting and THRIVE-IT.com. D.J.'s mission is to leave a positive impact on the world and inspire others to do the same. Contact Information: LinkedIn Web Site YouTube 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. This course is for you if you’re a… 01 Scrum Master / Agile Coach who aspires to help teams and organizations predictably deliver. 02 Project Manager / Program Manager / Portfolio Manager who craves better ways to facilitate conversations around scope, schedule, priority, a 03 Product Owner / Product Manager / Release Manager / Delivery Manager / Delivery Lead who truly wants to maximize value delivery. Want to read the book first? Purchase a copy of the book from: JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Re-read Saturday News I have read and quoted parts of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s over the last ten years. It has been on my list to read cover to cover for several years. My wife pointed out that my copy has yellowed, so it’s time to read now, better late than never :). We began the re-read on May 18 and plan to complete it on August 3 or 10th. Buy a copy and read along - Week 1: - Next SPaMCAST IN the next Software Process and Measurement Cast we will continue on the path of exploring how responsibility and accountability cascade in an organization. We will also have a visit from Kies Kostaqi who brings her You Are Not Alone column to the podcast..
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Accountability vs. Responsibility Debate, Essays and Conversations w Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 809
05/12/2024
Accountability vs. Responsibility Debate, Essays and Conversations w Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 809
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, or maintaining software products, work intake is a challenge you deal with constantly. Doing the right work at the right time can make or break your project, and there are surprisingly few resources to show you how to manage this process effectively. You need to know what your team is executing, what work is next, and the skill sets required to do the work. Buy a copy of Mastering Work Intake: From Chaos to Predictable Delivery by Tom Cagley and Jeremy Willets A testimonial! “I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone who has suffered through work intake missteps in Agile teams and wants to find a better way to deliver predictable results.” Purchase a copy of the book from: JRoss Publishing: Amazon: Re-read Saturday News We have just completed our re-read of by Cal Newport. Newport concludes with a reminder that working deeply is a skill for getting important stuff done. We can learn and hone the skills needed for deep work by putting in the effort. The author suggests that deep work is not a moral or philosophical statement, I am not sure. Aristotle stated the most important virtue is wisdom. Deep work is required to develop wisdom. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Week 9: - Next week we begin Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Buy a copy and read along - ). I have read parts of this book, not the whole therefore I am going into this read with imperfect information. My biggest worry, however, is learning to pronounce the Author’s name. I am wise enough to have already started practicing! Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 810 features our interview with D.J. Eshelman, author of Just Do This. One of the topics we will discuss is how badly implemented methodologies like Agile and DevOps are causing burnout in IT Services. Fighting words?
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Design Thinking, A Conversation with Steven Schkolne, SPaMCAST 808
05/05/2024
Design Thinking, A Conversation with Steven Schkolne, SPaMCAST 808
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 agency, during the podcast. Check them out at https://abcdinamo.com/ Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Are you ready to find the time to use design thinking? Stop letting your out-of-control backlog reduce the value your products deliver. Our next Mastering Work Intake cohort starts on 31 May through 28 June in five manageable 90-minute gatherings. A testimonial! “[A] great memorable session and a lot of inspiration to adopt this mindset and drive this across the organization. [A] big "THANK YOU" 👏 for hosting these sessions and writing this great book on "Work Intake" ✨. You both are just AWESOME. 🔥” Soumya Sikder Enterprise Agile Coach For more details hop over to our Maven site for more information, sign up, or join the mailing list! SPaMCAST listeners get a $50 discount. Use the code, SPAM50 Re-read Saturday News Chapter 7 of by Cal Newport is titled Rule #4: Drain the Shallows. During both my reads of this chapter I have been struck by the amount of shallow work that creeps into my day even after the experiments and tweaks tried over the past several weeks. This week we focus on reducing the amount of shallow work! Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Week 8: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 809 features our essay discussing whether accountability and responsibility are really ever separated in real life. Segregating the two ‘ilities might make sense for some roles but the nuances are generally far messier. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the podcast.
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Work Intake Nuances in Mid-Management, Seamless Communications, Essays and Conversation w/ Jeremy Berriult - SPaMCAST 807
04/28/2024
Work Intake Nuances in Mid-Management, Seamless Communications, Essays and Conversation w/ Jeremy Berriult - SPaMCAST 807
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. We also have a visit from the Evolutionary Agilist, Jeremy Berriult. Mr. Berriult discusses the need for seamless communication Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy Willets and I have opened two cohort-based workshops to help you learn to tame the work intake beast! The first kicks off May 3rd to May 24th and features a mixture of video and in-person gatherings. The second runs from 31 May to 28 June in five manageable 90-minute gatherings. A testimonial! “I thoroughly enjoyed participating … I walked away with new ideas to try within my organization, new agile connections from outside my organization, and an overall better understanding of work intake's direct impact on delivering software predictably.” Cece Wolf Agile Release Manager | Agile Coach For more details hop over to our Maven site for more information, sign up, or join the mailing list! For SPaMCASTs listener we would like to offer you a $50 off discount code - Re-read Saturday News Chapter 6 of by Cal Newport is titled Rule #3: Quit Social Media. We use a wide variety of tools in our daily lives and many of us consider social media as tools. The internet tells us that these tools make our lives better. In this Chapter, Newport asks us to consider if the value outweighs the cost. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Week 7: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 808 will feature our discussion with Steven Schkolne. We will talk about how design thinking impacts users and user satisfaction. We will also add whether AI has a role in development and design today.
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Why Write Mastering Work Intake?
04/25/2024
Why Write Mastering Work Intake?
Why write Mastering Work Intake? Because Jeremy Willets and decided maybe things could be different. That just chanting “stop starting and stop finishing” wasn’t enough. Our book provides the reader with ideas, principles, actionable advice, worksheets, and examples to help you tame the chaos of work entry. If you had the world enough and time maybe you could put off getting better, making better choices until tomorrow. However, things are the way they are and you can act. Buy a copy of Mastering Work Intake - You could read the book on your own. Marcus Aurelius, Stoic Philosopher and Roman Emperor, wrote. “Mastery of reading and writing requires a master,” Jeremy and I have created two cohort-based workshops (starting soon) to help you discover the context you need to find your path to Mastering Work Intake. Join us! The link to Maven to register and for more information: SPaMCAST listeners, use SPAM50 at checkout to save 50 USD.
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Craft and Defend Organizational Culture, An Interview with Peter Schroeder, SPaMCAST 805
04/21/2024
Craft and Defend Organizational Culture, An Interview with Peter Schroeder, SPaMCAST 805
SPaMCAST 805 features our interview with Peter Schroeder. We discuss plane crashes, fatherhood, and the journey from DJ to a technologist and then to a business person. Organizational culture is critical in all organizations, double in distributed environments. Peter discusses how he learned to craft and defend organizational culture. Peter Schroeder is an accomplished DJ, entrepreneur, and technology pioneer. With over 20 platinum records, 40 gold records, and a triple nomination for the prestigious Danish DJ awards, Peter is one of Denmark's top DJs, entertaining audiences of up to 180,000. He was a featured radio host by the age of 12 and appeared on talk shows and TV stations across Denmark. In addition to his music career, Peter has over 20 years of experience creating cutting-edge technologies for companies such as Facebook, Samsung, and Airbnb. He's a true innovator who works closely with businesses to address mission-critical telecommunications, enabling them to quickly implement, manage, and expand for success. Peter's latest endeavor is Telzio, a pre-unicorn unified communications company he founded. With Telzio, Peter is developing game-changing technology and products that simplify and streamline repetitive tasks. Throughout his career, Peter has survived a plane crash and the birth of twins. LinkedIn: Website: Telzio: Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy Willets and I have opened two cohort-based workshops to help you learn to tame the work intake beast! The first kicks off May 3rd to May 24th and features a mixture of video and in-person gatherings. The second runs from 31 May to 28 June in five manageable 90-minute gatherings. A testimonial! “This class offered an outstanding learning experience … Engaging discussions and practical exercises illuminated the material, presenting a learning approach that was unique to me, but incredibly valuable. This class enriched my understanding and refined my practical skills, making it a truly great learning experience.” Christine Green Program Manager & Advisor on Software Contracts For more details hop over to our Maven site for more information, sign up, or join the mailing list! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 5 of by Cal Newport is titled Rule #2: Embrace Boredom. Newport’s idea in this chapter is less to be bored than to create space where you can do deep work. The pings, dings, and kitten videos need to be pushed aside. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Week 6: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 806 will feature the next installment of our essay on applying the Nine Core Principles of Work Intake. In this installment, we explore how the principles apply to middle management through Product Management. We will also have a visit from Jeremy Berriault who brings his Evolutionary Agilst™ Column to the podcast.
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Applying The Nine Core Principles of Work Intake and Why Organizations Do Projects with Susan Parente, SPaMCAST 804
04/14/2024
Applying The Nine Core Principles of Work Intake and Why Organizations Do Projects with Susan Parente, SPaMCAST 804
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 Willets and I have opened a new workshop cohort to help you learn to tame the work intake beast! The workshop will run from 31 May to 28 June in five manageable 90-minute chunks. For more details hop over to our Maven site for more information, sign up, or join the mailing list! Re-read Saturday News Chapter 4, Deep Work is Meaningful begins Part 2 of by Cal Newport. Part 2 contains Newport’s rules and ideas for learning to work deeply. There are several ideas that I want to highlight in this chapter. The first is that attention and focus are finite AND consumable resources. Remember to buy a copy of and read along. Week 1: - Week 2: - Week 3: - Week 4: - Week 5: - Next SPaMCAST SPaMCAST 805 will feature our interview with Peter Schroeder. We will discuss plane crashes, fatherhood, and the journey from a technologist to a business person. This is not a two truths and a lie exercise.
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