November 27, 2022
The annual Thanksgiving holiday in the US was a few days ago providing space to reflect and give thanks to everyone involved in the 16-plus years history of the Software Process and Measurement Cast blog and podcast. There is a lot to be thankful and grateful for, this week we put the spotlight on everyone that makes the SPaMCAST possible.
(more…)November 26, 2022
Once a year my brothers, sister, father, and I bring as many of our extended family together as possible to give thanks, celebrate, and re-establish relationships. This tradition has occurred 40 times over the last 42 years. It is like a mini-diaspora that has spread across the US returning to trade stories and to break bread together. The years have spawned many stories, most of which are of celebration and thanks. The annual Thanksgiving holiday in the US was a few days ago providing space to reflect and give thanks to everyone involved in the 16-plus years history of the Software Process and Measurement Cast blog and podcast. There is a lot to be thankful and grateful for. In no particular order…
(more…)January 2, 2022
SPaMCAST 684 posts on January 2nd, 2022. The new year evokes both retrospection and expectations for the future. 2021 was quite the year; SPaMCAST 635 marked the beginning of our 15th year of publishing with a conversation with Johanna Rothman (SPaMCAST 635 – Practical Ways to Manage, A Conversation with Johanna Rothman). That was our most downloaded cast of 2021. In late August I lost a podcast . . . (a summer rerun), SPaMCAST 668 has attained the status of the Lost Show. Somehow while I was backpacking on Isle Royale the preprogrammed show failed to post. I have a backup but it is more fun to have a lost cast. I will rectify the situation at some point when I stop being amused. The year ended with my 12-year-old mixer going to the electronics recycler. The new mixer should be delivered soon. Even with all of the hassle, I have been able to do three great interviews and two related panel discussions that will round out year 15 and kick-off year 16. That’s the long way to say that even though I am struggling through a website issue and a switchover of hardware, I am currently planning years 16 and 17.
Happy New Year, and now back to our regularly scheduled programming with Tony Timbol and his To Tell A Story column. This installment tackles product owners and work entry.
(more…)January 5, 2021
Happy 2021! As I reflect back on my goals for the podcast for 2020 I am reminded of the old saying “Man Plans, and God Laughs.” Overall we delivered a podcast every week but during the early days of the pandemic, fewer listened than before. My gut is that when people stopped commuting, they stop listening. In response, we moved to a more interview-driven show, added panels, and multi-guest shows. On the guest front, we had a number of guests back from previous years, such as Alan Kelley and Jeff Dalton. At the end of the year, the numbers were back up despite that lack of commuters – three of the most downloaded shows were first aired in late November. The ten podcasts with the most downloads were:
(more…)December 13, 2020
This week we are staying with metrics and Manning Publications for a chat with Christopher W H Davis, author of Agile Metrics in Action, How to Measure and Improve Team Performance. Why more metrics? Well first, the M in SPaMCAST is for metrics. Secondly, metrics are important tools for teams and organizations when used wisely. Many in the agile world hear the term metric or measure and run screaming from the room. I asked Chris if he thought combining ‘metics’ and ‘agile’ was an oxymoron – he thinks not.
After you have listened, buy a copy of Chris’s book using the link http://mng.bz/r2Og Don’t pay full price by using the discount code podspam20 to get a 40% discount code (good for all Manning products in all formats).
(more…)September 20, 2020
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 617 features our essay on rediscovering productivity. One of the tools I have embraced is Pomodoro. It is a great approach to staying focused and helps unwonkify time in my home office!
Also this week, Susan Parente brings her “Not A Scrumdamentalist” column to the Software Process and Measurement Cast! Susan begins a three-part series on grateful leadership. Grateful leadership is so much more than just saying thank you.
In between the essay and Susan’s column, we have a promo for the Agile Online Summit 2020. (more…)
June 28, 2020
Play Now!
Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcast
https://bit.ly/3fmn1IAListen and Subscribe on Google Podcasts
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 605 features our interview with Jodie Kane. Jodie and I discussed involving product owners in retrospectives. Jodie suggests the answer should not be cut and dry but rather context-driven.
Jodie is a passionate, value-driven servant leader with a unique, energetic style that brings out the best in people and opens space for teams to be self-organizing high performers focused on delivering customer value and getting things done.
She has spent a lifetime honing her servant leadership skills, inviting people to work together, and creating space for human engagement to develop innovative, self-organizing, value-driven teams.
Contact Jodie on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodieenglekane/
June 21, 2020
Play Now!
Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcast
https://bit.ly/3fmn1IAListen and Subscribe on Google Podcasts
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 604 features a presentation that I did on the need for organizations to lean into processes improvement as the COVID-19 disaster abates (at least for the time being). Continuous improvement can’t be just a slogan during an economic downturn.
We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley with his Alpha and Omega of Product Development Column. Jon and I talked about the definition of quality and whether the concept of quality is a matter of perception. We don’t exactly agree . . . what are your thought? (more…)
May 26, 2020
Play Now!
Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcast
Listen and Subscribe on Google Podcasts
Sorry for the delay — repeat after me, always have an emergency bootable thumb drive!
The Software Process and Measurement Cast 601 features my interview with Brian Weaver. Brian is the Founder and CEO of Torch.AI. We covered a wide range of topics, including AI and agile, and the role of leadership in creating an environment where extraordinary results are possible. (more…)
March 29, 2020
Subscribe: Apple Podcast
Check out the podcast on Google Play Music
The SPaMCAST 593 features my interview with Scott Crabtree. Happiness at work might sound squishy, but happiness has rigorous science behind it. Simply put, happiness yields better outcomes both in terms of value delivered and our own perception of our value. (more…)
Software Process and Measurement 