Sinopsis
Interviews, essays, facts and tips about process improvement and measurement in the Information Technology arena!
Episodios
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SPaMCAST 136 - Ginger Levin and LeRoy Ward, Program Management Complexity
29/05/2011 Duración: 47minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 136! SPaMCAST 136 features my interview with Dr Ginger Levin and J. LeRoy Ward discussing their new book, Program Management Complexity: A Competency Model (ESI International Project Management Series). We discussed program management, the impact of agile techniques and why competency is critical. A wonderful information packed interview! Dr. Ginger Levin is a senior consultant and educator in project management. Her specialty areas are portfolio management, program management, the Project Management Office, knowledge management, metrics, and maturity assessments. She is certified as a PMP®, PgMP®, and as an OPM3 Assessor and Consultant. She was the second person in the world to receive the PgMP. In addition, Dr. Levin is an Adjunct Professor for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she teaches in its M.S. in Project Management Program and for SKEMA (Esc Lille) University, France, in its project management program at the master’s and doctoral le
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SPaMCAST 135 - Metrics Minute - Value at Risk
22/05/2011 Duración: 15minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 133! SPaMCAST 135 features an entry in the Metrics Minute. We are covering a Value at Risk. WValue at Risk represents the potential impact of risk on the value of a project or portfolio of projects. Risk is monitored at specific points (a topic of further discussion in the near future) of the project life cycle. Monitoring includes an evaluation of the potential cost impact of remediating the risks that have not been fully remediated weighted by the probability of occurrence. Where the cost impact of risk is above program risk tolerance specific remediation plans will be established to reduce the estimated risk impact. The value at risk metric provides the team with a tool for prioritizing risks and risk management activities. Shameless Ad for my book! Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like
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SPaMCAST 134 - Cynthia Kurtz, Narratives and Stories
15/05/2011 Duración: 48minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 134! SPaMCAST 134 features my interview with Cynthia Kurtz on narratives and stories and how stories can be a VERY powereful tool for gathering requirements and for knowledge management. I am already planning to listen to this one again because of the huge amount of value Cynthia provided! Cynthia Kurtz is an independent researcher, writer and software designer who consults in the field of organizational and community narrative for decision support, conflict resolution and collective sense–making. Her free online book,(http://www.workingwithstories.org) Working with Stories helps people use narrative techniques to benefit their own communities and organizations. She is building open source software called (http://www.rakontu.org) Rakontu to help small groups share and work with stories for collective sense–making, decision support and conflict resolution. Her blog is at (http://www.storycoloredglasses.com) storycoloredglasses.com. Cynthia’s original backg
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SPaMCAST 133 - Metrics Minute - Burn-up Charts
08/05/2011 Duración: 13minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 133! SPaMCAST 133 features an entry in the Metrics Minute. We tackle burn-up charts. The burn-up chart can be thought of as the mirror image of the burn-down chart but is generally extended over multiple sprints to show the strategy being followed as the project builds toward release and product delivery. Shameless Ad for my book! Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: "This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, neither for you or your team." Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email: spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail: +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook: http://bit.ly/16fBWV Next! SPaMCAST 134 features my interview with Cynthia Kurtz on stories a
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SPaMCAST 132 - Bill Bentley, Lean Six Sigma Secrets for the CIO WEB
01/05/2011 Duración: 31minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 132! SPaMCAST 132 features my interview with Bill Bentley discussing the book he co-authored "Lean Six Sigma Secrets for the CIO". We covered the gamut of process improvement with emphasis on six sigma, lean and the combination of the two techniques. Bill Bentley is the owner and president of www.value-train.com, a training and consulting business. His Atlanta area company was started in 2002 and provides quantitative process improvement training to the public via open enrollment courses, and to corporations via in-house courses. The company also provides consulting services. Primary topics include Six Sigma, Lean and applied quantitative methods. Bill has an MSEE from Rensselaer, substantial further education and training, and has nearly completed his MBA in Finance and Management. Bill is a pro at solving tough real-world business and technical problems, first as a control systems engineer with Procter & Gamble out of school, later in increasing
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SPaMCAST 131 - Agile is form Venus PMOs from Mars, Part Two
25/04/2011 Duración: 27minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 131! SPaMCAST 131 features the second part of my essay "Agile is from Venus, PMOs from Mars". Part One was a controversial, Part Two will not lower the bar. If you are struggling to understand how position a PMOs in your agile organization you need to listen. Shameless Ad for my book! Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: "This book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, neither for you or your team." Have you bought your copy? Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement CastEmail: spamcastinfo@gmail.comVoicemail: +1-206-888-6111Website: www.spamcast.netTwitter: www.twitter.com/tcagleyFacebook: http://bit.ly/16fBWV Next!SPaMCAST 132 features my interview with Bill Bentley discussing the book he co-authored "Lean Six Sigma Secrets for the
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SPaMCAST 130 - John Hollmann, Risk and Cost Engineering
17/04/2011 Duración: 31minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 130! SPaMCAST 130 features my interview with with John K. Hollmann discussing cost engineering and risk from a cost engineering perspective. If you are involved with risk and cost engineering you will want to bookmark this interview and listen again and again. John has over 30 years of design and cost engineering experience, including all practice areas of cost engineering and project control. John is Owner of Validation Estimating LLC (www.validest.com) which he founded in 2005 to help owner companies improve their Cost Engineering capabilities. Before that, John managed the downstream cost and schedule metrics and research programs of Independent Project Analysis, Inc (a project system benchmarking firm). John is a Fellow of AACE International and recipient of AACE’s highest honor--the Award of Merit. John is currently an AACE Technical Director and is co-chair of a task force to develop a Decision and Risk Management Professional (DRMP) certification p
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SPaMCAST 129 Corrected - Checklist for Process Improvement Success, Involvement
10/04/2011 Duración: 15minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 129! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast I feature my short essay, Checklist for Process Improvement Success. I have also included an essay orginally included in SPaMCAST 8 titled, ‘Involvement: Whose Industry Is It Anyway?'. Short for get involved. We will pick up the conclusion of Agile is from Venus and PMOs from Mars will pick up in SPaMAST 131 Many Software Process and Measurement Cast Listeners have purchased Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chemuturi and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. Thank you! If you are one of those many listeners, please consider posting a review on Amazon or one of the many online book review sites. Reviews help sell books. So if you agreee with Robert C. Anderson, Director, Process Development and Quality Assurance, Computer Aid, Inc that "Mastering Software Project Management is a masterpiece of clarity, organization and depth
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SPaMCAST 128 -Garmus, Russac, Edwards, Certified Function Point Specialist Examination Guide
03/04/2011 Duración: 41minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 128! SPaMCAST 128 features my interview with with Dave Garmus, Janet Russac and Royce Edwards discussing thier book, Certified Function Point Specialist Examination Guide. If you are interested in functional metrics this interview will be right down your alley. This was David Garmus’ fourth book. Two of his previous books were co-authored with his business partner, David Herron, on functional measurement. Mr. Garmus is an acknowledged authority in the sizing, measurement and estimation of software application development and maintenance. As a co-founder of the David Consulting Group, he supports software development organizations in achieving software excellence with a metric-centered approach. Mr. Garmus is a Past President of IFPUG and member of the IFPUG Counting Practices Committee. He has a BS from the University of California at Los Angeles and an MBA from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. He has spoken at numerous confe
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SPaMCAST 127 - Agile is from Venus and PMOs from Mars Part 1, MAIN News
27/03/2011 Duración: 31minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 127! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast I feature the first part of my essay titled, Agile is from Venus and PMOs from Mars. I also have news from MAIN brought to us by Manfred Bundschuh. The essay begins . . . Over the past few years I have spent time with many organizations that been struggling with the role of PMOs in their organization as they transitioned to agile. There are a couple of important words in the last sentence. The first critical word is struggling, struggling is important because many PMO's have become more administrative and control oriented rather than being coaches and leaders. Agile focuses on self organization rather than control functions. Also I suggest that combining the roles of administration and control with coaching and leading creates conflict because the goals of these roles are different. It gets even more difficult and stressful when project managers and administrators are asked to change roles that
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SPaMCAST 126 - Phillip LaPlante, Requirements Engineering for Software and Systems
20/03/2011 Duración: 35minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 126 SPaMCAST 126 features my interview with Phillip A. LaPlante discussing his book Requirements Engineering for Software and Systems in specific and requirements in general. A real powerhouse discussion of requirements. Dr. Phil Laplante is Professor of Software Engineering at Penn State. His interests are in software and systems engineering, project management, and software testing and security. Prior to his academic career Dr. Laplante spent several years as a software engineer and project manager working on avionics, computer aided design and software test systems. He has authored or edited 27 books and has published more than 200 scholarly papers. Recently, he was named by the National Council of Engineering Examiners to Chair the committee that will develop the examination, which will be used to license Professional Engineers in the practice of Software Engineering. Laplante received his B.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D. in Systems Planning & Management, E
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SPaMCAST 125 - Coaching, Two Calls To Action
13/03/2011 Duración: 13minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 125! I recorded this Cast before the earthquake in Japan but did want to let all of the SPaMCAST friends and all of the people of Japan that my thoughts are with you. In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast I feature a short entry I wrote on coaching, a comment on the blog entry on coaching and two calls to action. The paper on Agile is from Venus and PMOs from Mars will begin in SPaMCAST 127. The essay begins . . . Coaching is a core agile technique, however the impact of the differing coaching technique has not been thoroughly understood which has meant that practices were driven based on individual style. That is until now. Why is coaching important? Coaching is important because it can lead it to smoothly functioning organizations; higher productivity and profits. Call to Action One:Last year I interviewed Bertrand Meyer about SEMAT (see SPaMCAST 96 at www.SPAMCAST.libsyn.com). During the interview he indicated that one the reasons
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SPaMCAST 124 - Gerard Hill, The Complete Project Management Methodology and Toolkit
06/03/2011 Duración: 46minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 124 SPaMCAST 124 features my interview with Gerard "Jerry" Hill. Gerald and I talked about his book The Complete Project Management Methodology and Toolkit specifically and project management generally. A ton of good advice on instituting project management methodology in any organization. Gerard Hill is the Principal of Hill Consulting Group, and has more than 25 years experience in project management practice design and implementation, information systems integration, and business process engineering. His specialty is enabling businesses to gain and sustain a competitive edge through development and implementation of total-practice project management solutions. He has conceived and constructed processes and practices that have enabled Fortune 100 and other client organizations to realize maximum benefit from their investment in project management. Prior to introducing Hill Consulting Group, Mr. Hill was with ESI International, where he served as Vice
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SPaMCAST 123 - Metrics Minute - Burn Down Charts
28/02/2011 Duración: 15minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 123! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast we have an entry in the Metrics Minute. We cover Burn down charts are a critcial part of what makes agile work. The esay begins . . . Burn Down Charts are a graphical representation of the work left to be done and of the progress that has been made. The chart is typically drawn to show progress against predictions. The analogy of a glide path has been used to paint a picture of the slope and the ultimate destination of a burn down chart which targeted at completion. One of the most powerful attractions of the burn down chart is that it involves psychology by emotionally tying the metric to completion through the visual representation of a path counting down to zero. Book Plug . . .Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chemuturi and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing has hit the bookshelves! According to Robert C. Anderson, Director
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SPaMCAST 122 - Ted Theodoropoulos, Technical Debt
20/02/2011 Duración: 41minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 120. SPaMCAST 122 features my interview with Ted Theodoropoulos. Ted and I talked about technical debt and whether the definition of techincal needs to be expanded to address the needs of our industry. Ted’s background in technology began in the early 1980s developing applications in BASIC on the first personal computers. It was during a school project that he first came in contact with technical debt while collaborating with classmates to develop a video game for the TI-99/4a. The project was loosely coordinated and faced immediate integration challenges when collaborators submitted their code forcing an extensive refactoring exercise. Ted went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters in Business Administration from the Belk College of Business at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As a Senior Vice President at Bank of America, Ted held a number of leadersh
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SPaMCAST 121 - Gates And The Value of IT
13/02/2011 Duración: 15minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 121! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast we revist an essay originally broadcast in SPaMCAST 2. We revisit the essay because I believe the events in TUnisia and Egypt over the past few weeks have driven the point home that gates can impact the value of IT. The essay begins . . . A few weeks ago (now three years later) I attended a lecture by Jared Diamond. His lecture was in support of his book. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (2005). The ideas in the book concern the anthropology of societies however they are equally relevant to why process improvement programs succeed or fail. Two of the ideas Dr. Diamond put forth on why societies collapse that are instantly germane to SPI programs were: • Elites isolate themselves, and• An inability to reassess core values Can anyone say gates or silos? Book Plug . . .Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chemuturi and my
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SPaMCAST 120 - Peter Thomas, Mature Metrics Programs
06/02/2011 Duración: 35minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 120. SPaMCAST 120 features my interview with Peter Thomas, a techincal specialist in software sizing and related fields at Steria. He is also a member of the Counting Practice Committee in International Function Point User's Group. We discussed the attributes of mature metric programs. Peter is a Chartered IT Professional with experience in project management, design, implementation, test, and deployment of defence and commercial software.He is recognised as a technical specialist in software sizing, IT measurement, and estimating, in Steria, IBM, and the IT industry. Steria is an IT Services company whose revenues have exceeded 1 billion Euros each year since 2005. He has been an International Function Point User’s Group (IFPUG) Certified Function Point Specialist (CFPS) since the late 90s and a member of the IFPUG Counting Practices Committee, “owner” of International Standards Organisation (ISO) standard ISO/IEC 20926 since January 2007.He was the te
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SPaMCAST 119 - Metrics Minute - Velocity, IFPUG News
30/01/2011 Duración: 22minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 119! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast we have another installment of the Metrics Minute. This Metrics Minute is focused on Velocity. The esay begins . . . The simple definition of velocity, as it is currently used, is the amount of work that is completed in a period of time (typically a sprint). The definition is related to productivity which is the amount of effort required to complete a unit of work and delivery rate which measures the speed that work is completed. The inclusion of a time box (the sprint) creates a fixed duration which transforms velocity into more of a productivity metric than a speed metric (how much work can be be done in a specific timescale by a specific team). Therefore to truly measure velocity you need to estimate the units of work completed, have a definition of complete and have a time box. Book Plug . . .Mastering Software Project Management: Best Practices, Tools and Techniques co-authored by Murali Chem
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SPaMCAST 118 - Elizabeth Harrin, Social Media for Project Managers
23/01/2011 Duración: 38minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 118. SPaMCAST 118 features my interview with Elizabeth Harrin author of Social Media for Project Managers and the influential blog A Girl’s Guide to Project Management. Elizabeth and I had a wonderful conversation about how social media can improve project and project manager performance. Elizabeth Harrin, BA (Hons), MA, MBCS is an author and portfolio manager living and working in London. She has a decade of experience in projects. Elizabeth has led a variety of IT and process improvement projects including e-commerce and communications developments. She is also experienced in managing business change, having spent eight years working in financial services (including two based in Paris, France). She writes the award-winning blog, A Girl’s Guide to Project Management and is author of Project Management in the Real World and Social Media for Project Managers. She is also a founding member of PMI’s New Media Council. Blog: www.pm4girls.co.ukwebsite : ww
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SPaMCAST 117 - Book Review, IIBA News, Too Many Metrics
16/01/2011 Duración: 19minWelcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 117! In this week’s Software Process and Measurement Cast we have a review of Naomi Karten's book Presentation Skills for Technical Professionals: Achieving Excellence. Remember Naomi appeared in the interview segment last week (check it out at http://bit.ly/gwkFv3). In this week’s Cast we are starting a new segment, Association News. Kevin Brennan of the International Institute of Business Analysis opens the segment with news from the IIBA (PS Kevin was interviewed on SPaMCAST 69 http://bit.ly/ieHJbh). Finally in the run up to the Software Process and Measurement Cast's 4th Anniversary I am re-mastering some of the essays from year one. I am including the re-master d essay from SPaMCAST 3 aired February 25th 2007. The essay is titled, Measurement Proliferation, Guarding the Peace or Mutually Assured Destruction? The article explores proliferation in depth (measuring the same thing many ways) and breadth (measuring everything). Strange I still see t