SPaMCAST 299 – Systems Thinking

SPaMCAST 299 features our essay on systems thinking. Many process improvement programs falter despite our best efforts because they don't improve the overall performance of IT. The impact of fixing individual processes can easily get lost in the weeds, the impact overtaken by the inertia of the overall systems. Systems thinking is a way to view the world, including organizations, from a broad perspective that includes structures, patterns, and events, rather than simply based on a single event. The essay begins: In a world made up of interlocking systems, understanding requires defining a set of general principles independent of the system being measured. At a more finite level, such as a company or product, understanding systems is crucial for being effective and efficient. Many process improvement programs falter when, despite our best efforts, they don't improve the overall performance of IT. More? Listen to SPaMCAST 299! Next week is show 300! We will feature our interview with Vasco Duarte. We discussed #NoEstimates. The topic of #NoEstimates evokes a great deal of passion. Our interview will embrace that passion and sort through the noise to get to the core of the idea which is highly useful despite all of the controversy. Upcoming Events Upcoming DCG Webinars: July 24 11:30 EDT – The Impact of Cognitive Bias On TeamsCheck these out at www.davidconsultinggroup.com I will be attending Agile 2014 in Orlando, July 28 through August 1, 2014. It would be great to get together with SPaMCAST listeners, let me know if you are attending. I will be presenting at the International Conference on Software Quality and Test Management in San Diego, CA on October 1. I have a great discount code!!!! Contact me if you are interested! I will be presenting at the North East Quality Council 60th Conference October 21st and 22nd in Springfield, MA. More on all of these great events in the near future! I look forward to seeing all SPaMCAST readers and listeners that attend these great events! The Software Process and Measurement Cast has a sponsor. As many you know I do at least one webinar for the IT Metrics and Productivity Institute(ITMPI) every year. The ITMPI provides a great service to the IT profession. ITMPI’s mission is to pull together the expertise and educational efforts of the world’s leading IT thought leaders and to create a single online destination where IT practitioners and executives can meet all of their educational and professional development needs. The ITMPI offers a premium membership that gives members unlimited free access to 400 PDU accredited webinar recordings, and waives the PDU processing fees on all live and recorded webinars. The Software Process and Measurement Cast some support if you sign up here. All the revenue our sponsorship generates goes for bandwidth, hosting and new cool equipment to create more and better content for you. Support the SPaMCAST and learn from the ITMPI. 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.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book here. Available in English and Chinese.