SPaMCAST 371 – Focus and Pomodoro, QA Environment, Learning Organizations

The Software Process and Measurement Cast 371 features our essay on Focus and the Pomodoro technique. Focus might be just about the most important technique available for getting work done. Focus and attention are critical assets that need to be managed or we risk wasting time and energy. We will also include Steve Tendon discussing management’s role in a learning organization from his new book, Tame The Flow. Management needs to both facilitate and participate in a learning organization. A learning organization is a critical success factor for engaging in a knowledge economy. Finally, we will anchor the cast with a visit to the QA Corner with Jeremy Berriault. Jeremy and I discussed testing environments. Jeremy puts his stamp on the perennial discussion of whether all testing environments need to be production like. Call to Action! Review the SPaMCAST on iTunes, Stitcher or your favorite podcatcher/player and then share the review! Help your friends find the Software Process and Measurement Cast. After all, friends help friends find great podcasts! Re-Read Saturday News We have just completed the re-read of The Mythical Man-Month with the essay titled “The Mythical Man-Month 20 Years Later” Check out the new installment at Software Process and Measurement Blog. We will be choosing the next re-read book to be? One last call for votes. Please vote on the blog! Currently we have a tight battle between: Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of Intangibles in Business - Slack: Getting Past Burnout, Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency – Vote Here Upcoming Events Details on 2016 Conferences that include QAI Quest and StarEast to name a few in a few weeks. Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will our interview with Vasco Duarte . Vasco returns to the podcast to discuss his new book #NoEstimates Book. In the interview Vasco and I discussed the underlying concepts behind #NoEstimates and how the concept has matured. If you are interested in project management, estimation and delivering value, the ideas the Vasco discusses will be both controversial and valuable. 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, for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book here. Available in English