SPaMCAST 405 - Moral License, Hazards, Change and Innovation, Assumptions, Test Scripting

Software Process and Measurement Cast 405 is a cornucopia of topics! We begin by exploring a bit of the psychology of change in four short essays. These topics are important for any change agent at any level to understand. Change at any scale is not an easy task. Change requires establishing a goal, recruiting a sponsor, acquiring a budget, developing a set of plans and then there is the part where the miracle happens and people change. The last step is always the hardest and is often akin to herding cats. Psychology and sociology have identified many of the reasons why people embrace change and innovation in different ways. Our second column is from Jon M. Quigley. We have settled on a name for the column, "The Alpha-Omega of Product Development." In this month's column, we discuss using metrics to dispel assumptions. One item we discussed was using planning poker to expose assumptions and then to find tactics to address them. Anchoring the cast, Jeremy Berriault brings the QA Corner to the Software Process and Measurement Cast. In this installment of the QA Corner, Jeremy talks about whether test automation scripting for new functions should be tackled or not. Jeremy has an opinion and provides advice for testing professionals on a sticky topic. Re-Read Saturday News This week we continue our re-read of Kent Beck's XP Explained, Second Edition with a discussion of Chapters 12 and 13. This week we tackle two concepts central to XP: planning and testing both done the XP way. We are exactly halfway through the book. We will have seven more installments including an entry for reflections on the overall book. It is time to start thinking about what is next: a re-read or a new read? Thoughts? Use the link to XP Explained in the show notes when you buy your copy to read along to support both the blog and podcast. Visit the Software Process and Measurement Blog (www.tcagley.wordpress.com) to catch up on past installments of Re-Read Saturday. Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature interview with Erik van Veenendaal. We discussed the Test Maturity Model Integrated, TMMi, and why in an Agile world quality and testing really matter. 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 and Chinese.