Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 75!

In the SPaMCAST 75 I interviewed Bonnie Brown.  We discussed the updated IFPUG Function Point Counting Practice Manual (release 4.3) that will be released this January. While the manual includes few rule the manual it does include a new section on conversions, more definitions and is generally a cleaner therefore more usable format.    Bonnie provided great insight into the contents and construction of the manual.

Ms. Brown works for HP (Hewlett Packard) and is the Function Point Coordinator for HP’s U.S. Public Sector account. Ms. Brown has over 20 years of experience in the Information Technology industry with a strong emphasis in requirements development, analysis and design of new applications leveraging standard processes.

Ms. Brown has participated in numerous software development and enhancement projects, performing definition, analysis and design phase activities. She also has ten years of experience in Function Point Analysis, Metrics collection and analysis, and Software Process Improvement. In her current assignment, she coordinates function point activities for the U.S. Public Sector account and performs function point analysis for projects and applications within that area.

Ms. Brown has been a member of the IFPUG Counting Practices Committee since 2000. She previously served as the committee secretary and is now serving as committee vice-chair. She coordinated (along with David Garmus) the development and publication of CPM 4.3.

The IFPUG website is www.ifpug.org

The essay in SPaMCAST 75 is an exploration of the term "best practice".  Shakespeare wrote:


Unfortunately words can have power beyond thier original intent therefore reduce the value of the orginal concept.

Conferences and Speaking Engagements in 2010 (To Date)

ITMPI Webinar:  Are Your Project Stakeholders Satisfied
February 11, 2010
11:00 am - 12:30 pm Eastern Time
Measuring customer satisfaction is more than just asking if your clients got what they wanted. Customer satisfaction is a messy mix of expectations, experiences, and perceptions - with maybe a hint of functionality. In this webinar, Tom Cagley will outline one method for measuring this mixture and for identifying what really matters in customer satisfaction.
Learning Objectives:
•    How to define customer satisfaction
•    Strategies for identifying what really matters
•    A practical framework for measuring customer satisfaction
•    Not all attributes of customer satisfaction matter to the same level for all stakeholders

Register at http://solutions.compaid.com/forms/WebinarA20100211?ProcessType=PreReg

Quest Conference in Dallas April 21 - 23.  I will be talking on "Process Improvement in a Multi-Model World".  The conference includes two days of workshops.  The website to get more information is http://www.qaiquest.org/dallas/index.html

Next!
The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature an interview with Tom and Mary Poppendiech talking about lean and their new book "Leading Lean Software Development: Results Are not the Point".  This was a phenomenally insightful interview.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 74!

In the SPaMCAST 74 I interviewed Kenji Hiranabe.  We discussed mind mapping and how it can be used in projects.  Mind Mapping for the uninitiated is a simple graphical means of organizing data to make it more understandable and memorable.  Mind mapping has many uses in all types of software projects.  We specifically discussed uses in agile projects but the method transcends a simple category and is useful in all projects .

Kenji Hiranabe is an Agile software development practitioner and Japanese (co-)translator of "Multi-Paradigm Design"(Jim Coplien), "Lean Software Development"(Mary/Tom Poppendieck), "XP Installed"(Ron Jeffries), "Agile Project Management"(Jim Highsmith), "The Art of Agile Development"(James Shore) and other Agile books.

Kenji was awarded the 2008 Gordon Pask Award Recipient for contributions to Agile practice.
http://www.infoq.com/news/2008/08/Gordon-Pask-Award-2008-Receivers

He thinks of software development as a form of communication game, and is always searching for better ways to make it more productive, collaborative, and fun.

His article related to this interview; "Agile Modeling with Mind Maps and UML"
http://www.stickyminds.com/s.asp?F=S11861_ART_2

He is also CEO of Change Vision, Inc.
Change Vision develops lightweight Mind Mapping and UML/ERD/DFD integrated software ketching and modeling tool "astah*" (http://astah.change-vision.com/).

He blogs about Lean/Agile software development.
http://astah-users.change-vision.com/en/modules/weblog/kenji.hiranabe/

The essay in SPaMCAST 74 is discussion the confluence of IT Value and customer satisfaction.  Can you really measure the value of your IT group if you don't start with your customers perception?  

Conferences and Speaking Engagements in 2010 (To Date)

Are Your Project Stakeholders Satisfied
February 11, 2010
11:00 am - 12:30 pm Eastern Time
Measuring customer satisfaction is more than just asking if your clients got what they wanted. Customer satisfaction is a messy mix of expectations, experiences, and perceptions - with maybe a hint of functionality. In this webinar, Tom Cagley will outline one method for measuring this mixture and for identifying what really matters in customer satisfaction.
Learning Objectives:
•    How to define customer satisfaction
•    Strategies for identifying what really matters
•    A practical framework for measuring customer satisfaction
•    Not all attributes of customer satisfaction matter to the same level for all stakeholders

Register at http://solutions.compaid.com/forms/WebinarA20100211?ProcessType=PreReg


Quest Conference in Dallas April 21 - 23.  I will be talking on "Process Improvement in a Multi-Model World".  The conference includes two days of workshops.  The website to get more information is http://www.qaiquest.org/dallas/index.html

Next!
The next Software Process and Measurement Cast will feature an interview with Bonnie Brown (really this time).  We discussed the upcoming release of an updated IFPUG Function Point Standards (Counting Practice Manual 4.3).  If you are interested in function points, Bonnie has a lot of information for you!