March 23, 2025

Playing Billiards On A Boat, Essays and Conversations with Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 856

Posted by tcagley under Organizational Change | Tags: , , |
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Consider sailing on a lake. It is a great day, there is only a slight rolling swell to contend with. Because you are so relaxed, you slip below and start a game of billiards with your mate. It’s not too hard to time the rocking, but nothing is perfect. Then, out of nowhere, a thunderstorm. Who knows where the cue ball will land?  How different is this example to any organizational transformation (or project or program) you have been involved in? The SPaMCAST 856 features an essay on delivery in an unstable environment and why it is like playing billiards on a boat. The outcome is unpredictable.

We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley! Mr Quigley brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the cast. In this installment, we talk about configuration management. 

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From ad-hoc to optimized! Dive deep into work intake with this insightful book. Learn the “Gold Standard” and practical deviations, plus how to use flow metrics effectively. Understand the human element and align with Agile principles for better delivery. Perfect for executives, managers, and coaches.

Links to buy a copy…

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Interested in continuing the conversation on work intake with peers in a safe space? Join the Mastering Work Intake Community on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14483957/ 

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January 26, 2025

Only Outcomes Matter…Not, Manipulation and Persuasion, Essays and Conversations with Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 848

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I’ve often heard the argument that only outcomes matter, from bosses and colleagues to pundits, and more recently, even from coaches and change agents. This consequentialist view—that the ends justify the means ultimately harms individuals, organizations, and their stakeholders. In SPaMCAST 848 we discuss why the consequentialist argument that only the outcome matters is flawed for several reasons.

We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his wonderful Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast. In this episode Jon and I discuss a topic aligned with consequentialism, the use of manipulation and persuasion.

Mastering Work Intake sponsors SPaMCAST!

Look at your to-do list and tell me your work intake process is perfectly balanced. Whether you are reacting to your work or personal backlog, it’s time to learn to take control! 

Buy a copy of Mastering Work Intake (your work-life balance will improve).

Amazon (US) — https://lnkd.in/gPEHs3DE

JRoss — https://lnkd.in/gWCSuYFf

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August 18, 2024

You Can Never Cross The Same River Twice, Essays and Conversations with Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 824

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Also Jon M Quigley and I talk about who is the most important person on a team.  This counterpoints my recent conversation with Jeremy Berriault on SPaMCAST 822. They sort of agree but it…depends.

The SPaMCAST 824 compares the Great Avon Lake Tornado and power outage with the purported death of Agile. Cap that off with many in the industry doubling down on Agile purity to put the blush back on the rose. My upcoming high school reunion suggests you can never cross the same river twice but crossing any river is a challenge.

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June 23, 2024

Goal Conflicts Cause Work Intake Problems, Finding Time To Concentrate, Conversations with Jeremy Willets and Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 816

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A funny thing happened on the way to SPaMCAST 816, I had so much fun during our first Summer Camp session I talked Jeremy into letting me share the audio of our discussion on the podcast. We discussed goal conflicts, the first of eight work intake problems, from our book, Mastering Work Intake. If the video is more your style check out the video on LinkedIn and then join us at 11:30 EDT on June 16th.

This week we also have a visit from Jon M Quigley. Jon and I discussed the question “If all work is collaborative, when do you find time to concentrate?”

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May 12, 2024

Accountability vs. Responsibility Debate, Essays and Conversations w Jon M Quigley, SPaMCAST 809

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SPaMCAST 809 features our essay discussing whether accountability and responsibility are ever separated in real life. In a corporate setting, if you are interested in instigating a no-holds-barred debate bring up the topic of the relationship between accountability and responsibility. Get your popcorn ready BEFORE you start the discussion. 

We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the podcast. Jon and I discuss a nefarious form of micromanagement. 

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Whether you’re creating, enhancing, or maintaining software products, work intake is a challenge you deal with constantly. Doing the right work at the right time can make or break your project, and there are surprisingly few resources to show you how to manage this process effectively. You need to know what your team is executing, what work is next, and the skill sets required to do the work.

Buy a copy of Mastering Work Intake: From Chaos to Predictable Delivery by Tom Cagley and Jeremy Willets

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Senior Consultant

Purchase a copy of the book from:

JRoss Publishing: https://bit.ly/474ul6G 

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3NWOKn0 

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March 17, 2024

Beyond Buzzwords – Rethinking Collaboration in Software Development and Prioritization vs. Micromanagement – Finding the Right Balance – SPaMCAST 799

Posted by tcagley under Agile, Management, Uncategorized | Tags: , , |
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The Software Process and Measurement Cast 799 discusses why all communication is not collaboration. It is a commonly held belief that complex problems require collaborative efforts to solve. Couple that with an almost fad-like insistence that if a little collaboration is good, more is better, which leads to everything being deemed collaboration. We can do better with a little effort. 

We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column. Mr Quigley and I talk about prioritization as micromanagement. And how if you are not there to pick up the pieces when work is pushed into an organization you have a poor perspective. 

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November 26, 2023

SPaMCAST 783 – Work Intake: Are You Authorized, Growth, Essays and Conversations

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The Software Process and Measurement Cast 783 tackles a classic work intake problem, “Do you have the authority to ask for this work?” Work input processes need to vet more than just requirements. 

We also have a visit from Jon M Quigley. Jon and I discussed taking control of your personal growth. It is not your organization’s responsibility. 

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September 25, 2023

SPaMCAST 774 – Re-release SPaMCAST  436 – Incrementalism, UAT and Agile, and Systems Thinking

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The Software Process and Measurement Cast 774 is a re-release of SPaMCAST 436. We are on our annual holiday and will return with new programs on October 22nd. For the next four weeks, we will feature shows from our archives. Today SPaMCAST 436 – Incrementalism, UAT and Agile, and Systems Thinking was released originally on April 3, 2017. I hope you will enjoy today’s show!

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September 17, 2023

SPaMCAST 773 – Continuous Improvement, Bass Guitars and Learning, Conversations and Essays

Posted by tcagley under Process Improvement | Tags: , , |
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The Software Process and Measurement Cast 773 will feature our essay on why as professionals we should strive to grow a little every day. I overheard a team lead complaining that their team did not need to do a retrospective, they were “darn near perfect.” The inference was that their time would be better spent doing rather than reflecting and thinking. Fixed mindsets (Review our re-read of Mindsets by Carol Dweck) are foreign to the philosophy of agile and quality. The comment hurt my heart.

We will also have a visit from Jon M. Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development column to the podcast! Jon and I use the learning to play a new bass as a metaphor for learning technology.

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May 14, 2023

SPaMCAST 755 – Engagement, Hierarchy, and Fatalism, Making Mistakes, Essays and Conversations

Posted by tcagley under Agile, Leadership, Teams | Tags: , |
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SPaMCAST 755 features an essay on the relationship between engagement, hierarchy, and fatalism based on a discussion of the topic between the SPaMCAST Columnists. The ideas of hierarchy, engagement, and fatalism struck a nerve within the SPaMCAST family. To a person, the prevailing attitude is that hierarchy has value, but only to a point. 

Jon M Quigley joins the cast in the second slot this week with a discussion about making mistakes. Learning from mistakes is important but making the same mistake over and over is not a sign that you are learning. /

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