Prioritization and Deep Seated Issues, A Conversation With Jim Benson, Replay, SPaMCAST 814

Prioritization and Deep Seated Issues, A Conversation With Jim Benson, Replay, SPaMCAST 814

Author: Thomas M. Cagley Jr June 17, 2024 Duration: 40:27
This week on the Software Process and Measurement Cast we have a replay of an interview of Jim Benson from 2019. Jim and I focused on prioritization and how prioritization can be a reflection of more deep-seated problems. One of the ideas Jim shares is that processes are the social contract for getting work done. In the foreword of Mastering Work Intake, I wrote with Jeremy Willets(published in January 2024), we reflected that Mastering stood on the shoulders of Jim's Why Limit WIP. Reflecting on this interview I continue to see the relationship between work intake and the travails of prioritization. All of us at SPaMCAST look forward to your thoughts. Contact Jim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbenson Personal Kanban: http://www.personalkanban.com/pk/#sthash.MtOA96sV.dpbs Modus Cooperandi: http://moduscooperandi.com/ Learn To Tame Your Work Intake Beast! Jeremy Willets and I are celebrating summer in the northern hemisphere with a summer camp. We'll look at the primary causes of work intake problems… and how to solve them! Join us for an entertaining and informative LinkedIn Live event weekly beginning June 19th at 11:30. Register at https://bit.ly/3HEsKK7 - registration is not necessary but it will help get a count for virtual juice boxes. Re-read Saturday News This week we revisit our first re-read from 2015, The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement ( Dead Tree Version or Kindle Version) written by Eli Goldratt. If you are interested in the flow of work you need to read The Goal – more than once. The link is https://bit.ly/45lckB7 Re-read Saturday Instalments Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Next week we will return to our re-read of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's book, Flow. Next SPaMCAST On the next Software Process and Measurement Cast, more of the story of Innovatech and what happens when responsibility and accountability get muddled. We will also have a visit from Jon M Quigley and his Alpha and Omega of Product Development.

Hosted by Thomas M. Cagley Jr., Software Process and Measurement Cast is a thoughtful look at how IT teams actually work and improve. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a grounded conversation on the real-world mechanics of building better software, from the initial code commit to the final deployment. Each episode digs into the practicalities of process improvement and the meaningful use of measurement, tackling the specific hurdles that technology groups face as they scale and adapt. You'll hear discussions that get into the weeds of managing projects, evolving team structures, and implementing changes that stick. The Software Process and Measurement Cast serves as a reliable resource for anyone involved in the lifecycle of software development, from engineers and project managers to leaders steering their organizations through growth. Tune in for a candid exploration of the systems and metrics that shape successful IT outcomes, delivered with a focus on actionable insights rather than fleeting trends. This podcast provides a steady, informed perspective on the ongoing journey of organizational evolution in the tech space.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Software Process and Measurement Cast
Podcast Episodes
☠️Constraints and Friction Are Our Friends, SPaMCAST 876 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:13
The Theory Of Constraints: A Real-World Tool Constraints and friction generate interest in process improvement. Why this matters: The lack of friction leads to overuse which is the tragedy of the commons. Our panel flows…
☠️No Dead Careers Here, SPaMCAST 875 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:05
Impressions are NOT facts - No Matter What Your Gut Tells You! Stoic philosophy holds that impressions are not facts and must be tested. Why this matters: It is very easy to jump to conclusions. In some cases, this is ha…
🚣Flow, Flow and More Flow,  A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 873 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:15
Dry riverbeds or flash floods - flow matters! Why it matters: Understanding how value is created and moves through an organization is critical. The problem is that the concept is complicated. Freddie Clark stated, "measu…
Nerd Joy,  A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 872 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:54
The work has to get done, be miserable, or find JOY in it – it's your choice. Why it matters: It is hard to motivate yourself and your team if you do not find joy in the work you do day in and day out. Our panel finds a…
When Management Won't Buy In,  A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 871 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:50
Pushing cooked spaghetti uphill…is exhausting. Why it matters: It is hard to make change happen if leaders provide lip service to the cause. It is impossible if they actively oppose change. So what are you going to do? P…
Habits Stink,  A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 870 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:50
Habits, doing work without thinking, are the death of process improvement. Why it matters: When your brain goes on autopilot, it is easy to miss subtle changes and problems in product flow. Is it ever ok to stop thinking…
AI - The Death Of Specialization? A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 869 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:02
And we are back! The SPaMCAST 869 features a conversation on whether AI means the death of the specialist. Why it matters: AI tools and agents are becoming a core feature in the workplace of nearly all forward-facing org…
AI - The Death Of Specialization? A Panel Discussion, SPaMCAST 869 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:02
And we are back! The SPaMCAST 869 features a conversation on whether AI means the death of the specialist. Why it matters: AI tools and agents are becoming a core feature in the workplace of nearly all forward-facing org…