The Software Process and Measurement Cast 384 features our interview with Gwen Walsh. Gwen is the President of TechEdge LLC. We discuss leadership and why leadership is important. We also discuss the topic of performance appraisals and how classic methods can hurt your organization. Gwen’s advice both redefines industry standards and provides you with an idea of what is truly possible.

Gwen Walsh has built a career creating and implementing business and technology solutions that redefine the industry standards for both Fortune 100 corporations and entrepreneurial organizations. With over 25 years of experience in leadership development and organizational transformation, Ms. Walsh, founder of TechEdge LLC, helps her clients stay ahead of their competition, stay in touch with their customers and stay in high demand. Ms. Walsh's client portfolio includes Kaiser Permanente, Hospital Corporation of America, Hewlett-Packard, KeyBank, Medical Mutual of Ohio, General Motors, Omaha Public Power District and Anheuser-Busch. 

Contact information [email protected]://techedgellc.com/ (http://techedgellc.com/)https://www.linkedin.com/company/techedge-llchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gwenwalsh (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwenwalsh)

Re-Read Saturday NewsThis week we are back with Chapter 11 of How to Measure Anything, Finding the Value of “Intangibles in Business” Third Edition (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118539273/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1118539273&linkCode=as2&tag=softprocandme-20&linkId=XC62AS2QLUPNTZVO) by Douglas W. Hubbard on the Software Process and Measurement Blog (https://tcagley.wordpress.com/2016/01/16/how-to-measure-anything-chapter-5-calibrated-estimates-how-much-do-you-know-now/). Chapter 11 begins section four of the book and is titled Preferences and Attitudes: The Softer Side of Measurement. The softer side is a euphemism for attitudes and opinions.  In this chapter, we visit how to: · Measure opinions and feelings.· Design out bias in surveys and questions.· Observe opinions and feelings through trade-offs.· Use trade-offs to describe risk tolerance.

Anyone living in the United States knows that every election year there are a plethora opinion polls.  One of my favorite blogs is Nate Silver’s FiveThrityEight, which shows a wealth of statistical information about sports, economics, culture, and politics (a form of sport).  Much of the data presented is a reflection of opinions and attitudes. Often they are real predictors of behavior and product success. 

Upcoming EventsI am facilitating the CMMI Capability Challenge. This new competition showcases thought leaders who are building organizational capability and improving performance. Listeners will be asked to vote on the winning idea which will be presented at the CMMI Institute’s Capability Counts 2016 conference. The next CMMI Capability Challenge session will be held on March 15th at 1 PM EST. http://cmmiinstitute.com/conferences#thecapabilitychallenge (http://cmmiinstitute.com/conferences#thecapabilitychallenge)

I will be at the QAI Quest 2016 in Chicago beginning April 18th through April 22nd.  I will be teaching a full day class on Agile Estimation (http://qaiquest.org/2016/sessions/agile-estimation/) on April 18 and presenting Budgeting, Estimating, Planning and #NoEstimates: They ALL Make Sense for Agile Testing!  (http://qaiquest.org/2016/sessions/budgeting-estimating-planning-and-noestimates-they-all-make-sense-for-agile-testing/)on Wednesday, April 20th.  Register now (http://qaiquest.org/2016/sessions/agile-estimation/)!

Next SPaMCAST The next Software Process and Measurement Cast features our essay on portfolio metrics. Agile portfolio metrics are integral to prioritization and validating the flow of work. But, Agile portfolio metrics (https://tcagley.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/metrics-minute-agile-metrics-overview/) are only useful if they provide value.