SPaMCAST 313 features our essay on developing an initial backlog. Developing an initial backlog is an important step to get projects going and moving in the right direction. If a project does not start well, it is hard for it to end well. We will provide techniques to help you begin well! The essay begins: Many discussions of Agile techniques begin with the assumption that a backlog has magically appeared on the team’s door step. Anyone that has participated in any form of project, whether related to information technology, operations or physical engineering, knows that requirements don’t grow on trees. They need to be developed before a team can start to satisfy those requirements. There are three primary ways to gather requirements based on how information is elicited. Listen to the rest on the Software Process and Measurement Cast! Call to action! What are the two books that have most influenced you career (business, technical or philosophical)? Send the titles to [email protected]. What will we do with this list? We have two ideas. First, we will compile a list and publish it on the blog. Second, we will use the list to drive “Re-read” Saturday. Re-read Saturday is an exciting new feature we will begin in November with a re-read of Leading Change. More on this new feature next week. So feel free to choose you platform and send an email, leave a message on the blog, Facebook or just tweet the list (use hashtag #SPaMCAST)! Next SPaMCAST 314 features our interview with Janet Gregory and Lisa Crispin. We discussed their new book More Agile Testing. Agile testing is evolving at the same rate as Agile or maybe faster! Testing is still critical for delivering business value. Buy and read the book this week before listening to the interview! The Software Process and Measurement Cast has a sponsor. As many you know I do at least one webinar for the IT Metrics and Productivity Institute (ITMPI) every year. The ITMPI provides a great service to the IT profession. ITMPI’s mission is to pull together the expertise and educational efforts of the world’s leading IT thought leaders and to create a single online destination where IT practitioners and executives can meet all of their educational and professional development needs. The ITMPI offers a premium membership that gives members unlimited free access to 400 PDU accredited webinar recordings, and waives the PDU processing fees on all live and recorded webinars. The Software Process and Measurement Cast some support if you sign up here. All the revenue our sponsorship generates goes for bandwidth, hosting and new cool equipment to create more and better content for you. Support the SPaMCAST and learn from the ITMPI. 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, neither for you or your team.” Support SPaMCAST by buying the book here. Available in English and Chinese.