Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 82! The interview in the SPaMCAST 82 is with Cheryl Jones.  We discussed Practical Software and Systems Measurement.  Can you say measurement or even more loudly MEASUREMENT!  PSM is an evolving force in the IT measurement field.  Cheryl helps us understand why measurement is important for projects and management. Cheryl Jones is a lead software engineer in the Quality Engineering & System Assurance Sciences Group at RDECOM-ARDEC at Picatinny, New Jersey.  She is responsible for measurement and analysis, risk management, estimation, and decision analysis technology development and application across a wide base of DoD, Government, and Commercial programs and organizations.  Her responsibilities encompass technology development, integrated process definition, and practical technology application to support a variety of Performance and Decision Analysis requirements across numerous technical, acquisition, and management domains at multiple organizational levels. Ms. Jones is the technical lead and project manager of Practical Software and Systems Measurement. This project is an international technical initiative responsible for the development and transition of effective measurement practices into the software and systems development communities.  Ms Jones is a primary author of Practical Software Measurement: Objective Information for Decision Makers.  She is responsible for directing the transition of PSM and related measurement guidance into practice across a wide community of users through DoD, government, and industry.  She has been instrumental in linking corporate measurement processes to validated improvements in project and organizational performance. Ms. Jones is a technical expert to the US Technical Advisory Group to International Standards Organization SC7, System and Software Engineering.  Ms. Jones is the convener of Special Working Group 5, Standards Management.  Ms. Jones is co-editor of ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148, Requirements Engineering. She previously was co-editor for ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008, System Life Cycle Processes, editor of the revision to ISO/IEC 15939:2007, Software Measurement, and ISO/IEC/IEEE 16085:2006, Risk Management.  Ms. Jones is also co-editor of ISO/IEC 15288, System Life Cycle Processes and ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148, Requirements Engineering. Ms. Jones holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science/Mathematics from the University of Georgia and an MBA in Management Information Systems from the University of Rhode Island. Contact information: Email:  [email protected] Website:     http://www.psmsc.com The essay examines optimism.  When is optimism a good thing and when is it a bad thing? Perhaps the right answer is optimistic realism. Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  [email protected] Voicemail:  +1-206-888-6111 Website: www.spamcast.net Twitter: www.twitter.com/tcagley Facebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV The SPaMCAST's production schedule is on the Software Process and Measurement Facebook page.  Yell at me if you have ideas for future interviews or essays.  Your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and ideas are welcome. Conferences and Speaking Engagements in 2010 (To Date)   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 interview in the SPaMCAST 83 is with Gary Gack.  We discussed his new book, “Managing the Black Hole”. The book explores customer engagement, metrics, planning and monitoring projects.