Better ROI from Software Development
Episodes
#205: Estimation - a wrap-up
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a wrap-up for a mini-series looking at estimation in software development - recapping the guidelines I provided in Episode 189 and pro...
#204: Estimation - Professionalism
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the penultimate episode in the Software Estimation mini-series, I want to discuss how Software Estimation works in terms of professio...
#203: Estimation - Is Artificial Intelligence the answer?
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In this episode, I ask the question, is AI the answer? Foll...
#202: Estimation - Quantitative approaches
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development.In the last couple of episodes, I've looked at a number of m...
#201: Estimation - the #NoEstimate approach
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In last week's episode, I looked at a number of methods tha...
#200: Estimation - Qualitative Approaches
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In last week's episode, I introduced two approaches to soft...
#199: Estimation - Quantitative vs Qualitative
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In this episode, I wanted to look at practical methods to h...
#198: Estimation vs the punitive target
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In this episode, I wanted to highlight the emotional baggag...
#197: Estimation vs Dependencies
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In this episode, I wanted to look at the impact that depend...
#196: Estimation vs Planning
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In this episode, I want to encourage you to mentally separa...
#195: Estimation - An estimate by any other name
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In last week's episode, I asked you to think about what the...
#194: Estimation - What are you actually asking for?
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In this week's episode, I want to discuss what the term "es...
#193: Estimation - How much to invest
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In this episode I want to take a deeper dive into the cost ...
#192: Estimation - Predictability vs Optimism
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. In the last episode, I talk about the short hand of a "valu...
#191: Estimation - what is a valuable estimate?
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part of a wider mini-series looking at Estimation in Software Development. So for this episode I want to introduce the idea of a "valu...
#190: Estimation - Do you get value?
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I started the mini-series in episode 189 by providing the following guidelines: Don't invest in estimates unless there are clear demonstrable value ...
#189: Estimation - a review
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Back in January 2023, in episode #160, "Revisiting Software Development Estimation," I made the commitment to revisit and potentially revise my view...
#188: Bad for ROI - More Developers
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Following on from the last two episodes that look at the dysfunctional and unexpected results that can from the seemly well intentioned call for "...
#187: Bad for ROI - More Planning - Part 2
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the second of two, I conclude the exploration of the dysfunctions and unexpected results that can occur from the seeming well intenti...
#186: Bad for ROI - More Planning - Part 1
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the first of two, I start to explore the dysfunctions and unexpected results that can occur from the seeming well intentioned call fo...
#185: Bad for ROI - Overemphasis on Perfection
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the last episode I the dysfunctions and unexpected results of a "feature factory" within Software Development. This week I look at what h...
#184: Bad for ROI - the Feature Factory
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the fast-paced world of software development, the “feature factory” model, with its promise of rapid growth and high ROI, can easily captivate ...
#183: Bad for ROI - Performance measurements in software development
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I look at another practice that can be bad for ROI - a practice that may commonly be considered good or common practice, but is actual...
#182: Bad for ROI - Bonuses
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know that a heft bonus improves productivity. Its a management stable - dangle the carrot and good results just roll it. But is that really tru...
#181: Bad for ROI - RAG reporting
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Occasionally I record an episode exploring something that may commonly be considered good, or common practice, but is actually causing dysfunctional, ...
#180: Bad for ROI - the HiPPO
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Occasionally I record an episode exploring something that may commonly be considered good, or common practice, but is actually causing dysfunctional, ...
#179: Does the manager still have a role to play in the modern software development team?
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I wanted to explore what it means to be a manager for a development team - and more importantly in the world of diverse, cross-functio...
#178: Transaction-based costing - a wrap-up
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I wrap up this series of episodes on transaction-based costing by looking at the common themes and revisiting some of my initial reaso...
#177: Transaction-based costing and Small Batch Sizes
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I continue the discussion on transaction-based costing by looking at the relationship with Small Batch Sizes. I began by defining sma...
#176: Transaction-based costing and Value Stream Teams
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I continue the discussion on transaction-based costing by looking at the relationship with Value Stream Teams. I start by defining va...
#175: Transaction-based costing and its relationship with serverless and cloud
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode, I discuss the relationship between transaction-based costing models, serverless computing, and cloud computing in a dynamic business envir...
#174: Transaction-based costing in Software Development
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you struggling to track the true return on investment in your software development projects? Traditional CapEx and OpEx models may not be enough i...
#173: AI Coding Assistants - the future
19 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I discusses the potential benefits of organization-specific AI Coding Assistants. While AI won't replace developers, it can provi...
#172: AI Coding Assistants - the potential negatives
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I discuss the potential negatives of using AI Coding Assistants in software development. I cover topics such as: over-reliance and s...
#171: AI Coding Assistants - the benefits
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I discusses the expected benefits of using AI Coding Assistants in software development. These benefits include: increased producti...
#170: AI Coding Assistants - an introduction
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I discuss the growing use of AI Coding Assistants in software development, particularly large language models like ChatGPT. I explain...
#169: ChatGPT - initial conversation thoughts
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I review last weeks conversation with ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence language model developed by OpenAI. I discuss the technolog...
#168: ChatGPT - my first conversation
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I aim to explain what ChatGPT is and its future for a non-technical managerial audience - and I do this through conversing with ChatG...
#167: Password Hygiene
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I discusses the LastPass breach that occurred last year and how it has prompted me to improve my password hygiene. I talk about why ...
#166: The value of certifications
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I discuss my personal experience with Microsoft Certifications and their value in the IT industry. I believe that certifications pro...
#165: Introduction to the Actor Model
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I introduce the Actor Model as a Design Pattern that can offer faster and more efficient processing by managing state in memory. I d...
#164: Design Patterns
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, I introduce the concept of design patterns in software development and explain their importance in improving code quality and...
#163: Taking time for self care
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first episode after a prolonged break - so firstly, an apology for the gap in recordings. In this episode I wanted to talk about why I too...
#162: Recommendations in a downturn
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As we start the new year, its not uncommon for organisations to looks at budgets and general expenditure - and given the current financial outlook, I ...
#161: State of DevOps 2022
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode, I wanted to take a quick look at the 2022 edition of the State of DevOps Report. I've talked a number of times about the State of DevOps...
#160: Revisiting Software Development Estimation
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I've long held the belief that Estimation is the source of much dysfunction within Software Development. However, with a New Year, I'll like to take t...
#159: Gantt Charts revisited
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I originally discussed Gantt charts back in episode 62, but I found more history behind them while researching Scientific Management and Taylorism for...
#158: The Pitch - one-size does not fill all
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 150, I reintroduced this series with a new pitch. It was my way of taking what I've learnt over the last three years, the last 150 episodes...
#157: The Pitch - its not like flipping hamburgers
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 150, I reintroduced this series with a new pitch. It was my way of taking what I've learnt over the last three years, the last 150 episodes...
#156: The Pitch - the management practices of yesterday
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 150, I reintroduced this series with a new pitch. It was my way of taking what I've learnt over the last three years, the last 150 episodes...
#155: The Pitch - the age and maturity of software development
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 150, I reintroduced this series with a new pitch. It was my way of taking what I've learnt over the last three years, the last 150 episodes...
#154: The Pitch - doing change
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 150, I reintroduced this series with a new pitch. It was my way of taking what I've learnt over the last three years, the last 150 episodes...
#153: The Pitch - the Age of Software and Digital
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 150, I reintroduced this series with a new pitch. It was my way of taking what I've learnt over the last three years, the last 150 episodes...
#152: The Pitch - lets talk business
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 150, I reintroduced this series with a new pitch. It was my way of taking what I've learnt over the last three years, the last 150 episodes...
#151: Mini-budget implications on contractor and permanent markets
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On the 23rd September, the UK Chancellor announces a series of change during a "mini-budget". The mini-budget, and its contents, have been the subject...
#150: An updated pitch for the podcast
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the 150th episode of the podcast. In this episode, I take a moment of introspection to revisit the "pitch" for this series. ----- Find this...
#149: Legacy Data - advice for dealing with it
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last few episodes, I've focused on legacy software - what it is, how it occurs, and various strategies to deal with it. Alongside that legacy...
#148: Legacy Data - why you should be thinking about it
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last few episodes, I've focused on legacy software - what it is, how it occurs, and various strategies to deal with it. Alongside that legacy...
#147: Legacy Software - addressing with Outsourcing
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is part of a new mini-series looking at Legacy software - the term "legacy" is often seen as a positive - yet within computing it is a negative t...
#146: Legacy Software - addressing with Revolution
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is part of a new mini-series looking at Legacy software - the term "legacy" is often seen as a positive - yet within computing it is a negative t...
#145: Legacy Software - addressing with Evolution
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is part of a new mini-series looking at Legacy software - the term "legacy" is often seen as a positive - yet within computing it is a negative t...
#144: Legacy Software - how to address
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is part of a new mini-series looking at Legacy software - the term "legacy" is often seen as a positive - yet within computing it is a negative t...
#143: Legacy Software - a risk matrix
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is part of a new mini-series looking at Legacy software - the term "legacy" is often seen a positive - yet within computing it is a negative term...
#142: Legacy Software - the causes
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is part of a new mini-series looking at Legacy software - the term "legacy" is often seen a positive - yet within computing it is a negative term...
#141: Legacy Software - the impact
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is part of a new mini-series looking at Legacy software - the term "legacy" is often seen a positive - yet within computing it is a negative term...
#140: Legacy Software - an introduction
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the start of a new mini-series looking at Legacy software. The term "legacy" is often seen as positive - yet within computing it is a negative...
#139: Automation - the higher value work side-effect
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I've talked many times about the productivity benefits from automation. In this episode, I talk about the higher value benefits we get from automation...
#138: Automation - the knowledge sharing side-effect
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I've talked many times about the productivity benefits from automation. In this episode, I talk about the knowledge sharing benefits we get from autom...
#137: Automation - the auditability side-effect
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I've talked many times about the productivity benefits from automation. In this episode, I talk about the auditability benefits we get from automation...
#136: Automation - the security side-effect
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I've talked many times about the productivity benefits from automation. In this episode, I talk about the security benefits we get from automation - s...
#135: Infrastructure-as-Code
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I introduce Infrastructure-as-Code - a way of defining your Operation's infrastructure as code - an example of DevOps in practice with...
#134: DevOps Topologies - Working types
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I want to continue the talk about the team structures discussed on https://web.devopstopologies.com/ - with a focus this week on the t...
#133: DevOps Topologies - Anti-Types
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I want to talk about the team structures discussed on https://web.devopstopologies.com/ - with a focus this week on the anti-types. Th...
#132: Inverse Conway Maneuver
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the last episode, I introduced "Conway's Law" - an observation of how our organisational structures influence our software structures. In this epis...
#131: Conway's Law
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I introduce Conway's Law, which talks about how our software structures will reflect the structures of the organisations that create ...
#130: To Checklist or not to Checklist
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode, I want to take a look at Checklists - when to use and when not to. Much of this episode is inspired by the Sight Reliability Engineering...
#129: Handling Failure
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Failure in our software systems is inevitable - be it a failing hard drive, broken network cable, power outage, virus, or simply a bug in the code. "H...
#128: Error Budgets
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I take a look at "Error Budgets" Much of this episode is inspired by the Sight Reliability Engineering practices that come out of Goo...
#127: System Availability - Service Level Indicators, Objectives and Agreements
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I take a look at how to measure the availability of our systems. Much of this episode is inspired by the Sight Reliability Engineerin...
#126: State of DevOps 2021 - What it says about Site Reliability Engineering
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The State of DevOps report provides excellent insight through rigorous analysis of its wide reaching survey. The research provides evidence-based guid...
#125: State of DevOps 2021 - What it says about Culture
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The State of DevOps report provides excellent insight through rigorous analysis of its wide reaching survey. The research provides evidence-based guid...
#124: State of DevOps 2021 - What it says about Security
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The State of DevOps report provides excellent insight through rigorous analysis of its wide reaching survey. The research provides evidence-based guid...
#123: State of DevOps 2021 - What it says about DevOps Technical Practices
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The State of DevOps report provides excellent insight through rigorous analysis of its wide reaching survey. The research provides evidence-based guid...
#122: State of DevOps 2021 - What it says about Documentation
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The State of DevOps report provides excellent insight through rigorous analysis of its wide reaching survey. The research provides evidence-based guid...
#121: State of DevOps 2021 - What it says about Cloud
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The State of DevOps report provides excellent insight through rigorous analysis of its wide reaching survey. The research provides evidence-based guid...
#120: State of DevOps 2021 - A summary
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The State of DevOps report provides excellent insight through rigorous analysis of its wide reaching survey. I introduced the State of DevOps report b...
#119: Shifting Left
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Long term listeners will have heard me use the term "Shift Left" - but what does that mean? In this episode, I take a deeper dive into the "Shift Left...
#118: Running a bath - a deeper dive into feedback
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many of my episode talk about an experimental mindset - have a hypnosis, try something, act on the feedback. The timeliness and quality of the feedbac...
#117: Robotic Process Automation
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)? Even with over 30 years experience, it was a new term to me when I same across it in the Tech Pro Unicorn ep...
#116: Low Code and No Code
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is Low Code? What is No Code? How can they help us? I touched on this subject during the Tech Pro Unicorn episode (#114), but had a l...
#115: Build vs Buy
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Should you build or buy your software? I touched on this subject during the Tech Pro Unicorn episode (#114), but had a lot more notes than could be co...
#114: The Tech Pro Unicorn Podcast
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Back in October I had the pleasure of appearing on the Tech Pro Unicorn podcast - the first time that I appears as a guest. The host, Michael Grace, a...
#113: Security Briefing - The OWASP Top 10 - Part 3
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The OWASP Top 10 is the most critical security concerns for web application security as defined by the Open Web Application Security Project® In the ...
#112: Security Briefing - The OWASP Top 10 - Part 2
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The OWASP Top 10 is the most critical security concerns for web application security as defined by the Open Web Application Security Project® In the ...
#111: Security Briefing - The OWASP Top 10 - Part 1
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The OWASP Top 10 is the most critical security concerns for web application security as defined by the Open Web Application Security Project® In this...
#110: Security Briefing - Supply Chain Attacks
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing my mini-series on security, I discuss Supply Chain Attacks. No conversation on cyber-security in 2021 would be complete without talking abo...
#109: Security Briefing - Paying to be hacked
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing my mini-series on security, I discuss why you would paid to be hacked. When you are spending so much time and money putting security in pla...
#108: Security Briefing - Social Engineering
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing my mini-series on security, I introduce Social Engineering. Social Engineering is a direct attempt to manipulate us into doing something th...
#107: Security Briefing - Introducing Zero Trust
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing my mini-series on security, I introduce Zero Trust. The traditional approach of security at the border is not longer enough in the modern I...
#106: Security Briefing - Beyond Passwords
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing my mini-series on security, I want to follow on from last week's episode, taking a look beyond passwords. We are rapidly moving to addition...