Shows
Inspect and Adapt#63 Acceptance CriteriaAcceptance criteria are the criteria for acceptance, or so the helpful online definitions say. But what does that really mean? And is the common—almost universal—advice to write little functional snippets correct? Join Steve Tockey and Earl Beede as they Inspect & Adapt Acceptance Criteria. They'll take a look from several angles and suggest ways to make acceptance criteria much more useful for your projects. Hosted by Mark Griffin.
2026-01-0655 minInspect and Adapt#62 Risk ManagementProject risk management was a critical part of well-run software development projects late in the last century. With the coming of agile development practices, however, risk management disappeared. Or did it? Steve Tockey and Earl Beede Inspect & Adapt the role of project risk management on modern development projects. They identify when it is still needed, where it is still happening, and how it can improve your project outcomes. Hosted by Mark Griffin.
2025-12-0249 minInspect and Adapt#61 Scaling PatternsScaling software development is hard. Several patterns have emerged that moderately successful organizations use when scaling. The patterns focus on how to package the work, where and when to make decisions, and how to get teams to collaborate. Join Mark Griffin, Earl Beede, and Steve Tockey as they explore scaling patterns.
2025-10-1555 minInspect and Adapt#60 The F Word in SoftwareAll development organizations use software's F word: Feature. But what they actually mean by the word is often unclear, since the software industry has two—somewhat incompatible—definitions of feature. Join host Mark Griffin as he asks Construx's Steve Tockey and Earl Beede to explain those two different uses of the word feature on development projects.
2025-09-1055 min
Oral Arguments for the Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitEnterprise Management Limited, Inc. v. Construx Software Builders, Inc.Enterprise Management Limited, Inc. v. Construx Software Builders, Inc.
2025-07-1132 min
The Nerd NexusS1 E18: The Hidden Nerd Within – Mega Construx, Mini Painting, and Frisbee Golf with Brandon BulloughSend us a textIn this sibling showdown, James is joined by his “younger, cooler, and allegedly more handsome” brother, Brandon Bullough. They dive deep into Brandon’s hidden (but undeniable) nerdiness—from his Halo Mega Construx obsession and miniature painting hobby to his disc golf deep dive. Whether you’re curious about the decline of Mega Bloks, intimidated by the world of mini painting, or looking for a new hobby that gets you outside and collecting plastic discs, this episode is packed with laughs, nostalgia, and nerdy goodness. Plus, James shares the tragic tale of finishing second-to...
2025-07-0750 minInspect and Adapt#59 Total Project QualityTotal Project Quality, Construx's course on how to insert quality throughout a work effort, hasn't always gotten the traction it deserves. Why not? In this podcast, we examine the subject of quality and our (perhaps poorly-named) Total Project Quality seminar. Join Construx's Steve Tockey, Earl Beede, and Mark Griffin as they Inspect & Adapt the Total Project Quality course, the topic of quality in general, and the practical things you can do to improve quality and efficiency on your projects.
2025-06-0358 minInspect and Adapt#58 Team OrganizationWe develop software primarily on teams, but how do you develop the teams? Construx's Mark Griffin and Earl Beede Inspect & Adapt the different ways you can organize your development team. They look at the pros and cons of different approaches and even offer some help for when you're stuck with a team organization that isn't the best.
2025-05-0654 minInspect and Adapt#57 Risk-Based TestingHow should you spend your always-limited testing resources? Is one part of the product more important to test than another? Construx's Steve Tockey and Earl Beede join host Mark Griffin in looking at one approach to answering those questions: risk-based testing. Steve and Earl look at how to do risk-based testing along with its pros and cons.
2025-04-0852 minInspect and Adapt#56 Product Visions to Product RoadmapsIn an earlier webinar, Construx's Earl Beede took on many organizations that create product visions with phrases like, be the world's best ‘x’ or dazzle our customers. Not bad ideas but pretty much worthless in helping you make day-to-day decisions on what work is the most important for your business. This is a follow-up, with Earl and Mark Griffin delving a bit deeper into some of the questions that came up during the webinar.You can find the webinar here: https://youtu.be/yVA-k6aWE0k
2025-03-0454 minInspect and Adapt#55 Practitioner Quizzes Construx - Session 1Construx welcomes Onorio Catenacci to the microphone to ask questions about software development that continue to puzzle him and perhaps to see whether Construx has the answers. Join Contrux's Mark Griffin and Steve Tockey to see if they can give sound, helpful, and actionable answers to Onorio's questions—and find out whether Onorio can stump Construx!
2025-02-1054 minpde 3Speak PodcastMega Construx Construction Building Block Build Video No Commentaryhttps://3speak.tv/watch?v=pde/sizbbkca I am not sure where I picked this up, I believe it was a Dollar Tree back in 2014 or 2015. I found it in a tote of various toys and figured why not open it and see which one I got. It being a blind bag, it is a mystery till it is opened and the back shows many potential vehicles.
The pieces have a satisfying "click" that Lego has down to a "T" and it is serviceable compared to what it is supposed to be. It is quite a...
2025-02-1000 minInspect and Adapt#54 Stories from a Long CareerConstrux's Jenny Stuart is retiring from the software industry, and we will miss her! In this podcast, Jenny Stuart looks back on her three decades in the software industry and shares stories and wins from her long career. Joining Jenny are three of her Construx work companions for the last 20 years, Mark Griffin, Steve Tockey, and Earl Beede.
2025-01-0652 minInspect and Adapt#53 Cynefin FrameworkWhy do software gurus keep talking about the Cynefin Framework? What is it? How is it even pronounced? In this episode of Inspect & Adapt, Construx puts many brains on the topic with Mark Griffin, Jenny Stuart, Steve Tockey, and Earl Beede making the link between Cynefin and doing actual software development work. They cover where Cynefin is best applied and where this sense-making system just doesn't make sense.
2024-12-1252 minInspect and Adapt#52 The Triad Most folks know that the product owner, scrum master, and developers make up the Scrum team, but did you know that these roles are also an accountability triad critical to scaling? In episode #52 of our Inspect & Adapt podcast, Construx’s Earl Beede and Jenny Stuart define the triad and describe its role in scaling agile. Earl and Jenny focus on how each abstraction level in a scaled agile deployment replicates the triad while maintaining the single point of truth (SPOT) rule for that level. They also identify some common pitfalls when the triad is not implemented well and help yo...
2024-11-0447 minInspect and Adapt#51 Professional Development 2024To be a professional usually means a commitment to ongoing professional development. Doctors, engineers, nurses, accountants, and teachers all require periodic training to maintain their professional status, but what constitutes professional development in software? Can we consider ourselves professional without it? The Construx team will look into the state of professional development in software and give their assessment.
2024-10-0755 minInspect and Adapt#50 Staffing the Product OwnerThe product owner is often considered the most critical accountability in the triad of . Why? Because garbage in from the product owner gets garbage out of the developers, so it's crucial to give serious consideration to who is best to staff the product owner role. Listen to Construx experts share best practices, things to watch for, and stories from the field as they Inspect & Adapt the staffing of the product owner.
2024-09-1656 min
Construction DisruptionConstrux and the Future of Housing with Rob BertschyJoin Ryan Bell and Todd Miller of Isaiah Industries in this captivating episode of Construction Disruption as they sit down with Rob Bertschy, co-founder, and chief revenue officer of Construx. Discover how Construx is transforming the construction industry with their cutting-edge, digitally fabricated building systems.Rob shares his insights on addressing housing shortages, improving efficiency, and reducing waste with innovative, sustainable materials and technology. Whether you're a construction professional or simply interested in the future of building, this episode is a must-listen. Learn how digital fabrication can speed up construction, ensure quality, and solve critical industry challenges.
2024-08-0746 minInspect and Adapt#49 The NewWhat do we do when we are faced with "The New"? When something is new to us, it's harder to estimate, harder to plan, and harder to execute. Some development projects involve much more that is new than others. How do we identify the new and deal with it in a constructive way? In this episode of Inspect & Adapt, Construx's Mark Griffin, Steve Tockey, Earl Beede, and Jenny Stuart dive into ways to have the best development project when dealing with 'The New."
2024-06-0452 minInspect and Adapt#48 Cone of UncertaintyWhy can't I know—with high precision—the final cost, scope, and time frame of my work effort? One of the biggest reasons you can't know all three at once is illustrated by Steve McConnell's Cone of Uncertainty. In this episode of Inspect & Adapt, Construx's Mark Griffin, Steve Tockey, and Earl Beede talk about what the Cone is, how it impacts your ability to estimate, and how you can use it to increase your estimate predictability.
2024-05-0157 minInspect and Adapt#47 RetrospectivesIf hindsight is 20/20—and it's good practice to look back to find ways you could do better—then why do retrospectives seem like such a waste of time? Shouldn't they be a goldmine that we're excited about rather than just another obligatory meeting? Inspect & Adapt host Mark Griffin gathers fellow Construx staff, Steve Tockey, Jenny Stuart, and Earl Beede, to discuss how we can make retrospectives something to look forward to.
2024-04-0953 minInspect and Adapt#46 Reverse Agile ScalingThere is a lot of talk and ideas about how to scale agile up from the one-team, one-product base so that multiple teams can support a product (I am looking at you SAFe). But what about the case where one team must support multiple products? That is reverse agile scaling. Join Construx’s Mark Griffin, Jenny Stuart, and Earl Beede as they share strategies and proven techniques to have one team work with multiple products and multiple product owners.
2024-03-1153 minInspect and Adapt#45 Value IdentificationWhat does "value" mean on your product? How do you know you are working on the most valuable thing? Construx's Earl Beede, Jenny Stuart, and Mark Griffin discuss how to clearly identify and articulate value on development projects. Knowing the targeted value is critical for prioritization and scope control and for knowing when to stop. It is also the key ingredient to meaningful feedback cycles. But how do you reliably identify value? Earl & Jenny will share stories of how they've helped organizations identify their value in a measurable way.
2024-02-0656 min
Brick NewsBrick News 49: BlueBrixx, Cobi, MEGA Construx, Mould King, MOCs and moreSet Updates from BlueBrixx, Cobi, MEGA Construx, Mould King. In addition, MOCs of the week.📝 Shownotes https://www.merlinsbricks.com/podcast/bricknews-49/⏱ Timestamps00:00:23 - Introduction00:00:00 - BlueBrixx00:30:30 - Cobi, MEGA Construx, Mould King00:40:25 - Deals and Reading recommendations00:43:10 - MOCs of the week📧 SocialNewsletter: https://merlinsbricks.com/newsletter
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2024-01-2353 minInspect and Adapt#44 Bringing it All Together – the Successful Leadership of Hardware/Software TeamsHow do you lead product development teams when a company that has always been hardware focused now owes its success to both hardware and software? Construx's Mark Griffin and Earl Beede recently spoke with Inogen's Norbert Leinfellner and Horst Pichler, who have decades of experience leading this transition. We kick off 2024 with an Inspect & Adapt episode on how successful leadership requires a certain system-level mindset to help blend those hardware and software teams.
2024-01-0446 minInspect and Adapt#43 Project Managers 2023Listen to Construx's Earl Beede, Jenny Stuart, and Mark Griffin as they assess the role and duties of project managers on software intensive projects. A special focus will be on groups using agile development processes. Earl and Jenny will share stories of what they have seen work and what hasn't with their clients.
2023-12-0457 minInspect and Adapt#42 Splitting User StoriesConstrux's Earl Beede, Jenny Stuart, and Mark Griffin investigate ways to split user stories so they fit in a sprint. Some methods are far preferable—and even easier—than others. Sometimes it just means setting yourself up to make your user stories split-able. Earl and Jenny will share their stories from the trenches and explain how they assist teams to apply the appropriate splitting practices in their environment.
2023-10-3157 minInspect and Adapt#41 Special Guest: John Belbute, Engineering MetricsWhat metrics make sense for a development team? How do you talk about productivity? Construx friend John Belbute joins Construx’s Steve Tockey, Earl Beede, and Mark Griffin to talk about engineering metrics. John has been a software leader at many companies, including Intuit, WebMD, eBay and Capita CCS and is now semi-retired with his own coaching and consulting company. John shares his in-the-trenches experience trying to find the perfect metric to show the rest of the leadership team how well the development teams are doing.
2023-09-2154 min
Coffee With ChaosBuilding Pokemon Mega Construx Dragonite Stream | 11/09/23Building Pokemon Mega Construx Dragonite Stream | 11/09/23
2023-09-122h 01Inspect and Adapt#40 Waterfall vs. Agile 2023It's been over two decades since we were told that Waterfall development is bad and Agile development is good. Construx's Earl Beede recently did a webinar on the subject (available on YouTube). This Inspect and Adapt looks at some of the comments and questions that came up. Earl is joined by host Mark Griffin and Jenny Stuart as they take a fresh look at Waterfall vs. Agile.
2023-06-1355 minInspect and Adapt#39 Product Owner vs. Product ManagerThere is a lot of confusion about where the job or role of product owner ends and that of product manager begins. Construx's Earl Beede recently did a webinar on the topic. Now Earl is joined by Construx's Jenny Stuart and Mark Griffin to take a deeper look into how the two roles differ and where they overlap.
2023-04-1259 min
Brick NewsBrick News 31: BlueBrixx, Cobi, MEGA Construx, Jaki, MOCs, Ideas and moreSet Updates from BlueBrixx, Cobi, MEGA Construx, Jaki, Mork, Panlos. In addition, MOCs of the week and news from the LEGO Ideas program.📝 Shownotes https://www.merlinsbricks.com/podcast/bricknews-31/⏱ Timestamps00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:20 - BlueBrixx00:04:57 - Cobi und Jaki00:09:00 - MEGAConstrux00:11:45 - Mork and Panlos00:25:55 - MOCs of the week00:35:28 - Ideas📧 SocialNewsletter: https://merlinsbricks.com/newsletter
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2023-03-2837 minInspect and Adapt#38 The Engineering Manager in AgileYou have engineering managers and you want to adopt agile - or are already doing agile - development. Where does your engineering manager fit? What activities and roles do engineering managers play in the agile development organization? Join Construx's Jenny Stuart, Mark Griffin, and Earl Beede as they discuss how organizations can Inspect & Adapt the job of the engineering manager.
2023-02-0652 minInspect and Adapt#37 2022 Disaster Stories and Improvement IdeasAt the end of 2022, Construx surveyed our clients to hear their best disaster stories of 2022 and what areas they want to improve so they won't repeat their disasters in 2023. Join host Mark Griffin with Construx experts Earl Beede and Steve Tockey as they Inspect and Adapt those disaster stories and improvement opportunities.
2023-01-061h 04Inspect and Adapt#36 Right-Sizing Software Process: Going MetaIs there a "best" way or process to develop software? Is there one size fits all? Construx has always said, "no". One of our 10x Principles is "Tailor the Solution to the Problem". Join host Mark Griffin with Construx's Earl Beede and Steve Tockey for an Inspect and Adapt of right-sizing software development process. We cover the process for figuring out what your process should be–the "meta process".If you want to be notified of future live-stream recordings, be sure to sign up for our newsletter at our website: www.construx.com
2022-11-2253 minInspect and Adapt#35 Individual EstimationIndividual expert judgment estimation (a.k.a. best guess, gut, swag, etc.) is the most common method of estimating development projects. Yet it almost always is not a good estimate. Join host Mark Griffin with Construx's Earl Beede and Steve Tockey for an Inspect and Adapt of individual estimation. We cover the pitfalls of individual estimation but counter with specific ways you can make individual estimation a bit better.If you want to be notified of future live-stream recordings, be sure to sign up for our newsletter at our website: www.construx.com
2022-10-2559 minInspect and Adapt#34 Backlog RefinementBacklog Refinement is a practice that most agile teams should do - but many don't. Join host Mark Griffin with Construx's Jenny Stuart and Earl Beede to Inspect & Adapt backlog refinement. We cover how backlog refinement has become a critical part of agile teams, how it should work, common mistakes in backlog refinement, and how it adapts to different situations.This episode is edited from a live-stream discussion. If you want to be notified of future live-stream recording, be sure to sign up at our website https://www.construx.com
2022-10-031h 08Inspect and Adapt#33 How Much Testing Is Enough?"How much testing is enough?" is a question Construx gets asked a lot. Join host Mark Griffin with Construx's Brian Daugherty and Steve Tockey for an Inspect and Adapt of the enough testing question. We cover the drivers of testing, strategies to help determine "enough," and the common mistakes organizations make when developing and executing tests.If you want to be notified of future live-stream recordings, be sure to sign up for our newsletter at our website: www.construx.com
2022-09-1359 minInspect and Adapt#32 Leadership for Women in SoftwareWhat does it mean to bring your full self as a woman to leadership in a software or technical organization? Join Construx's Mark Griffin as he interviews Jessica Garcia about how to deal with the challenges of leadership specifically as experienced by women. Jessica leads and coaches women toward both leadership and authenticity. She will go over her six week leadership seminar and share key practices for women in technical leadership.
2022-08-1243 min
Inspect and Adapt#31 The DailyMany, if not most, agile teams include the practice of a daily gathering. It goes by slightly different names: the daily standup, the daily scrum, or walking the board. Join host Mark Griffin with Construx's Jenny Stuart and Earl Beede for an inspect and adapt of the daily. We cover the daily's origins, how it differs across agile approaches, common errors in the daily (we are looking at you, status reporting) and how to adjust it to different environments.This is an edited from a live-stream discussion. If you want to be notified of future live-stream recording, b...
2022-08-0158 min
Noticias MultifanRecorrimos dos malls santiaguinos para traerles lo mejor de MOTU | Abrición de Fisto, Andra y del Castillo Mega Construx [Eternia al Instante 40/40]Un tremendo rally entre Mall Plaza Egaña y Mall Parque Arauco se pegó Guille para traernos un resumen de los coleccionables que encontró con fotos y videos que comentamos junto al panel. Nuestro chat Eternia Datos sigue creciendo y hemos encontrado buenos precios y una que otra joyita. Además, Josep se lanza con la Abrición del Castillo Mega Construx, junto a Fisto y la vilipendiada Andra de la línea Masterverse.Prepara tus ganas de vitrinear y pagar poco, porque aquí comienza Eternia al Instante, capítulo 40, justo cuando la línea de juguetes de MOTU c...
2022-02-262h 57
Podcast Evolved - Your Podcast for HaloBuilds with Blocks - The BEST Halo Infinite Mega Construx SetsMatt, Colin and Tom come together to rank the Halo Infinite sets we've received from Mega Construx so far. Join the team for a deep dive into the most recent Halo game and some of the coolest merchandise to be created based on it!Thank you for your support!LEARN MORE Halo Mega Construx Official Website:https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/haloSUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedEVEN MOREMERCH: https://www.halopodcast...
2022-02-031h 11Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastThe BEST Halo Infinite Mega Construx SetsMatt, Colin and Tom come together to rank the Halo Infinite sets we've received from Mega Construx so far. Join the team for a deep dive into the most recent Halo game and some of the coolest merchandise to be created based on it!Thank you for your support!LEARN MORE Halo Mega Construx Official Website:https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/haloSUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedEVEN MOREMERCH: https://www.halopodcast...
2022-02-031h 11Inspect and Adapt#30 Scaling Agile: Three Agile Scaling Frameworks and Six Scaling RecommendationsHearing about different scaling frameworks and wondering which one is for you? Join host Mark Griffin and guest Jenny Stuart for an overview of the popular Agile scaling frameworks SAFe, Nexus, and LeSS, including their strengths and relative weaknesses. We’ll cover the frameworks’ core techniques and approaches; this will provide you with a basis for determining whether one of these frameworks is a good fit. Jenny will also provide six scaling recommendations for you to think about regardless of the framework you might be considering.
2021-11-181h 09
Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastMega Construx Halo Spring 2022 Official Set Reveal with Kevin_MCXThe Builds With Blocks crew are here to officially reveal the Spring 2022 Mega Construx sets - thanks to a partnership with the Mega team. Hear Kevin_MCX talk through each set and share insight into how it was created.We’d love to hear your thoughts…enjoy!LEARN MORE Halo Mega Construx Official Website: https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/haloSUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedEVEN MOREMERCH: https://www.halopodcast.com/store DISCORD: https://www...
2021-10-1851 min
Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastHalo Mega Construx MAF Evolution with Kevin_MCXKevin_MCX joins Builds with Blocks to discuss the history of the Mega Construx micro action figure. Then, Kevin's unveils his team's plans for creating the fan vote winning figure, Spartan Haunted. Turns out, it will be much more than just a new head mold!LEARN MORE Halo Mega Construx Official Website: https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/haloSUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedEVEN MOREMERCH: https://www.halopodcast.com/store DISCORD: https://www.halopodcast.com/discord...
2021-09-211h 26
Podcast Evolved - Your Podcast for HaloBuilds with Blocks - Halo Mega Construx MAF Evolution with Kevin_MCXKevin_MCX joins Builds with Blocks to discuss the history of the Mega Construx micro action figure. Then, Kevin's unveils his team's plans for creating the fan vote winning figure, Spartan Haunted. Turns out, it will be much more than just a new head mold!
2021-09-211h 26Podcast Evolved - Your Podcast for HaloBuilds With Blocks - Mega Construx Fall 2021 Sets DiscussionThe Builds with Blocks crew share their thoughts on the Fall offerings from Mega Construx.We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy! LEARN MORE Halo Mega Construx Official Website: https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/haloSUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedEVEN MOREMERCH: https://www.halopodcast.com/store DISCORD: https://www.halopodcast.com/discord FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.halopodcast.com/facebook
2021-09-141h 02
Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastMega Construx Fall 2021 Sets DiscussionThe Builds with Blocks crew share their thoughts on the Fall offerings from Mega Construx.We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy! LEARN MORE Halo Mega Construx Official Website: https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/haloSUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedEVEN MOREMERCH: https://www.halopodcast.com/store DISCORD: https://www.halopodcast.com/discord FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.halopodcast.com/facebook
2021-09-141h 02
Twins. Talk. Toys.Mega Construx Pro Builders Series Masters of the Universe 537pc Battle Cat Review (GVY14)The Camp Funko Twins review the new Mega Construx Pro Builders Series Masters of the Universe 537pc Battle Cat # GVY14
2021-08-0807 minTwins. Talk. Toys.Mega Bloks / Construx TMNT Technodrome ReviewThe Camp Funko Twins Review the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mega Bloks / Construx Technodrome 2,976 PC Set.
2021-08-0112 minInspect and Adapt#29 Twenty Years Is Enough! It’s Time to Update the Agile Principles and ValuesToday’s episode focuses on the very basis of Agile: its principles and values. Steve McConnell recently gave a keynote at XP2021 in which he said they need to be updated. You'll hear a quick recap of Agile’s beginnings, what was happening in software development when people got together at that Snowbird conference: primarily "code & fix" and the SW-CMM (Software-Capability Maturity Model). Steve will describe the current non-agile institutionalization of Agile. Then Steve and Mark will work one by one through the Agile values and principles to describe their relevance (or lack of relevance) to today's software development pract...
2021-07-191h 08Inspect and Adapt#28 Six Ways to Decrease Stress in Development PartnershipsWorking with external software development partners often increases stress for the existing internal staff. A Construx client asked us to conduct research with our clients on approaches to reducing this stress. We identified six recommendations and related specific actions that organizations can take to decrease internal stress and improve overall teamwork with their partners.Join Construx Senior Fellow Earl Beede as he describes the results of this client-driven research. You'll learn the six recommendations and specific actions you can take to lower your internal staff’s stress. You'll also hear about some case studies that describe what wo...
2021-07-0747 min
Council of the First OnesThe Council talks MOTU Mega Construx advent calendar, WWE, Origins, and more!Join Kelly Randor Edmonds (Nerds on a Couch), Shawn Skvarna (Legends of Grayskull Podcast), and David Clark (Owner of Adultcollector.org) as we discuss a mix of topics including the new Mega Construx MOTU advent calendar, MOTU: Origins, and Masters of the WWE Universe! - * Nerds on a Couch: Facebook.com/Nerdsoac * Legends of Grayskull Podcast: Facebook.com/groups/legendsofgrayskull * MOTU Mega Construx Fans group: Facebook.com/groups/megaconstruxmotu/ * Origins Fans group: Facebook.com/groups/motuorigins/
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2021-05-1848 minCouncil of the First OnesThe Council talks Mega Construx, Origins, and more!Join Kelly Randor Edmonds (Nerds on a Couch), Shawn Skvarna (Legends of Grayskull Podcast), and David Clark (Owner of Adultcollector.org) as we discuss a mix of topics including the new Mega Construx Battle Cat set, MOTU: Origins, Faking Filmation, and more! - * Faking Filmation Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/afa/faking-filmation * Nerds on a Couch: Facebook.com/Nerdsoac * Legends of Grayskull Podcast: Facebook.com/groups/legendsofgrayskull * MOTU Mega Construx Fans group: Facebook.com/groups/megaconstruxmotu/ * Origins Fans group: Facebook.com/groups/motuorigins/
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Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cotfo/support
2021-05-181h 05Inspect and Adapt#27 More Effective Kanban, Part 3: Kanban for Portfolios and ProgramsConstrux VP of Consulting Jenny Stuart and Mark Griffin cleared up common misconceptions about Kanban in Episode #19. In Episode #24, they discussed numerous best practices for establishing and optimizing your Kanban system. Here, they focus on seeing the big picture—working with Kanban at higher levels of workflow. Topics included setting up program-level and portfolio-level Kanban boards. Jenny shares various approaches she's used with clients to determine work items, model the workflow, define exit criteria, and establish WIP limits at the program level, a much higher level of abstraction than user stories. Also discussed are Kanban in the context of SA...
2021-05-0438 minInspect and Adapt#26 Software Estimation Lessons Learned from Covid-19 ForecastingFor the past year, Steve McConnell has applied his extensive estimation expertise to a timely problem: Covid-19 forecasting. Steve’s Covid Complete Data Center provides US national data, state data for every state, state scorecards, forecasts, forecast evaluations, and other data on the pandemic: https://stevemcconnell.com/covidcomplete/ His Covid Complete forecasting model has been accepted into the US Center for Disease Control’s “Ensemble” model, which means that it is one of the models driving overall CDC forecasting. In this episode, host Mark Griffin and Steve explore what Steve has learned from his modeling efforts and the lessons learned...
2021-03-1150 min
Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastHalo Infinite 2021 Spring Set ReviewThe Builds with Blocks crew have finally tracked down all of the new Halo Mega Construx sets available this spring. Tom, Matt, Gabe, and Colin discuss their hands on impressions of the first Halo Infinite sets to drop in 2021. Sets Discussed: -Halo Infinite Series 2 Blind Bags -Hijacked Ghost -Mini Helmets -Mercenary Combat Unit -UNSC Combat Unit -Halo Heroes Series 13 -UNSC Marine Platoon Pack We'd love to hear your thoughts...enjoy!LEARN MORE Halo Mega Construx Official Website...
2021-03-071h 22Inspect and Adapt#25 Crafting Software, Part 1: Beers to Pair with Requirements, Design, & EstimationWe thought we’d do something fun to start our second season and use a familiar vehicle to help new listeners and our old friends understand Construx’s software engineering expertise. And how are we going to do that? We’re going to use beer! You might be thinking, "Well, now you have my attention." Host Mark Griffin and Construx consultant Steve Tockey are accomplished home brewers, with 39 years of beer-brewing experience between them. In this first part of the conversation, they’ll work through the beginning phases of software development—requirements, design, and estimation—choosing beers that pair well with ea...
2021-02-2550 min
Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastTop 10: Best Halo Reach Mega Bloks / Mega Construx SetsHalo Reach's unique, gritty art style is largely a fan favorite and Mega Brands has done a fantastic job of capturing that essence with their construction sets and figures over the years. Gabe leads the Builds with Blocks crew through a debate about the best Mega Bloks / Mega Construx sets that feature elements from Halo Reach.We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!LEARN MORE Halo Mega Construx Official Website: https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/haloSUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal...
2021-02-231h 42
Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastTop 10 Best Halo 4 Mega Construx SetsListen to the Builds with Blocks crew debate the best sets from the Halo 4 era! Tom, Matt, Gabe and Colin have identified all of the sets that feature characters, vehicles, structures, and events from 343 Industries' first original game and determine which one stands above the rest. Things get a bit more intense than normal...you won't want to miss it.We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!SUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedLEARN MOREHalo Mega Construx Official Website...
2020-11-301h 44Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastMega Construx Product Designer Interview | Every Set Has A StoryLead Product Designer Kevin_MCX from Mega Construx joins the Builds with Blocks crew for exclusive insights on the the set design process. Tom, Matt, Gabe and Colin discuss Kevin's history with the Halo license, the process to create the new Halo Infinite sets, and some fun behind the scenes stories from the design team the over the years. They close the interview with a special look at the Halo Mega Construx Spring '21 line! We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!SUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https...
2020-11-211h 59Inspect and Adapt#24 More Effective Kanban, Part 2: Operating and Optimizing Your Kanban SystemConstrux VP of Consulting Jenny Stuart and Mark Griffin cleared up common misconceptions about Kanban in the first episode in this series (episode #19). This time they cover numerous best practices for establishing your initial Kanban system—determining work item types, workflow, work state policies, work-in-progress limits, and more—and running it well, including multiple approaches to handling blocked items and replenishing the queue of work. The conversation concludes with ways to optimize the system to make it better for the business and better for the people using it. Data-driven metrics such as cumulative flow diagrams, cycle time performance, and lead...
2020-10-211h 14Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastPelican Inbound Deep-DivePelican Inbound is Here! Colin, Tom, and Matt are Back with in-depth thoughts on the newest Pelican to join the Mega Construx line. We hope that their analysis provides you with a complete overview of this set!Thanks to Mega Construx for providing each of us with a copy of the Pelican for review purposes.We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!SUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedLEARN MOREHalo Mega Construx Official Website: https://www.megaconstrux...
2020-10-121h 22
Just4Clicks9. Mega Construx & Hoarding YouTube Plaques (feat. Alyssa)Forrest and Alyssa talk the Mega Construx building experience, vainly hoarding YouTube Plaques, and other sensitive issues.Alyssa on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/alyssadawnwhaley/TIMECODES1:30 Postitive Events10:41 Things We've Been Confronted by This Week21:57 Marquee Topic26:48 Hot Takes Corner31:58 E-mailsE-mail ► just4clickspod@gmail.comTwitter ► https://twitter.com/forrestfire101Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/forrest_whaley/Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/forrestfire101(Full J4C movie commentaries unlocked at $2 level)
2020-10-1152 minBuilds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastThe History of Mega Construx ODSTsThe team bring you an ODST special to commemorate the launch of Halo 3: ODST on the Master Chief Collection on PC and Xbox One. We dive feet first into hell with special guest Thomas Bovee as we discuss all things Orbital Drop Shock Trooper.We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!SUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedLEARN MOREHalo Mega Construx Official Website: https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/haloEVEN MOREMERCH: https://www.halopodcast...
2020-10-061h 40Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastHalo Infinite Mega Construx Set Breakdown - Part 2Tom, Matt, and Colin discuss how Halo Infinite's delay might affect the release of new Mega Construx sets and then dive into hands on impressions with another group of the first wave.Sets discussed:Halo Micro Action Figure Asst. Series 12 Halo Heroes Series 12 Master Chief Vs. Brute Warrior Defense Point Showdown Skiff Intercept Forerunner Ring Installation Building Box Energy Sword SDCC Exclusive Master Chief CollectionWe'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!
2020-09-091h 31Inspect and Adapt#23 Exploring Metrics: Using Landing Zones to Define and Guide SuccessIt's a sad truth that many software teams are working with no explicit definition of success.Join Construx Senior Fellow Erik Simmons and Mark Griffin to learn about the landing zone, a table that you can use to define success in a quantified, explicit way. Erik played a role in the development of the landing zone method during his time at Intel, so you're learning about it from one of its earliest proponents.In addition to learning how to build landing zones and when to use them, you'll learn what makes a good success definition...
2020-08-2552 minBuilds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastHalo Infinite Mega Construx Set Breakdown - Part 1The first few sets from the initial wave of the Halo Infinite Mega Construx fall line have hit the market! Gabe from G Customs Creations joins the Build with Blocks crew to provide impressions and insights into the the sets we've been able to get our hands on. Sets discussed: Master Chief vs. Brute Warrior Recon Getaway Banshee Breakout Warthog Rally Halo Heroes Series 12 Defense Point ShowdownWe'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!SUPPORT THE SHOW...
2020-08-071h 22Inspect and Adapt#22 More Effective Agile, Part 9: Focus on Throughput, Not Activity; Plan Based on Measured Team Capacity; Decriminalize MistakesSteve McConnell completes the series in which he describes the 28 key principles in his new book, More Effective Agile (Construx Press, 2019). The final principles described are: "Focus on Throughput, Not Activity." Similar to managing to outcomes, adding the nuance that busyness is not the objective—getting valuable work done is the objective. (See page 223 in the book.) "Plan Based on Measured Team Capacity." Agile is an empirical approach; teams and organizations should plan their work based on their measured performance. (See page 232.)"Decriminalize Mistakes." Decriminalize mistakes so th...
2020-08-0537 minInspect and Adapt#21 More Effective Agile, Part 8: Express Clear Purpose with Commander’s Intent; Model Key Agile Behaviors; Manage to Outcomes, Not DetailsSteve McConnell continues to describe the 28 key principles in his new book, More Effective Agile (Construx Press, 2019). The principles described this time:"Express Clear Purpose with Commander’s Intent." Support your teams’ ability to make timely, local decisions by clearly communicating your objectives for the desired end state. (See page 220 in the book.)"Model Key Agile Behaviors." Effective leaders model the behaviors they want to see in others. (See page 224.)"Manage to Outcomes, Not Details." Support your team’s Autonomy by clearly communicating desired outcomes while leaving the te...
2020-07-2937 minBuilds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastBehind the Scenes Insights from Mega ConstruxYan Theriault from the Mega Construx marketing team graciously agreed to join the Builds with Blocks crew to talk about everything you want to know about your favorite Halo collectibles. Learn the story behind rebranding Mega Bloks, how the internal teams collaborate to create new sets, and the distribution outlook for 2020 and beyond. We cover a lot of ground and uncover some insights that you probably didn't realize happen behind the scenes. We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!SUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreon PAYPAL: https://www...
2020-07-191h 13Inspect and Adapt#20 More Effective Agile, Part 7: Create and Use a Definition of Done; Maintain a Releasable Level of Quality; Use Automated Tests, Created by the Development TeamSteve McConnell continues to describe the 28 key principles in his new book, More Effective Agile (Construx Press, 2019). The principles described this time:"Create and Use a Definition of Done." A good Definition of Done helps catch incomplete or faulty work early, minimizing the gap between defect insertion and detection. (See page 157 in the book.)"Maintain a Releasable Level of Quality." Maintaining a releasable level of quality helps catch additional defects that slip through an earlier DoD. (See page 160.)"Use Automated Tests, Created by the Development Team." Automated t...
2020-07-0937 minBuilds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastHow to Customize Figures with G Customs CreationsMatt, Tom, and Colin are joined by special guest Gabe from G Customs Creations to learn how to customize Mega Bloks/Construx micro action figures. Gabe is an expert on this aspect of the hobby and has made countless unique creations for members of the Halo and/or Mega Construx fandom. The crew also gives their first impressions of the newly announced Halo Heroes Series 12.We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!G CUSTOMS CREATIONS ON INSTAGRAMhttps://www.instagram.com/gcustomscreationsSUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https...
2020-07-081h 23Inspect and Adapt#19 More Effective Kanban, Part 1: Five Misconceptions About KanbanJoin Construx VP of Consulting Jenny Stuart and Mark Griffin for the first in a series of episodes describing the power of Kanban. In this episode, they'll cover the most common misconceptions about this extremely useful method: #1 Kanban is only a board, #2 Kanban is good only for support, #3 Kanban is good only for small teams, #4 Kanban can't support long-range planning, and #5 Kanban or Scrum is an "either-or" decision.Some organizations still aren't using Kanban because of these misconceptions, but many would be well served by some use of Kanban!
2020-06-2549 minInspect and Adapt#18 More Effective Agile, Part 6: Refine the Product Backlog, Create and Use a Definition of Ready, Minimize the Defect Detection GapSixth in our series in which Steve McConnell describes the 28 key principles in his new book, More Effective Agile (Construx Press, 2019). The principles described this time:"Refine the Product Backlog." Backlog refinement ensures the team is working on the highest priority items, is not filling in gaps in requirements on its own, and is not starved for work. (See page 187 in the book.) "Create and Use a Definition of Ready." Part of backlog refinement is ensuring that requirements are truly ready before the team begins implementing them. (See page 188.)
2020-06-1641 minInspect and Adapt#17 Exploring Metrics: Cultural Issues, Metrics vs. Indicators, Launching a Program, and Controlling Costs/TimeJoin Construx Senior Fellow Erik Simmons and Mark Griffin as they discuss the ins and outs of metrics for software teams. To kick off, they draw a distinction that can help alleviate overarching concerns about metrics and measurement in general: operational measurement (How are we doing? Metaphor: dashboard) and aspirational measurement (What’s our progress toward our goals? Metaphor: map). The remainder of the episode addresses realities within the dashboard context.The first unfortunate reality is that few organizations do any measurement. Culture plays a large role here, specifically a lack of trust. Erik describes how trust is...
2020-06-111h 01Inspect and Adapt#16 Preproject Planning: Lowering Inherent Uncertainty on Large Work EffortsJoin Construx Senior Fellow Earl Beede and Mark Griffin as they discuss methods for improving the chances of success by driving down inherent uncertainty (common-cause variation) for large software efforts.These methods involve early decision making related to primary consumers, possible technologies, and broad software estimation. The conversation continues with a description of the Cone of Uncertainty, how to record your early decisions and their varying scopes and importance, and the helpful technique of priming the product backlog.
2020-05-2946 minBuilds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastNew Set Ideas with HaloFanForLifeOn this episode we have a great conversation with Sal from HaloFanForLife! We talk about his history with Halo and Mega Bloks/Mega Construx before diving in to a fantastic list of set ideas we'd love to see Mega Construx release for everyday Halo fans and/or collectors.We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!Halo Fan For Life Blog http://halofanforlife.com/SUPPORT THE SHOW PATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreonPAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedLEARN MOREHalo Mega Construx Official Website: https://www...
2020-05-251h 48Inspect and Adapt#15 Construx Services: What Are Organizational Assessments?Join Construx Senior Fellow Erik Simmons and Mark Griffin as they discuss the ins and outs of Construx's organizational assessments, which go beyond software engineering technical practices to also examine organizational structure, the architecture of the system, the way people communicate, and the degree of interteam trust. Culture can play as important a role as technical practices, so Construx's assessments also assess the effect of an organization's culture on autonomy, mastery, and purpose, which are required for motivating teams. Check out our "More Effective Agile, Part 2" episode to hear Steve McConnell describe how to motivate teams through...
2020-05-141h 05
Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastClash on the Ring Blind Bag Series ReviewOn this episode we review the new Halo Mega Construx blind bag series: Clash on the Ring!We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!SUPPORT THE SHOWPATREON: https://www.halopodcast.com/patreonPAYPAL: https://www.paypal.me/podcastevolvedLEARN MOREHalo Mega Construx Official Website: https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/haloPURCHASE THE BLIND BAG SERIESEntertainment Earth: https://www.entertainmentearth.com/product/mega-construx-halo-micro-action-figures-mix-1-2020-case/mtcnc84dEVEN MOREMERCH: https://www.halopodcast.com/storeDISCORD: https://www.halopodcast.com/discord
2020-05-041h 17Inspect and Adapt#14 WFH in the Age of Coronavirus: Lessons for Today and TomorrowConstrux Software recently surveyed software professionals to determine the effect that working from home (WFH) during the coronavirus pandemic is having on software development. Our survey explored changes in communication and the impact on individuals, on teamwork, on leaders’ ability to lead, and on specific technical practices. The survey was conducted from April 7 to April 22, 2020, with 624 respondents participating from 63 countries.The context was sobering, with most respondents reporting that they felt more disruption from personal stress related to coronavirus than they did from any aspect of changes related to working from home. The responses to WFH were mo...
2020-05-0459 minInspect and Adapt#13 More Effective Agile, Part 5: Manage Technical Debt, Support Large Agile Projects Through Architecture, Automate Repetitive ActivitiesFifth in our series in which Steve McConnell describes the 28 key principles in his new book, More Effective Agile (Construx Press, 2019). The principles discussed this time:"Manage Technical Debt." A consistent focus on quality is part of an effective Agile implementation. Managing technical debt supports higher team morale, faster progress, and higher quality products. (See page 131 in the book.)"Support Large Agile Projects Through Architecture." Good architecture can support portioned work on a project and minimize large-project overhead. Great architecture can make a large project feel like a smaller one. (See...
2020-04-2337 min
Builds with Blocks - A Halo PodcastHalo Infinite Mega Construx Set First LookOn this episode we’ll be covering the new Mega Construx sets that have been revealed for Halo Infinite!We'd love to hear your thoughts...Enjoy!
2020-04-201h 17Inspect and Adapt#12 More Effective Agile, Part 4: Keep Projects Small, Keep Sprints Short, Deliver in Vertical SlicesFourth in our series in which Steve McConnell describes the 28 key principles in his new book, More Effective Agile (Construx Press, 2019). The principles discussed this time: "Keep Projects Small." Small projects are easier and more often successful. Not all work can be structured into small projects, but the work that can be structured that way should be. (See page 120 in the book.) "Keep Sprints Short." Short sprints support a frequent Inspect and Adapt feedback loop. They expose problems quickly, making it easy to nip small problems in the bud before they...
2020-04-0737 minInspect and Adapt#11 New to Scrum? From Individuals to Team, the Persistent Role of Design, and Staffing Scrum RolesIs your team fairly new to Scrum? Construx Senior Fellow Earl Beede and Mark Griffin discuss specific strategies and concepts that will help your first Scrum efforts be successful.Learn about the shift in mind-set from individual contributors to a true team dynamic in which throughput is far more important than being busy in parallel activities. You don’t need to be good at everything, but you need to be able to help out on anything, rather than focus only on your specialty. Helping others finish work in process—countering the common reality of having lots of thin...
2020-03-1838 minInspect and Adapt#10 More Effective Agile, Part 3: Tighten Feedback Loops; Fix the System, Not the Individual; Increase Team Capacity by Building Individual CapacityThird in our series in which Steve McConnell describes the 28 key principles in his new book, More Effective Agile (Construx Press, 2019). The principles discussed this time:"Tighten Feedback Loops." Don’t take any longer to learn lessons than you need to; keep the feedback loops as tight as possible. This supports more rapid progress from the "Inspect and Adapt" key principle and faster improvements in effectiveness from the "Develop a Growth Mindset" key principle. (See page 89 in the book.)"Fix the System, Not the Individual." Most software professionals want to do go...
2020-03-0242 minInspect and Adapt#9 More Effective Agile, Part 2: Motivate Teams Through Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose; Develop a Growth Mindset; Develop Business FocusSecond in our series in which Steve McConnell describes the 28 key principles in his new book, More Effective Agile (Construx Press, 2019). The principles discussed this time: "Motivate Teams Through Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose." Agile practices inherently support the factors that contribute to motivation. Teams are intended to work with Autonomy and to become better over time (Mastery). In order to do so, they need to understand their Purpose. The concepts of “healthy Agile team” and “motivated Agile team” are strongly intertwined. "Develop a Growth Mindset." Whether you look at it from the point of view of the “...
2020-02-1740 min
Der Spielwaren Investor - spielend reale Rendite!Sind Cobi, Xingbao, Mega Construx und Co. Investment geeignet?Ausserdem: Mehr Antworten auf Eure LEGO Fragen + einiges mehr...
Ich wurde jetzt schon oft gefragt, wie ich Sets von Tobi, Xingbao, Mega Construx usw. als Investment einschätze. Daher sag ich hier heute mal etwas dazu. Ausserdem ist mir bei Amazon etwas krasses aufgefallen, ich habe wieder krasse, kurzfristige Rendite erzielt- und ich beantworte noch einige Fragen der Fragerunde von letzter Woche. Zum Schluß habe ich noch eine kleine Bitte an Dich... Show Notes www.Spielwaren-Investor.com Wir sind für den deutschen Podcast Preis nominiert! Mit zwei Klicks, kan...
2020-02-161h 03Inspect and Adapt#8 Scaling Agile: The Importance of Batch Size, Using Backfilling to Clarify Direction, and the Key to CollaborationTeams succeeding with Agile approaches on smaller projects often encounter difficulties when attempting to scale those methods. In this episode, Construx Senior Fellow Earl Beede and Mark Griffin discuss specific strategies for successfully scaling Agile. First, they cover the importance of batch sizing. Overly large batches easily lead to waste, and many scaling issues can be solved by manipulating batch size. The next strategy—backfilling—addresses two challenges: The tendency for teams to focus on invention rather than on problems that need solving, and lack of clarity regarding product or feature direction. Backfilling also serves as a prompt for iden...
2020-02-0334 min
Open House with Team RebaEpisode #155 - Steve Tockey, Principal Consultant at ConstruxOn this week's episode of "Open House with Team Reba", Reba and Eric welcomed Steve Tockey, Principal Consultant at Construx, which is a local software development best practices firm. Steve consults on active development projects and teaches software requirements, design, quality, and software project management.Together they discuss best practices in the tech industry, and Steve's two books "Return on Software: Maximizing the Return on Your Software Investment", and "How to Engineer Software: A Model-Based Approach". Interested in how you can help your company streamline their practices? Listen in for his segments. As a reminder...
2020-02-0149 minInspect and Adapt#7 Special Guest Jeff Atwood, Part 2: Jeff and Steve on Effective Software Development ProcessWe’re happy to continue the conversation between Steve McConnell and Jeff Atwood. Jeff is a software developer, author, and entrepreneur known for blogging at Coding Horror, co-founding the computer-programming question-and-answer website Stack Overflow, and, currently, developing Discourse, a powerful open-source discussion platform. Over the holidays we recorded Jeff and Steve discussing Steve’s new book, More Effective Agile, which Jeff had just read. Their discussion touches on numerous aspects of effective—and wise!—software development.
2020-01-2350 minInspect and Adapt#6 Special Guest Jeff Atwood, Part 1: Jeff and Steve on Effective Software Development ProcessWe’re happy to the share the first of two episodes featuring Jeff Atwood, a software developer, author, and entrepreneur known for many things: blogging at Coding Horror, co-founding the computer-programming question-and-answer website Stack Overflow, and, currently, developing Discourse, a powerful open-source discussion platform. Over the holidays we recorded Jeff and Steve McConnell discussing Steve’s new book, More Effective Agile, which Jeff had just read. Enjoy a conversation that touches on numerous aspects of effective—and wise!—software development. And check back for the second part of the conversation in a couple of weeks.
2020-01-1543 minInspect and Adapt#5 Design Patterns: What's Their Connection to Fundamental Design Principles?Construx Principal Consultant Steve Tockey and Mark Griffin discuss design patterns in a unique way by emphasizing the importance of understanding fundamental design principles when you’re using patterns.Of the top five reasons that software projects get into trouble, the most significant issue that is directly under the control of software developers is the complexity in the code base. Both industry data and Steve’s own engagement-derived data over 20 years of software consulting support this. As Steve McConnell has argued, the prime directive of the software professional is to manage complexity.Steve and Mark dive...
2019-12-1739 minInspect and Adapt#4 More Effective Agile, Part 1: Inspect and Adapt, Start with Scrum, Build Cross-Functional Teams, Integrate Testers into the Development TeamsIn the first of a series of episodes sharing crucial information from Steve McConnell's new book, More Effective Agile, Steve and Mark begin to describe the 28 key principles you need to understand to reap the full benefits of effective Agile. The principles discussed in this episode are"Inspect and Adapt." Agile is an empirical approach that depends on learning from experience. This requires creating opportunities to reflect periodically and make adjustments based on experience. "Start with Scrum." Scrum is not necessarily the final destination on an Agile journey, but it is...
2019-12-0243 minInspect and Adapt#3 Developer Testing: The Legacy Code Dilemma, Modified Condition Decision Coverage, and Pairwise TestingConstrux Senior Fellow Melvin Perez-Cedano and host Mark Griffin dive into developer testing in response to a recent engagement with a telecommunications client trying to improve quality and productivity.As developers, we know that we’re going to make mistakes. The point of developer testing is to discover those mistakes as early as possible so that we can remove them when it is far more economical to do so. Test-driven development (TDD) and behavior-driven development help here. Plus, writing test cases first helps us clarify our understanding of what we need to do before we write the co...
2019-11-0535 minInspect and Adapt#2 Getting Unstuck: Addressing Struggling Scrum Adoptions, Responding to the Agile Test, and Properly Sizing Backlog ItemsConstrux Senior Fellow John Clifford—our Agile Practices lead—joins host Mark Griffin to discuss a repeated theme of multiple recent engagements: how to get Agile teams unstuck.Many teams are struggling with “Scrum adoptions,” they think, but this characterization is inaccurate because the teams aren’t really running Scrum. Instead, they’re doing an approximation based on faulty assumptions—namely, that the teams can take a bit of this and a bit of that and make it work. But Agile frameworks are systems that are more than the sum of their parts. When you leave out parts of Scrum...
2019-11-0534 minInspect and Adapt#1 Our Inaugural Episode: Gradients of Agreement, Forms of Waste, Real Kanban Boards, and Longer-Term Scrum PlanningConstrux Senior Fellow Melvin Perez-Cedano joins host Mark Griffin to discuss two recent engagements: a Lean-Agile Practices custom workshop with a team using proto-Kanban (a board without work-in-process limits) and a deep-dive Scrum class with experienced Scrum practitioners.In the first case, Melvin describes using a participatory decision-making technique to determine whether everyone on the team was in agreement about the team’s primary challenges. In this case, team members ranked the severity of the seven forms of waste (according to Lean) in their efforts, and Melvin and Mark review these forms of waste. Melvin then describes gu...
2019-11-0535 min
Halo Mega ConstruxHalo Mega Construx Wish list!In this Episode I give my top Five Halo Mega Construx sets on my wish list.
2019-09-0309 min