Better ROI from Software Development

Dec 10 2024 196 ep. 13 mins 10

Better ROI from Software Development Podcast artwork

Providing advice on how to get the best Return On Investment from your Software Development. Hosted by Mark Taylor of Red Folder Consultancy, this series is targeted at those that fund software development in improving their return on investment. Through a series of short weekly podcasts, Mark explores and explains why "traditional" management techniques will not only produce poor returns, but actively encourage it. Find out more about Red Folder Consultancy at https://red-folder.com. Or reach out to Mark on Twitter @redfoldermark

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

#195: Estimation - An estimate by any other name

Dec 10 2024 12 mins

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 term "estimate" means to you, your team and your organisation. In the episode I talked about different definitions that could easily be conflated - the amount of effort, a target, and a commitment. In this week's episode I want to co

#194: Estimation - What are you actually asking for?

Dec 03 2024 16 mins

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 "estimate" may mean to you and the colleagues that you work with. The term 'estimate' is often used interchangeably to mean the effort required, the target completion date, or even a commitment to complete the work by a specific date. Of

#193: Estimation - How much to invest

Nov 26 2024 14 mins

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 of achieving that - what is the correct cost for the perceived value of the estimate to you and your organisation. This episode continue on from 190 where I asked "Don't invest in estimates unless there are clear demonstrable value in

#192: Estimation - Predictability vs Optimism

Nov 19 2024 14 mins

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 "valuable estimate" - an estimate that is desirable for the organisation asking for it. While what constitutes "valuable" will differ from organisations to organisation, team to team, and maybe even piece of work to piece of work, I feel t

#191: Estimation - what is a valuable estimate?

Nov 12 2024 14 mins

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 "valuable estimate" and what that may mean for you. As I go through this series I will use the term "valuable estimate" as a short hand for some value that is desirable by the organisation asking for it. This may seem a little vague … an

#190: Estimation - Do you get value?

Nov 05 2024 18 mins

I started the mini-series in episode 189 by providing the following guidelines: Don't invest in estimates unless there are clear demonstrable value in having them Agree what a "valuable" estimate looks like - this will likely be a desirable level of accuracy and precision for an estimate Provide the team with training & time to develop their estimation skills Collect data

#189: Estimation - a review

Oct 29 2024 21 mins

Back in January 2023, in episode #160, "Revisiting Software Development Estimation," I made the commitment to revisit and potentially revise my views on software development estimation. While I acknowledged the desirability of estimations for reasons like cost, risk, and planning, the episode recognized that these desires don't always make estimations attainable or accurate, parti

#188: Bad for ROI - More Developers

Nov 22 2023 23 mins

Following on from the last two episodes that look at the dysfunctional and unexpected results that can from the seemly well intentioned call for "more planning", this week's episode takes a look at a similar paradox - the call for "more developers". We look at why "more developers" does not generally equal "greater output" - the unexpecte

#187: Bad for ROI - More Planning - Part 2

Nov 08 2023 23 mins

In this episode, the second of two, I conclude the exploration of the dysfunctions and unexpected results that can occur from the seeming well intentioned call for "more planning". In last week's episode, I looking at the historical context of why the request for "more planning", and explored the high cost and dysfunctions that can arise from over-planning.

#186: Bad for ROI - More Planning - Part 1

Nov 01 2023 20 mins

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 for "more planning". In this episode, I will start by looking at the historical context of why the request for "more planning", and an exploration of the high cost and dysfunctions that can arise from over-planning.