The traffic on the Software Process and Measurement Blog set new highs this year, even after a COVID dip. As with the Podcast, we added a bit more variety, with several friends and colleagues contributing guest posts. The top five posts in 2020 tell an interesting story. The top five were:
- Re-read Saturday: Crucial Conversations Week 6 – Chapter 5: Make It Safe https://bit.ly/39p4Xu4
- Guest Post: From Story Points to Test Driven Development – A Dev Team Story http://bit.ly/2IjE2ok
- Clean Language: Metaphors and Similes http://bit.ly/39g382Y
- An Agile Team In A Waterfall Company – Postponing Commitment https://bit.ly/3dBhCfl
- How To Set Smart(ish) Goals For Testers Part 1 https://bit.ly/2URazsH Part 2 https://bit.ly/2YIuWZV, and Part 3 https://bit.ly/2zS6Mnq
The top post was from our Re-read Saturday Feature. Several of the entries from the Crucial Conversations set had nearly the same download numbers. This year we read four books. They were:
- Thinking Fast and Slow (from 2019 and completed in January 2020)
- Crucial Conversations
- Tame your Work Flow
- Great Big Agile (currently in progress)
Fixing Your Scrum is next; about halfway through the book then we will solicit more ideas. Perhaps we should tackle Susan Parente’s new book, Hybrid Project Management. I enjoy the traffic and comments but I must admit that I really like how thoroughly I have to read the book to write each piece. Remember to buy a copy of the book and read along, sales are great feedback to the authors!
We had a number of great posts this year. The most read was from Rebecca Schira. Ms. Schira and I worked together in the past. Her case study/experience report, From Story Points to Test Driven Development – A Dev Team Story, told a compelling story about change. I enjoy guest posts as they highlight areas from a different perspective and look forward to more in 2021.
The three others in the top five show the influence of being a practicing agile guide and coach. Each is part of a series. For example, the theme on clean language included four entries with Metaphors and Similes getting the most reads. Thanks to Jamie Valore for getting me interested in this topic again. The series included:
- Basic Concepts http://bit.ly/2GXuj6q
- Metaphors and Similes http://bit.ly/39g382Y
- It’s All About The Questions http://bit.ly/31N6VlG
- Using Clean Language Questions To Refine Requirements http://bit.ly/2UQfVoQ
The series on Agile In A Waterfall Company reflects a question and dialog with a reader and colleague and included seven entries.
- An Agile Team In A Waterfall Company https://bit.ly/3hXpPy5
- Postponing Commitment https://bit.ly/3dBhCfl
- Values, Principles, and Behaviors https://bit.ly/2ZsoO8t
- Organizing Around The Product Flow https://bit.ly/3k05jhj
- Fixed Budget, Fixed Scope, Fixed Date https://bit.ly/3fSFaxv
- Steps Away From Fixed Everything Work http://bit.ly/2XqAdFb
- Reactions https://bit.ly/323tT8Q
The final entry in the top 5 is about goal setting, in this case specifically for testers. I re-read the series just before New Year. Read all three parts – Part 1 https://bit.ly/2URazsH Part 2 https://bit.ly/2YIuWZV, and Part 3 https://bit.ly/2zS6Mnq When you are done, let me know what I should add.
2021? My goals include a few more guest posts, to learn and be pushed to learn by my friends and colleagues, and to have something new on the blog (and at tomcagley.com) approximately 200 times in 2021. Your input will help guide the thematic direction so send me a note at tcagley@tomcagley.com or comment on your favorite item. Never hesitate to add your two cents to the conversation.
