The #1 Reason I'm Going (Back) to Capability Counts This Year: To Build Stronger Relationships with Key CMMI Institute Leaders

Hey, CMMI Appraiser - will we get a chance to meet some of the CMMI Institute leaders at Capability Counts this year? ~ CMMI program sponsor in Maryland

Dear Readers, 

Get those bags packed!  It’s almost time to head out to the Washington, DC area for Capability Counts for indepth learning about using the CMMI to improve organizational performance! But before we go, I have one final thought to help you make the best use of your time at Capability Counts 2017.

Today our countdown of the Top 5 Reasons to Attend has worked all the way down to #1. 

Drum roll, please! The #1 Reason to Attend Capability Counts 2017 this year is …

To build stronger relationships with CMMI Institute leaders.

Whether you’re new to the CMMI Conference, or are a regular attendee of our industry’s premier event on process improvement and the CMMI, introducing yourself to your hosts is not only the polite thing to do, it is one of the best reasons for going to the Capability Counts. Especially this year, when key CMMI Institute leaders will be in attendance.

Space on this blog is limited, so I’d like to call attention to five of the many important and influential people that you’ll want to be sure to meet at the Conference. They are:

1. Kirk Botula, CEO of CMMI Institute. Kirk is a team-builder, visionary and just an all-around terrific guy. Meeting with Kirk will give you peace of mind that the CMMI is alive and well and has a strong future. You’ll get insight into his vision for how the CMMI will grow, evolve, sustain and be successful over time.

2. Dan Torens, COO. Dan’s in charge of managing product releases and executing strategy, and can help end-users get a feel for how the CMMI Institute operates, how its future products will be released and what some of the major internal projects might be.

3. Rawdon (“Rusty”) Young. Rusty is a key player and an invaluable resource. He is involved in the hands-on creation of new products and next-generation releases of the CMMI. Talk to Rusty about your questions on CMMI, DMM, and SCAMPI.

4. Katie Tarara, Manager of Partner and Client Services. As every CMMI Partner learns, there is no better person to connect with at the CMMI Institute than Katie. Katie is all about listening. She loves to reach out to Partners and end-users for their suggestions and ideas on making the CMMI Institute even better.

5. Chavonne Hoyle, Director of Marketing. Chavonne is the Institute’s chief buzz-builder and also has responsibility for the conference. You’ll find Chavonne a joy to know!

As key representatives of the CMMI Institute at Capability Counts, Kirk, Dan, Rusty, Katie and Chavonne are a big part of the face of a product lines that we use every day. If you are a CMMI user – or are considering adopting the Model – you’ll want to get to know them and tap into their vast expertise. If you are a CMMI Institute Partner, it’s important to meet with these leaders, so you can join us in working more closely with them on reinforcing the brand. Capability Counts is the perfect place to do that.

While I don’t have space to write about ALL of the great people at the CMMI Institute, I’d also encourage you to connect with everyone on the CMMI Institute team.

Other great folks you don’t want to miss at Capability Counts this year are the leaders of the many general sessions and workshops of the Conference. These CMMI users are on the front lines of process improvement and performance acceleration, so you get practical, relevant and valuable learning experiences straight from the ones who know!

From Broadsword, you’ll have an opportunity to meet our speakers:

Jeff Dalton: Featured Presentation – Stability, Agility, and The Capable Organization; AND Holacracy – Abolish Hierarchy while Leveraging CMMI to Radically Change Your Organization

Ross Timmerman: Gamers’ Alley

Julie Calfin: The Great Service Multiplier - How Our Consulting Firm Doubled Revenues and Reduced Costs by Implementing CMMI-SVC

Laura Adkins: The Buy-In Effect – How Getting Alignment Can Get Your CMMI Adoption UnStuck

Tim Zeller: Agile Performance Management

Cathy Henderson: 20 Days to SCAMPI A – How to get to the Finish Line and Keep Your Sanity

And that’s it, my friends! Those are my Top 5 Reasons to Attend Capability Counts – and there are many more reasons that you are sure to discover on your own. I’m looking forward to hearing about YOUR experience.

Register here.

See you in our nation’s capital!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI nstructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about engineering strategy, performance innovation, software process improvement and running a successful CMMI program.

The #2 Reason to Attend Capability Counts 2017: To Improve Organizational Performance

Hey, CMMI Appraiser, what can I tell my boss about why she should send us to Capability Counts this year? ~ CMMI sponsor in Florida

Dear Readers,

Time flies, and if you don't convince your boss soon about why she should send your team to Capability Counts this year, the opportunity may soar away without you! Capability Counts 2017 (a/k/a SEPGNA, a/k/a The CMMI Conference) is coming up fast, on May 16-17, 2017.

If your boss has expressed concern that it might not be worth your while to attend, that's actually a good sign. She just needs a better understanding of the value, which is not unusual, I've found. Whether you are just starting to consider adopting the CMMI for your organization, or already have extensive experience with the Model – you want to know whether this year’s CMMI experience is right for you.

Tell your boss to be concerned no more! As a veteran attendee, regular speaker at Capability Counts and other industry conferences, and longtime practitioner of the CMMI, I feel so strongly about the value of the Conference that I’ve developed a list of Top 5 Reasons to attend Capability Counts 2017, and we’ve been counting them down.  Today we're down to the penultimate reason!

Drum roll, please! Reason #2 is …

To improve organizational performance.

As you know if you’ve attended the Conference in the past, Capability Counts is the premier organizational performance improvement conference. Hundreds of professionals come from around the world come to learn, network and explore solutions to their performance challenges. It’s such an amazing event that I like to call it “the greatest show on earth!”

This year, the show will be even better! Our host, the CMMI Institute, has been working hard to make sure this year’s Conference has something for everyone who attends, wherever you are in your professional journey. The Program Committee has created three days (including the PreConference sessions on Monday, May 15th) of content focused on positively impacting the way you do your work.

The format is designed to help you explore using the CMMI to improve performance through first-person case studies, interactive workshops, and powerful presentations that can help you to get started with CMMI or take your organization to new levels of success.

Whether your interest is multi-model, practical process improvement, high maturity, agile, DevOps, Services, Acquisition, or any other discipline, you will find ample opportunities to dive into the principles and practices that can help your organization better harness the power of performance improvement with the CMMI. Check out the Capability Counts schedule.

The variety of learning opportunities alone is incredible. You can expect to come away with real life, practical and implementable ideas. For full details about the Conference logistics and to register, navigate around the Capability Counts site.

The Capability Counts is a terrific opportunity to spend two days focusing on how you can  get better at what you do. For some, this will be reason enough to attend this year’s conference. Others may be preparing for their SCAMPI Appraisals, want to learn how to scale Agile, or just want to learn more about CMMI.  Why will YOU go?

The countdown continues!  Be sure to check back soon for Reason #1.

Register here:

We hope to see you at Capability Counts 2017!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information.

The #3 Reason to Attend Capability Counts 2017: To Be an Agile Gamer!

Hey, CMMI Appraiser – What does Capability Counts 2017 offer Agile teams?
~ Agile Scrum Training teammate, State IT organization

Hello, my friends!

In my stops in software and engineering organizations all around the country (and planet), I’ve been talking a lot about Capability Counts 2017, which is being held near Washington, DC this year. So, in honor of the historic cadence of nation’s most sacred document … allow me to borrow a phrase from Thomas Jefferson.

We hold these truths to be self-evident:

• Capability Counts 2017 was formerly known as SEPG NA, The CMMI Conference and (by this CMMI Appraiser, anyway) “The Greatest Show on Earth!”
• The industry's premier event for Organizational Performance Improvement will be held in Alexandria, VA on May 6-8, 2017
• We would love to see you there!

And now, on with the countdown. As we do every year here on Ask the CMMI Appraiser, we’re listing the Top 5 Reasons to Attend Capability Counts 2017. If you missed it, reason #5 was “To Build Capability!”

Reason #4 was “To Take Advantage of All Our Nation’s Capital Has to Offer.”

Drum roll please!

The #3 Reason to Attend Capability Counts 2017 is …

To Be an Agile Gamer!

Yes, back by popular demand, “Gamer’s Alley” promises to be a highlight of the conference once again this year. If you’ve never heard of Gamer’s Alley, it’s a great way for anyone interested in Agile methods to acquire and develop skills while playing agile games.

How does Gamer’s Alley work?

Gamer’s Alley works by offering a fun, competitive environment, where engineering executives and professionals can learn new agile skills in the ultimate learning experience.

Do you love a test of wits? Do you get fired up over the idea of having a coach helping you win? My friend, this is the session for you. You’ll learn more about collaboration, iterative delivery, and continuous improvement in a hands-on environment that leverages CMMI and Agile methods. Your coaches and facilitators are experienced Game Masters who are also CMMI and Agile coaches and instructors. Make sure you stop by and check out concurrent events including the XP Game, the Collaboration Game, and more! There will be prizes and plenty of fun.

Do you have to know what Agile is to participate in Gamer’s Alley?

There are experience restrictions at Gamer’s Alley! This is where you get experience, in a safe, controlled atmosphere. Whether you’re just starting your capability journey, learning how to use CMMI in an Agile environment, or a seasoned veteran, you’ll take away valuable lessons that you can use right away.

Register here for Capability Counts 2017.

Need more reasons to go? Stay tuned for Reason #2!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information.

The #4 Reason to Attend Capability Counts 2017: To Take Advantage of All Our Nation’s Capital Has to Offer

Hey, CMMI Appraiser - Should we send our team to Capability Counts 2017 this year? 

~ a small business client that provides IT Services to the Federal Government

Hello, my friends!

Absolutely you should send your team to the big annual industry event I like to call "The Greatest Show on Earth"! We'll be there, celebrating our umpteenth (yes, that's an official statistic) time that we'll be presenting our strategies, techniques, tips and tactics about organizational performance innovation, Agile and CMMI to the most passionate group of engineering and software executives and professionals on the planet, and we'd love to have you join us. To help you decide, we're counting down the Top 5 Reasons to Attend Capability Counts 2017, and today we’re down to Reason #4.

If you are just joining us for the countdown, here’s what you missed:

Reason #5: To Build Capability

And now, we're on to Reason #4. Drum roll please!

The #4 Reason to Attend Capability Counts 2017 is …

To Take Advantage of All Our Nation’s Capital Has to Offer

As you may know, each year a different, unique American city plays host to the annual Capability Counts conference. This year’s picturesque setting is Alexandria, VA, located just across the Potomac from our nation’s capital and a stunning destination in its own right. Rich in history and bustling with energy, this northern Virginia hotspot has something for everyone:

• Before the White House, there was Mount Vernon. Less than ten miles from Alexandria, visit the home of our nation’s first president.
• An incredible selection of restaurants, many featuring outdoor dining
• Hop onto the Metro and make your way into D.C. to visit some of the new monuments that may have opened since your last visit, like the MLK Jr Memorial and the National WWII Memorial
• Gorgeous public gardens
• Abundant historical military sites, including Fort Stevens, the Lee Mansion, and the Lincoln Cottage
• Take a spring evening stroll along the Potomac, and stop for a cocktail or dessert at a riverfront bistro
• Tour the Newseum in nearby D.C. to learn about the history of our nation’s press
• Take part in one of Alexandria’s many walking tours, featuring costumed guides and local experts
• Visit King Street, Alexandria’s charming shopping destination

…and much more. There are many compelling amazing reasons to attend this year’s conference; between the excellent technical learning, influential networking opportunities, and historic location, you’ll find yourself immersed in knowledge and opportunity.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Register today

Still undecided? Stay tuned for Reason #3!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit https::/broadswordsolutions.com for more information.

The Countdown to Capability Returns! Top 5 Reasons to Attend Capability Counts 2017. Reason #5: To Build Capability

Hello again, my friends!  Are you ready for our industry’s premier event? Yes, it’s almost time for Capability Counts 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia, on May 16-17 – and I for one can’t wait!

To help the time go by faster, as I do every year, I’ll be counting down the Top 5 Reasons to attend. So let’s get started with Reason #5.

Reason #5: Acquire valuable information about building capability

There’s a very good reason I call this event, “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Formerly known as SEPG conference, and f/k/a CMMI Congress, Capability Counts 2017 offers attendees a banquet of information about building capability:

• Opening Keynote presentation from Greg Williams, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA
• 80+ speakers will share their knowledge of CMMI adoption and capability improvement experience
• 7 Tracks with captivating sessions - customize your schedule to fit your business needs

There’s a lot here for you. Learning experiences range from formal presentations to tutorials to workshops to informal conversations and social interactions. We’ll share strategies and tactics, tips and techniques, best practices to adopt, and pitfalls to avoid.  Also we will be reprising the popular "Gamers' Alley" track.  And we’ll have the truly unforgettable experience of building our capability, together.

Yes, Capability Counts 2017 offers the best of the best in performance improvement and building capability. But what did you expect?  When so many great people get together around their shared passion for process improvement, performance innovation and CMMI, cool things happen.

Will you join us?

Register for Capability Counts

Need more reasons to go? Stay tuned for Reason #4!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit https::/broadswordsolutions.com for more information.

Get Your DISCOUNT CODE for Capability Counts 2017

Capability Counts DISCOUNT CODES are here!

Thinking of coming to Capability Counts 2017 in Alexandria, VA on May 16-17?

This conference, formerly known as "SEPG," will be a collection of several hundred process improvement and CMMI experts from around the world - and you definitely want to be there!

Your CFO will be happy to hear that The Appraiser can give you $200 smackers off the registration fee!

Message me at appraiser@broadswordsolutions.com for your code.

Register for the conference here.

Hope to see you at Capability Counts 2017!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about engineering strategy, performance innovation, software process improvement and running a successful CMMI program.

Capability Counts 2017 is coming to Washington, DC May 16-17!

Capability Counts 2017 is coming!

Join us May 16-17 in Alexandria, VA to hear over 50 speakers, play games, take classes, and network with other practitioners that are passionate about increasing professional capability!

Once again, this year Broadsword will be prominently featured at the conference. Here is a rundown of who’s speaking from Broadsword, when, and on what topics:

Monday, May 15th
Jeff Dalton (8:30-11:30AM) Pre-Conference Half-Day Tutorial: Agile Learning Experience

Tuesday, May 16th 
Ross Timmerman (9:00AM): Gamers’ Alley

Julie Calfin (9:45AM): The Great Service Multiplier - How Our Consulting Firm Doubled Revenues and Reduced Costs by Implementing CMMI-SVC

Jeff Dalton (11:15AM): Holacracy – Abolish Hierarchy while Leveraging CMMI to Radically Change Your Organization

Darian Poinsetta (3:30PM): Finally! A model for evaluating agile performance – The Agile Performance Holarchy

Wednesday, May 17th 
Laura Adkins (10:30AM): The Buy-In Effect – How Getting Alignment Can Get Your CMMI Adoption UnStuck

Ross Timmerman (1:15PM): Gamers’ Alley

Tim Zeller (1:15PM): Agile Performance Management

Jeff Dalton (2:45PM) Featured Presentation: Stability, Agility, and The Capable Organization

So come to Alexandria , Virginia and learn alongside hundreds of executives and professionals like you who are focused on the fact that CMMI, Agile and Performance Improvement are all about the transformation of the culture of your company. I’ve got a lot of exciting strategies, tactics and insights to share in my presentation, and I’d hate for you to miss out.

Register now!

We hope to see you at Capability Counts 2017!

Can we get PDUs for CMMI training?

Hey, CMMI Appraiser – we enjoyed your webinar and would love to know when the next CMMI training class is going to be held in the DC area. Also, can we get PDUs for your class? ~ webinar attendees from Virginia

Hello, Virginia!

I’m glad you enjoyed the webinar and are hungry for more information about the CMMI. You are in luck! With a certain holiday in February fast approaching, your CMMI Appraiser decided to give engineering and software professionals something you all seem to LOVE:

More opportunities to learn!

"Introduction to CMMI-DEV v1.3" is an interactive learning experience that is designed for managers, systems engineers, software developers, project managers, or process professionals –whether they are with CMMI-focused companies that are looking for guidance on being lighter and more flexible, or Agile teams that are still seeking the kind of results they’ve been hoping for. This three-day CMMI Institute course provides attendees with a detailed overview of the Capability Maturity Model Integration for Development (CMMI-DEV).

And yes, you can receive 21 PDU's towards your PMP Certification for this course!

"Introduction to CMMI-DEV v1.3"
February 22 8:30am – February 24 2017 1:00pm.
Mclean, VA

Cost: $1300 (that’s more than 30% off!)

Register for "Introduction to CMMI-DEV v1.3"

Bonus Content! You won’t get this anywhere else!

In addition to the CMMI Institute Authorized course material, class participants will be presented two Broadsword exclusive course modules. These modules, “The Secrets of SCAMPI Appraisals” and “Agile Resiliency: Making Agile Stronger with CMMI”, have proven to be a highlight learning experience, and are only offered here.

What's not to love? Hope to see you in class!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about engineering strategy, performance innovation, software process improvement and running a successful CMMI program.

What is the future of Agile?

Hey, CMMI Appraiser - In your opinion, what is the future of agile? ~ Flore D

Hey, Flore, I am talking about the future of agile -- and the future of organizations that embrace agile -- on a live webinar presented by ISACA. You're welcome to join me!

Register here.

Attendees can expect to receive valuable take-aways from this hour-long webinar as we explore a model-based approach to building agility and capability, including a practical demonstration of how the CMMI strengthens your organization. You'll understand what needs to be done to guide your organization to thrive and survive in a leaner, more agile future.

See you on the Webinar!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about engineering strategy, performance innovation, software process improvement and running a successful CMMI program.

Hey, CMMI Appraiser - Where can I find you on Twitter? ~ Paul C.

Dear Readers,

Did you know that Ask the CMMI Appraiser is on Twitter?

If you're one of over two thousand of our followers, you're already getting our daily tweets packed with CMMI knowledge.  You know we're different because we help you focus on the fact that Process Improvement, Agile, and CMMI are all about the transformation of the culture of your company.

Join the movement! Click to follow us on Twitter right now @CMMIAppraiser.  What could be easier -- or more fun?

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about engineering strategy, performance innovation, software process improvement and running a successful CMMI program.

When is the next "Agile Scrum Learning Experience" in Virginia?

Hey, CMMI Appraiser,

When is your next Agile training class in the DC area? ~ F. Montcrief

Hey, F,

Good news, if you're looking to participate in agile training before the end of the year. We've got a DC-area Agile training class coming up right around the corner.  Join us for the Agile Scrum Learning Experience!

Agile Scrum Learning Experience

A 2-Day Workshop for IT Teams

Come on over to Fairfax, VA on December 13/14, for this two-day, hands-on, experiential workshop that is based on the Professional Scrum Master (PSM) and Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) certifications from Scrum.org.

What's the class like?

In a word, useful. You'll actually get to make decisions as part of a Scrum team, where you'll experience Agile values, participate in Scrum ceremonies, try on new roles, and figure out how to deal with artifacts and documentation (eeeek!). You'll experience these lessons by working through a series of exciting, fast-paced projects that use legos, dart guns, cards, balloons, and videos.

Yes, you'll have fun. But these are real-life Agile skills you'll be learning here, that can completely transform your company and career. All within an Agile setting, you'll get to play the role of Scrum Master, Scrum Product Owner, Agile Team Member and Customer. You'll iterate. You'll collaborate. You'll fail fast. You'll learn to be more Agile.

Check it out. Class doors close in two weeks.  REGISTER HERE

Hope to see you there!

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about running a successful CMMI program.

What's the most important question we should be asking ourselves?

Dear Readers, for the past several weeks, this CMMI Appraiser has been sharing excerpts from a conversation with Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces™. Bill interviewed me about our innovative approach to creating forward-thinking workplaces. Here’s my response to Bill’s final question, “What's the most important question we should be asking ourselves?” Enjoy!

Hey, Jeff, What's the most important question we should be asking ourselves? ~ Bill Fox, Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces

Hey, Bill,

Ha! Ask me an easy one! But I think the one of the most important questions that we can ask ourselves is, "Why not?"

As human beings we are so acclimated to conformance. Even in the US, which is probably the least conforming nation in the world, a place where engineers are known for extreme innovation through winging it, thinking outside the box, and for challenging authority, we don't often ask, “Why not?” Too many companies run their teams by saying “because I said so.” Screw that.

I've been encouraging my children to ask this question because they'll come home from college and say, "You know, the teacher said I can't do that." I say, "Well, why not?" They'll say, "There’s nothing I can do." And I'll say, "Why not?"

Sometimes I’ll be in a contract negotiation with a really large manufacturing client and they'll say, "Well, we can't go with you unless you have this manufacturing liability insurance” even though it has nothing to do with what we do. And I'll say, "Why not?" Lawyers are called, managers are consulted, and procurement is befuddled. But they eventually come around to see there is no good reason why not. Good times!

I think "Why not?" is the most important question because we need to get people to explain and verbalize why they take the positions they do. So many times they’re just repeating what they think is an unbreakable rule. Instead of saying, "I won't do that," or "We can't do that," let's say, "Why not? Why can't we do that?" Let's start the conversation, let's collaborate on the answer and let's figure out how everybody can win here and that starts with those two simple words, "Why not?"

Broadsword offers CMMI Training for those who say, “Why not?” – Why not get the value the CMMI was intended to provide? Why not learn to change behavior and improve performance? Our next “Intro to CMMI” class is on November 2-4, in San Diego, CA. Click here to register for the CMMI class.

[This concludes the excerpts from my interview with Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces. Thanks for reading!]

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about running a successful CMMI program.

What's the most important question employees should be asking management?

Dear Readers, for the past several weeks, this CMMI Appraiser has been sharing excerpts from a conversation with Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces™. Bill interviewed me about our innovative approach to creating forward-thinking workplaces. Here’s my response to Bill’s fifth question, “What's the most important question employees should be asking management?” Enjoy!

Hey, Jeff, What's the most important question employees should be asking management? ~ Bill Fox, Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces

Hey, Bill, I'm writing a book for young technology professionals about how they can take steps early on to be more successful in their career. As part of that book, I've been interviewing CEOs of technology companies to get their perspective.

One of the things I'm hearing from them is that, especially with the younger team members, they are not focused on making the company successful. They are not asking, “What can I personally to do to make you and your company more successful?” I think the most important question an employee should be asking management is, "How can I make this organization rock?" "How can I help us win?"

When I was coming up in the technology business I used to ask my immediate manager “how can I make you successful in your mission?”

I think sometimes people, especially in large companies, don't really see the traceability between their actions and the success of the company. They have a bit of a disconnect between sales and engineering. If you go to a big engineering company like Lockheed Martin, L3 or SAIC, the engineers have very little visibility into what the sales team is doing. There tends to be some friction between the two groups. I tell them, "Look, this is a team. Nothing happens unless your sales people sell something.” And the sales people don’t continue to be rewarded if you don’t deliver. We all need each other! If the accounts receivable manager can’t get her invoices out, none of us can pay our rent – help make everyone successful!

I think people need to do a better job of saying, "What can I do to help this company be more successful?" Then get really specific on it and focus on those things. If they start asking those questions then everyone is going to be communicating and be on the same page, which should be “let's make this organization rock, so we have great careers, build great products, and have a great time doing it!” Anything else is a waste of talent.

For those interested in CMMI Training as a way to receive the right amount of process guidance so you can change behavior and improve performance, we invite you to attend our Intro to CMMI class on November 2-4, in San Diego, CA. Register here.

[Please check back soon for the final question from Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces: What's the most important question we should be asking ourselves?]

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about running a successful CMMI program.

Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces: What is the most important question leaders should be asking employees?

Dear Readers, for the next several weeks, this CMMI Appraiser will be sharing excerpts from a conversation with Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces™. Bill interviewed me about our innovative approach to creating forward-thinking workplaces. Here’s my response to Bill’s fourth question, “What is the most important question leaders should be asking employees?” Enjoy!

Hey, Jeff,

What is the most important question leaders should be asking employees? ~ Bill Fox, Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces

Hey, Bill,

“How can I help?” This is a really important question that we don't hear often enough. I try to remember to ask this question every day to at least one person. How can I help you succeed in what you're doing? How can I help your each your goal? If you look at the model we've developed where people have autonomy to grow their in own area of interest, the most important thing is to help them do that.

But I also sometimes get more specific with it, “Specifically, what I can do right now to help make you more successful?” I think this notion of servant leadership is over-hyped in our market, but I really believe in the principle. Teams want you to make decisions and be a strong leader, but they also want you to serve them and help make them successful.

In the book “We Were Soldiers Once . . .and Young” the protagonist (legendary Calvary Lt. Colonel Hal Moore famously promised his young troopers that, “When we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off.” That’s been my model since I first read those words.

[Please check back soon for Question #5 from Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces: “What's the most important question employees should be asking management?”]

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about running a successful CMMI program.

Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces: What do people really lack and long for at work?

Dear Readers, for the next several weeks, this CMMI Appraiser will be sharing excerpts from a conversation with Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces™. Bill interviewed me about our innovative approach to creating forward-thinking workplaces. Here’s my response to Bill’s third question, “What do people really lack and long for at work?” Enjoy!

Hey, Jeff,

What do people really lack and long for at work? ~ Bill Fox, Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces

Hey, Bill,

It's interesting because this has really evolved over the last decade. When I was a young programmer and then consultant, what was most important was a solid career track, making more money, and moving up to be a partner, senior manager, or vice president. People were really focused on that. 

I've been excited this past couple of years because it seems like the workforce is evolving. People are more interested in the work environment with time and challenge being the most important things. People want to have time to do the things that are important in their life. A career, making money and moving up are the things that people do, but it's not the reason we work. We don't work to move up and get a new title. We don't work to make an additional $50,000 per year. Those things are nice and good things (and wholly necessary), but what we really work for is to spend time with our family, relax, read, and do other pursuits outside of our careers. And be challenged every day.

As part of our own Holacracy journey, we have implemented a couple of new policies. One of them is we have an unlimited Personal Time Off (PTO) policy. We have no designated vacation days by role. We used to say if you were a senior consultant you got three weeks. If you were a manager, you got four weeks. Now we say, “OK, you take the PTO that you need to take to make yourself successful.” That way people get ample vacation time, but more importantly they get ample time to take off to do things that are important to them. All they need to do is collaborate with their peers to ensure nothing falls on the floor.

What we were finding with the traditional model of time management was that someone would use up their vacation, and then they would have miss important family events, or have to come to us asking special permission to get that time off. Who likes doing that? With the model we have now, it's much more about supporting the team and being collaborative. The person brings it to the team and says, “I need to take four days off to go to a wedding.” And the team will say, “Ok that’s fine with us, we can pick up some slack and succeed without you being there.” If someone on the team were to abuse the policy – which has not happened in the two years we’ve been doing it – the team would most certainly let them know that they’re not being a team player!

We do, however, have guidelines. For example, our clients have to be taken care of, and important internal tasks must be accounted for. Team members know that if they have your back, you’ll have theirs. Allowing people to use their time in a way that satisfies their life, as well as their career, has been a game changer in the business. It frees up the organization to be a lot nimbler and a lot more focused on what is important. It's created a very strong and dedicated group of professionals.

[Please check back soon for Question #4 from Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces: “What is the most important question leaders should be asking employees?”]

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about running a successful CMMI program.

Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces: What does it take to get an employee's full attention and best performance?

Dear Readers, for the next several weeks, this CMMI Appraiser will be sharing excerpts from a conversation with Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces™. Bill interviewed me about our innovative approach to creating forward-thinking workplaces. Here’s my response to Bill’s second question, “What does it take to get an employee's full attention and best performance?” Enjoy!

Hey, Jeff,

What does it take to get an employee's full attention and best performance? ~ Bill Fox, Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces

Hey, Bill,

This is a complicated question, with many inputs and qualifiers. I've struggled with this idea my whole career. But if I’m proud of anything in my career, it’s that I’ve done a decent job bringing great performance out of people. I think the way to do that is to encourage and motivate them to want to do it and to be excited about what they're doing.

I'm always reminded of the mantras of the Armed Services. The Navy says, “People, People, People” is their focus. The Army says, “Process, Process, Process.” And the Air Force says, “Mission, Mission, Mission.” These are the things that you hear military professionals talk about as being what really drives them in their particular branch.

What I've learned in my company is that people want to be excited about all three of those things, the mission being the most important one. It isn't enough just to give them a mission and a goal. You also need to focus on the people, making it easier for them to focus on the mission.

Finally, process is important too. Process is nothing more than a definition of expected behavior, and I find that the right amount of process guidance can be very liberating and a powerful force in growing your culture. So, it’s a three-legged stool – and architecture of sorts. Laying out a very clear mission that's exciting to them, laying out a clear vision for culture that helps people be successful, and laying out the process in a way that makes their job easier and more successful. All three things together have to be intertwined and work together.

Anyone interested in CMMI Training, as a way to receive the right amount of process guidance so you can change behavior and improve performance, is invited to attend our Intro to CMMI training class on September 20-23, outside of Detroit, MI. Register here!

[Please check back soon for Question #3 from Bill Fox on Exploring Forward-thinking Workplaces: What do people really lack and long for at work?]

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified SCAMPI Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

Visit www.broadswordsolutions.com for more information about running a successful CMMI program.