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Software Process and Measurement Cast number 305 features our essay on Estimation.\xa0 Estimation is a hot bed of controversy. We begin by synchronizing on what we think the word means.\xa0 Then, once we have a common vocabulary we can commence with the fisticuffs. In SPaMCAST 305 we will not shy away from a hard discussion.\nThe essay begins:\nSoftware project estimation is a conflation of three related but different concepts. The three concepts are budgeting, estimation and planning.\xa0 These are typical in a normal commercial organization, however these concepts might be called different things depending your business model.\xa0 For example, organizations that sell software services typically develop sales bids instead of budgets.\xa0 Once the budget is developed the evolution from budget to estimate and then plan follows a unique path as the project team learns about the project.\nNext\nSoftware Process and Measurement Cast number 306 features our interview with Luis Gon\xe7alves.\xa0 We discussed getting rid of performance appraisals.\xa0 Luis makes the case that performance appraisals hurt people and companies.\nUpcoming Events\nDCG Webinars:\n\xa0September 18, 2014 11:30 EDT\nRetrospectives are a tool that the team uses to identify what they can do better. The basic process \u2013 making people feel safe and then generating ideas and solutions so that the team can decide on what they think will make the most significant improvement \u2013 puts the team in charge of how they work. When teams are responsible for their own work, they will be more committed to delivering what they promise.\n\xa0October 24, 2014 11:230 EDT\nHas the adoption of Agile techniques magically erased risk from software projects? Or, have we just changed how we recognize and manage risk?\xa0 Or, more frighteningly, by changing the project environment through adopting Agile techniques, have we tricked ourselves into thinking that risk has been abolished?\n\xa0\nUpcoming: ITMPI Webinar!\nWe Are All Biased!\xa0 September 16, 2014 11:00 AM\xa0-\xa012:30 PM\xa0EST\n\nHow we think and form opinions affects our work whether we are project managers, sponsors or stakeholders. In this webinar, we will examine some of the most prevalent workplace biases such as anchor bias, agreement bias and outcome bias. Strategies and tools for avoiding these pitfalls will be provided.\nUpcoming Conferences:\nI will be presenting at the\xa0\xa0in San Diego, CA on October 1.\xa0 I have a great discount code!!!! Contact me if you are interested.\nI will be presenting at the\xa0Conference October 21st\xa0and 22nd in Springfield, MA.\nMore on all of these great events in the near future! I look forward to seeing all SPaMCAST readers and listeners that attend these great events!\nThe Software Process and Measurement Cast has a sponsor.\nAs many you know I do at least one webinar for the\xa0\xa0(ITMPI) every year. The ITMPI provides a great service to the IT profession. ITMPI\u2019s mission is to pull together the expertise and educational efforts of the world\u2019s leading IT thought leaders and to create a single online destination where IT practitioners and executives can meet all of their educational and professional development needs. The ITMPI offers a premium membership that gives members unlimited free access to 400 PDU accredited webinar recordings, and waives the PDU processing fees on all live and recorded webinars. The Software Process and Measurement Cast some support if you sign up\xa0. All the revenue our sponsorship generates goes for bandwidth, hosting and new cool equipment to create more and better content for you. Support the SPaMCAST and learn from the ITMPI.\nShameless Ad for my book!\n\xa0co-authored by Murali Chematuri and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing. We have received unsolicited reviews like the following: \u201cThis book will prove that software projects should not be a tedious process, neither for you or your team.\u201d Support SPaMCAST by buying the book\xa0.\nAvailable in English and Chinese.