I had the pleasure of recording an episode of the Mob Mentality podcast with the energizing and fun Austin Chadwick and Chris Lucian. They do so much for the Agile community on the micro and macro level. We discussed some simulation tools, and the value of doing "Advanced Napkin Math" in cases where we don't …
Nick Saban, Scrum Master: On Winners and Winning
My friend JC Smiley from Code Connector may be the most voraciously curious person I know. Every day he wakes up early and posts at least one question in the Code Connector Slack channel. Something to get people thinking, to seek out experienced opinions, and share common ideas among new learners. His two questions today: …
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What difference could it possibly make?
18 Reasons to Change Sprints Mid-Week (and hold the Scrum Events as intended). The ironic thing about assumptions is we’re generally unaware of them. Like fish saying, “What’s water?”, we are surrounded by things we assume must be true. Which means we’ve never even considered doing them any other way. Weeks start on Monday, months …
Link: “Is it my fault you can’t handle the truth?”
The dangers and warning signs of the hyper-rational. A heavy, and deep read by Tim Ottinger, whom you should follow.
When Leveraging Skills Increases Team Fragility.
The real costs of "un-teaming" are harm to your Robustness and Anti-Fragility.
The Value of Failure
"Failures are exactly as valuable as successes"
Turning User Stories Into Enabling Specifications
The PBI is the gunshot that sets the runner at the block free to race forward.
The Real Costs of Sub-Optimal Product Backlog Ordering
A quick post while I'm thinking about real costs (see the previous post, real costs of context-switching). The role of the Product Owner is to "maximize the value of the team". Paradoxically, she does not do that by altering the team itself. The flip side of the coin is that the team of creators do …
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The Real Costs of Context-Switching
I've never actually seen a developer who was simultaneously ambidextrous and therefore able to type on two different computers, creating two different items of valuable work.
Cost of Exit is a Cost of Entry.
FBI SWAT teams are one of the most highly trained infiltration / exfiltration units in the world. Highly skilled, highly trained. Practice frequently. They are armed with the best gear in the world, bristling with guns, ammo, handcuffs, flash-bang grenades. In their center pocket, easiest and fastest to reach, is their most important tool. A …
The Agile Couch 