Food for Agile Thought #351: Agile and Deadlines, Why We (Often) Lack Strategy, Switching to Shape Up
TL; DR: Agile and Deadlines, Lack of Strategy — Food for Agile Thought #351
Welcome to the 351st edition of the Food for Agile Thought newsletter, shared with 35,559 peers. This week, we delve into Agile and deadlines, debunking the myth of many managers that being agile only works in environments without them. Moreover, James Shore and Aino Vonge Corry dissect a core event to help teams reflect and improve. Also, we learn how Safesite went from two-week sprints to an approach that helped them understand ‘our customers better and [validate] what should be built next.’
Then, we reflect on disincentives to thinking strategically, starting with system design, and we describe Paypal’s innovation system that involves a ‘blockchain-based token system that lets employees place wagers on ideas.’ Also, we list suggestions to free yourself from administrative tasks for the benefit of figuring out what is worth building.
Finally, we analyze why most managers are good at managing but lack a critical skill of the 21st century, and we define lean metrics based on insights from the leading organization in everything ‘Lean’ — Toyota. Lastly, we delve into the lessons learned from mastering mobbing together in a live stream.
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🏆 The Tip of the Week: Agile and Deadlines
Todd Lankford (via Medium): Can Agile and deadlines coexist in perfect harmony?
Todd Lankford debunks the myth of many managers that being agile only works in environments without hard deadlines.
Source: Medium: Can Agile and deadlines coexist in perfect harmony?
Author: Todd Lankford
➿ Agile & Scrum
📺 James Shore and Aino Vonge Corry, PhD: Agile Book Club: Retrospectives
James Shore and Aino Vonge Corry, the author of the book ‘Retrospective Antipatterns,’ dissect the core event to help teams reflect and improve.
Source: 📺 Agile Book Club: Retrospectives
Authors: James Shore and Aino Vonge Corry
(via Medium): Why we transitioned from Sprints to Basecamp’s “Shape Up” methodology
Cory Torres Bishop describes how Safesite went from two-week sprints to an approach that helped them understand ‘our customers better and [validate] what should be built next.’
Source: Medium: Why we transitioned from Sprints to Basecamp’s “Shape Up” methodology
Natalie Rothfels (via Reforge): Why Most Managers Aren’t Effective Coaches
Natalie Rothfels analyzes why most managers are good at managing but lack a critical skill of the 21st century, namely in industries striving for business agility.
Source: Reforge: Why Most Managers Aren’t Effective Coaches
Author: Natalie Rothfels
🎓 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Hands-on Agile #44: Honey, I Shrunk the Backlog with Allan Kelly — September 5, 2022
The backlog was a great idea until it wasn’t. Many successful teams deliver backlog items daily, but their backlogs aren’t getting any smaller. The never-ending backlog overshadows delivery success. Product discovery, dual-track agile, OKRs, etc., make it worse by accelerating backlog growth without taking any of the rotting items away.
Worst of all, doing the backlog distracts from delivering benefits to the customers and responding to change. So what are we to do?
In this presentation, Allan “Nuke the backlog” Kelly suggests you rethink the very idea of the backlog and rebuild your agile process around outcomes. You have nothing to lose by your burn-down charts.
RSVP now — seats are limited: 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Honey, I Shrunk the Backlog with Allan Kelly — September 5, 2022.
🎯 Product
John Cutler: Why Don’t We Have a Strategy?
John Cutler reflects on disincentives to thinking strategically, starting with system design.
Source: Why Don’t We Have a Strategy?
Author: John Cutler
Gerry Tsoukalas (via Harvard Business Review): How PayPal Gets Employees Invested in Innovation
Gerry Tsoukalas describes Paypal’s innovation system that involves a ‘blockchain-based token system that lets employees place wagers on ideas.’
Source: Harvard Business Review: How PayPal Gets Employees Invested in Innovation
Author: Gerry Tsoukalas
(via Medium): 13 ways to free up time for Product Discovery
Markus Müller lists suggestions to free yourself from administrative tasks for the benefit of figuring out what is worth building.
Source: Medium: 13 ways to free up time for Product Discovery
📯 Prisoners of Retrospectives — Making Your Scrum Work #24
There are plenty of failure possibilities with Scrum. Given that Scrum is a framework with a reasonable yet short “manual,” this effect should not surprise anyone. What if, for example, not all of your Scrum team’s members feel enthusiastic about the Sprint Retrospective, the critical event when the Scrum team inspects itself? How can you help them become dedicated supporters instead? Join me and delve into how to avoid teammates feeling like prisoners of Retrospectives in less than two minutes.
Learn more: Prisoners of Retrospectives — Making Your Scrum Work #24
🛠 Concepts, Tools & Measuring
Nigel Thurlow: All About Lean Metrics
Nigel Thurlow defines lean metrics based on insights from the leading organization in everything ‘Lean’ — Toyota.
Source: All About Lean Metrics
Author: Nigel Thurlow
Kate Dames (via Cucumber): Cucumber Open New Contributors Ensemble
Karin Dames and Jo Laing delve into the lessons learned from mastering mobbing together in a live stream.
Source: Cucumber: Cucumber Open New Contributors Ensemble
Author: Karin Dames
✂️ Cutting Room Floor
Brian Link (via Medium): Why Split Big User Stories?
Brian Link advocates the benefits of small work items.
Source: Medium: Why Split Big User Stories?
Author: Brian Link
📅 Training Classes, Meetups & Events 2022
Upcoming classes and events:
- 🖥 💯 🇩🇪 Aug 29–30 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Scrum Master Training (PSM I; German)
- 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Sep 5 — Live Virtual Meetup: Honey, I Shrunk the Backlog — Allan Kelly (English)
- 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Sep 6–9 — Live Virtual Class: Advanced Professional Scrum Master Training (PSM II; English)
- 🖥 🇩🇪 Sep 26–27 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Agile Leadership Essentials Training (PAL I; German)
- 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Oct 4–5 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Scrum Master Training (PSM I; English)
- 🖥 🇩🇪 Oct 18–21 — Live Virtual Class: Advanced Professional Scrum Product Owner Training (PSPO-A; German)
- 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Oct 31–Nov 3 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Scrum Product Owner Training (PSPO I; English)
👉 See all upcoming classes here
🗞️ Last Week’s Food for Agile Thought Edition
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- 🆕 Hands-on Agile 42: Lean Roadmapping and OKRs with Janna Bastow
- 🆕 Hands-on Agile 40: The Best Team Ever with David Burkus
- Hands-on Agile 38: The Product Owner with Roman Pichler
- Agile Camp Berlin 2021: The Power and Pains of Autonomy with Jimmy Janlén
- Hands-on Agile 31: The Zones of Value Framework with Valerio Zanini & Zeina Zeitouni
- Hands-on Agile 35: Designing Powerful Questions to help you Coach & Create with Daniel Stillman
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Food for Agile Thought 351: Agile and Deadlines, Why We (Often) Lack Strategy, Making Room for Discovery, Switching to Shape Up was first published on Age-of-Product.com.
