We are celebrating our Independence Day in the USA! The fight against tyranny is a part of our history. This nation was built on freedom and sacrifice. A nation of liberty earned with great sacrifices from our men and women. A nation of people who loved and feared God, and are loved by God. Thank you to all those whom have (and will) served our country in uniform. Their efforts enable us the freedom from which we can conduct business!
There was an update on the SAFe on June 23, 2016 where the good folks at Scaled Agile released a simplified version of the SAFe Big Picture. This new tool will make it easier to introduce the Scaled Agile Framework for the Enterprise to folks whom are not familiar with it. Continue reading “SAFe Update – an awesome new essentials window”→
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Is your Scrum team developing a solid set of goals for each sprint? If you are doing so how well is the team meeting the commitment?
Sprint goals are the most important first step in planning any sprint in Scrum. The Scrum team must come up with a set of goals to aspire to during the sprint. Without defined goals, the focus will land on simply achievement of completing the stories planned or a number of story points (or sizes of t-shirts or animals, whatever).
Reblogged with permission from Jem D'jelal, the original author of
this content, as a contributor to blogagility.com. Originally published
on LinkedIn June 18, 2016.
Jem D’jelal Coaching individuals & teams to find “better” ways of working.
Are we in a war?
Who is it, we’re exactly trying to kill?
Uncertainty?
The competitors?
Internal silos?
Human Resources?
Look, call me a hippie if you like.
But I don’t think of war when I think of agile or Scrum.
Language plays a big part in the type of energy you create in the work place.
And please, if your response is ” you’re looking into things too much..people know what I actually mean”… that’s complete BS.
Your intentions ain’t reality. Perception is reality.
When I was throwing around military phrases, I didn’t known until I’d left that some old peers would refer to me as the lieutenant or Rambo.
And yeah I laughed it off, but deep down I wondered why no one approached me.
Ouch. The truth hurts but what’s better than the truth? Taking action to be “better”.
So WHAT’S IT GOT TO DO WITH AGILE?
Lots.
Loads.
Language especially in our domain is everything.
We’ll be seeing more change agents from psychology backgrounds then we will technical – because every problem is a human problem.
I mean look, Scrum especially & agile was inspired by people who wanted to create a workplace of empowerment, sustainable pace, collaboration, openness…in short it was not JUST about iterative delivery – it was also about creating a community of people where aggression to get what you needed was a thing of the past.
I find most military phrases aggressive.
That has an impact on behaviour.
I’m weening myself off of these.
How about you? Do you use any of these phrases? Can you add to this list?
THOSE MILITARY’ESQUE PHRASES.
Hit The Ground Running. Does this military analogy where paratroopers can land safely on their feet and immediately start running towards the T.A.R.G.E.T get you into that servant leader mode?
Boots On The Ground.“Boots on the ground”a phrase for combat troops deployed in a foreign country. Feeling relaxed & in the mood for collaboration with your peers yet?
War Room. Does this military headquarters where maps show the current status of troops in battle get you thinking: “Mmm collaboration over negotiation?”. MMmm.Nah.
All Guns Blazing. “To enter with great but recklessdetermination and energy”. Does this phrase get you into that relaxed, composed & non-judgemental mode? Got me all Zen like right now.
Shock Therapy. Though not military some of the Scrum guys like this. For your information.This sweet little phrase which is going to make you win lots of hearts was born through the treatment of Chronic mental conditions by electroconvulsive therapy by inducing physiological shock.
Block & tackle. Does the high impact sport of American football help you create that feeling of oneness with your Product Owner? “Can I just ask Dave the Developer..” BOOF. The ScrumMaster said NO.
AM I SAYING ALL MILITARY RELATED STUFF IS “BAD”.
I personally have a hard time relating the military to agile but there is some really interesting literature & experience out there which enriches the agile world (think “Team of Teams”).
THIS IS MORE ABOUT LANGUAGE IN GENERAL.
Words, phrases, sayings….I’m not trying to single out the Military. It’s just that Military phrases seem to be sooo common in the business world & have come along into the agile world along with people’s old habits.
I don’t think expressions which create a sense of aggression, force, over-guiding, coercion are useful for anyone trying to cultivate an environment which encourages empathy, compassion & understanding.
THESE BITS MADE ME STOP & THINK…
Non-violent communication by Marshall Rosenberg
http://tinyurl.com/gpt2u4p
The people’s Scrum by Tobias Mayer
http://tinyurl.com/h7l92sf
This upcoming short course is something i’ll also be investing in:http://tinyurl.com/hulvrt8
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Are you misleading people about Agile, Scrum and the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)?
This past week (and for years) I have experienced several people and even a fairly well known “agile tool space” vendor passing misinformation around about Agile, Scrum and the Scaled Agile Framework for the Enterprise (SAFe). The offending parties, in the context of their misrepresentations, are attacking the Scrum framework and the SAFe. Labeling them as processes!
I am really thrilled to learn more about the Scaled Agile Framework after going through the SPC course and certification process. A big thank you to Eric Willeke as he is an amazing instructor and has clearly mastered the material. I am not a fan of certifications as a KPI for job applicants. Only as indicators of formal education on subject matter. In this case, SAFe brings meaning and harmony to many, many things that we have all been doing for so many years. At least now I have a beautiful framework to show when I talk about organizational transformation, e2 maximization, transparency, alignment, and relentless improvement!
Reblogged with permission from Jem D'jelal, the original author of
this content, as a contributor to blogagility.com. Originally published
on LinkedIn January 20, 2016.
Jem D’jelal Coaching individuals & teams to find “better” ways of working.
If Yes.
Then I should consider recycling all of ’em!
My bodybuilding trophies.
My Jujitsu belt.
My degree certification.
My A- level papers…
And everything else that represents an achievement.
The physical manifestation that represents my hard work shouldn’t matter, should it?
What I achieved, I did for my own betterment – it is my learning that counts, not the physical thing that came out of it.
See that’s the funny thing about theory, you never know how true it is until you put it into practice.
A month back , I was asked to clear a trophy from the top of the piano to make way for a flower pot.
Based on the above, I shouldn’t have even flinched.
A cheap piece of bronze moulded into a cliche bodybuilders pose – I shouldn’t care.
But I did.
I cared. Allot.
Cause I didn’t want to bin the trophy. It represented something.
16 weeks of diet, 16 weeks of 4am cardio, 16 weeks of 5 weight sessions.
The manifestation of my achievement in this case was something that meant to me – it was one measure of my hard work.
Not the only measure I should stress.
Could I say the same about my ScrumMaster Certification?
Well it depends on how you define: “meaning something to you”.
From an competitive point of view: Yes, unfortunately it did. We are in a situation & have been for a while now where rightly or wrongly a large number of Recruiters look for the certification. Like a flag that shouts “pick me, pick me! I know what I’m doing”. There was & is as an industry pressure to be certified.
From an achievement point of view: My course was 2 days & I completed the exam in 10 minutes. This isn’t me boasting, but the multi-choice exam paper really did not challenge me. I did not feel a genuine sense of achievement in completing an exam that made me a “Certified ScrumMaster” so easily.
From a learning point of view: I was taught by Mike Cohn at the time. He’s a veteran of Scrum: you could learn quite a bit in a 10 minute chat at the bus stop let alone 2 days. So yes I was grateful & did learn.But, hand on heart: could a rookie go to that class & in 2 days walk out with learning that they can apply in their work place – effectively – as a new ScrumMaster? I’m not convinced.
But the ScrumMaster certification is “just an introduction”..
Then call it that.
If we are going to have certification, is it not reasonable that the name of the certification is proportionate to the level of knowledge “acquired”?
And if we do stick with a name where one becomes a “Certified ScrumMaster” – than – respectfully – make the exam, the coursework or whatever it is. *Harder*.
Certificates, Trophies & Medals ain’t the real problem…
It’s what these physical representations of achievement have become to mean that pose the real problem.
If a certification is named in a way which is not fitting to the “achievement”, that’s a problem. I’m not seeking perfection here, but Scrum 101 or Scrum Basics is more fitting for a 2 day course than “Certified ScrumMaster”.
If recruiters are always looking for a series of letters next to your LinkedIn profile, that’s a problem. I get it, people want an efficient way to screen candidates. But the world is moving forward, BarCap, PWC & others are asking their recruiters to look beyond certification to give ‘unmarked’ talent a try.
If newbies are certified by their bosses thinking they’ll come back from the 2 day course as experienced practitioners, that’s a problem. I’ve seen this and so have you. Like a new found religious member, people go forward with the Scrum Jihad & try to force it down everyones throat. Not only does it hurt the organisation it creates the wrong perception of Scrum.
In the spirit of Scrum & agile
I want to help.
My peer Lucky Byatt was someone who gave me heart when (to paraphrase) she said ” there are so many people who have the same concerns – that teach certification classes – why not try to help from the inside..instead of working from the outside?”.
And it was a fair point.
After much thinking I have re-directed my energy in the following ways with the hope to inspire others:
Educating Recruiters.Myself & a handful of peers are offering free training to Recruiters to help them learn agile & Scrum. This we hope may begin to enable recruiters to be able to look at CVs for ScrumMasters & enquire beyond a certificate.
Making learning the focus. Myself & a handful of peers are working out ways of running classes (both ScrumMaster & Product Owner cert classes & non- Scrum Alliance related) where the focus is learning, the certification (if Scrum Alliance related – is the bonus, less the focus)
Managing expectations. If you’re getting your cert. after 2 days, don’t expect to go in and change the world through shoe horning Scrum. I’m all for doing rather than thinking,but there needs to be some further learning to see if Scrum is the ‘best’ choice for the gig you’re working with.
Talking to the Scrum Alliance community. Making the effort to meet more with peers in the community -I’m sure- will surface others who have similar concerns. And that might provide the inspiration for an admission to a key note speech at the next gathering.
I can dream right?
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