This past July I wrote a blog post entitled “Agile Attaché or Coach’s Companion or Super Agile Satchel” about the agile facilitation kit I created in early 2016. This post serves as opportunity to share the cool things that have happened since I wrote that initial blog post and an update on the Super Agile Satchel, as it’s now officially called. Continue reading “The Super Agile Satchel”
The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) has been around since 2011 and I’ve followed its development it over the years, but it wasn’t until this past fall that I really started giving it focused attention. Continue reading “10 Takeaways from the Implementing SAFe 4.0 with SPC4 Certification Course”
Metrics can be a tricky thing and certainly what is measured can be a focus for the team. Choose wisely, be transparent, and talk about the what and the why for each metric your team chooses…or is chosen for you. If you need a place to start, here are a few to consider.
Continue reading “Agile Team Metrics”
A few months ago, I started coaching a team as they began their journey from waterfall to Agile. One technique I employed was an information radiator that I named the Agile Adoption Board. It worked out well, so I wanted to share the idea. Continue reading “Agile Adoption Board”
I’ve been interviewing ScrumMaster candidates lately and I like to ask about retrospective techniques. Specifically, I ask the candidate “what types of retrospective techniques do you use for a new team as they adopt the Scrum framework? Do you have any favorites?” I ask this question for 3 reasons: Continue reading “10 Retrospectives”
One the templates I’ve used most often as a ScrumMaster is a PowerPoint sprint schedule. This tool is particularly useful for teams that are newly adopting Scrum. Here are some examples of how I’ve used it… Continue reading “Sprint Schedule Template”
I used to carry my facilitation tools (markers, stickies, etc.) around with me in a plastic shopping bag. While at my desk, a pile like this one usually began to form and occasionally toppled over. Typically, it was much more disheveled than the one in the picture, but you get the idea. Perhaps you can relate. Continue reading “Agile Attaché or Coach’s Companion or Super Agile Satchel”
Flip chart paper is expensive – typically ranging from $30 to $40 for about 25 sheets. It’s convenient for sure and is a staple in any facilitator’s toolbox. Let’s face it…we all love our flip charts and markers. Continue reading “Flipchart Paper Alternative”
A Scrum value is OPENNESS and one of the Scrum pillars is TRANSPARENCY. I was thinking lately about whether or not there are limits to how open and transparent a team should be. Part of what made me think of this was hearing a ScrumMaster say in conversation that what is in JIRA (or Rally, VersionOne, etc.) is “private” …meaning only the team would have access to it. Continue reading “There Are No Hiding Places in Agile”
Agile Grit. Keep Moving Forward. 