I touched on this idea in an earlier post on virtual meetings (5 Tips for Effective Virtual Meetings), but it really can apply to your whole job. I love being right. I feel vindicated in my role when my answers… Read More ›
Leadership
DSDM: Methodology & Project Framework
*The following was written by guest blogger Tammy Ziemba What Is DSDM? Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) is an Agile strategy fusing Agile principles with the entire project life-cycle. DSDM rationality foundation is the project arrangement with the key objectives… Read More ›
Passing the PAL I – Professional Agile Leadership Certification
The PAL I was an interesting test and moderately difficult. I was sometimes faced with questions that could easily be a couple of different correct answers. This was my second attempt at this test. My first attempt was shortly after the… Read More ›
Comprehensive List of Agile Frameworks
It should be noted that Agile is not a framework or a methodology on its own, it is more of a philosophical approach to how things should be done. This is meant to be a list of all known… Read More ›
5S Outside of Manufacturing
What I want to explore here are ideas on how to use Lean Manufacturing to help waste reduction in areas outside of manufacturing. When I worked in manufacturing, everything was about Lean Six Sigma. Outside of manufacturing, that sort of… Read More ›
Scrum – When to Use It, When to Avoid It
Scrum has been too often shoved into situations where it has no business being. I know Scrum proponents will often tell you Scrum is versatile and it can go anywhere – it can’t. There are jobs that are too big… Read More ›
4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) as an Agile Framework
*The following is written by guest blogger Tammy Ziemba Agile development is based upon a value system and specific core practices, that when reliably connected, result in high performing software development organizations. Build up Wildly Important Goals: A team… Read More ›
Why Do Projects Fail?
Projects fail for several reasons and those reasons often vary depending on who you ask. My own opinion, you can track back just about every single failure reason to issues with planning or issues with communication; sometimes both. That is,… Read More ›
What is Osmotic Communication?
Quite simply, Osmotic Communication is the accidental overhearing of background information that may later end up being important. The term was coined by Alistair Cockburn, one of the signers of the Agile Manifesto. “Osmotic communication means that information flows into… Read More ›
Working While Lacking Experience
Untrained staff, new employees, inexperienced technical resources. If you have been a project manager (predictive or adaptive) for any duration of time, you have had to work with someone who lacked some knowledge in a needed area. You have probably… Read More ›
Understanding the Role of Scrum Master
The Scrum Master is one of three recognized roles in Scrum. They are the servant-leader for the Scrum team, which means they serve the team by working to provide what the team needs to complete their job. The Scrum Master… Read More ›
Thinking Beyond the Agile Manifesto – Agnostic Agility
There are many sources available that discuss Agile and Agile principles. One of the most well-known is the Manifesto For Agile Software Development, which is commonly known as the Agile Manifesto. This includes the 12 Principles behind the manifesto. I… Read More ›
Help Wanted: Mindless Drones with No Personal Life
I get it. There are some bad employees out there. Sometimes those employees are just that way and you cannot do anything about it. Other times, you create them. Posting a want-ad like the one shown here, and maybe I… Read More ›
Big Five Personality Traits
The Big Five is a classification system of personality traits that many psychologists propose as being the principle traits of individual differences in personality (Carleton University, 2013). These traits may determine how an individual perceives the world and how they… Read More ›
“I Don’t Want Problems, I Want Solutions” – Things Managers Say that Destroy a Culture of Teamwork
You want your team to work as a unified team, but for some reason, your efforts at building a team-driven culture seem to be failing. You put up all the posters, talk about the value of teamwork in meetings, created… Read More ›
Who is the Project Manager in Scrum?
That often depends on who you ask. Some will say it is the Scrum Master. Some will insist it is the Product Owner. Some people will insist there isn’t one – technically, by name only, there isn’t one. But I… Read More ›
4 Learning Points of Implementing 4DX
*The following is written by guest blogger Salarco Since 2012, I’ve been working for an international organization that promotes leadership through different kinds of cross-cultural exchanges for young people between 18 and 30 years old. Our goal is to… Read More ›
Self-Hosting Jira for Small Teams Part 2: Setting Jira up on First Run
If you haven’t already, complete Self-Hosting Jira for Small Teams Part 1: Installing Jira At the end of Part 1, you either had the installer launch Jira for you, or you can navigate a web browser to http://localhost:8080/secure/SetupMode!default.jspa This is a reference… Read More ›
Are Agile Teams Leaderless?
There is a claim among people that Agile teams are leaderless. The claim can sound reasonable on the surface, with all the talk about self-organizing teams and a lack of defined roles… But it is wrong for several reasons: Self-organizing… Read More ›
Open Offices Suck
Background noises, a dozen conversations, and coworkers gnashing on their lunch. The ring of someone’s phone every couple of minutes, an impromptu meeting being carried out that has nothing to do with me, and someone is talking louder and louder… Read More ›
