Agile Architecture – Neither BDUF nor Chaos
I’m often asked how architecture works on agile software projects. It’s a big question, but the core answer, I think, is this: Neither a big,…
Agile teams and Microsoft Outlook – churn, baby, churn!
Many agile organizations use Microsoft Outlook as their email client of choice. I have to admit that I do as well (full disclosure – I…
Free Agile Product Management Seminar – Nov 11, Denver
I’m hosting a free seminar on Tuesday, November 11 from 1:00-2:30 PM in the Denver Tech Center area. Please join me there and spread the…
Agile Project Leadership Network in Denver
I’m getting ready to leave for Boston and the SD Best Practices conference so this blog entry is short and not really about agile in…
Agile and various bodies of knowledge (PMBOK and BABOK)
In case you aren’t aware, there are at least two international organizations which have created impressive bodies of knowledge. The International Institute of Business Analysis…
How to Invest Less and Make More From Your Software Projects
As the saying goes, “Cash is king.” It doesn’t matter how good your P&L or balance sheet looks or how good the business case for…
Why Unit Test-Driven Development is Important
People have written a ridiculous amount about the advantages of test-driven development. I won’t even bother linking to articles about it, just Google it and…
The Most Useful Release Burn-up I’ve Seen Yet
I often advise teams against using a release burn-up (or burn-down) chart because I’ve seen too many managers try to use them as a stick…
Trust
Esther Derby has a good post this morning about how trust is embedded in a context. She writes, “The sort of trust that you need…
Are Agile Lifecycle Management tools worth it?
There are many well known agile pundits, practitioners and trainers that very specifically believe teams do not need to use any sort of tool to…
Bob-ism #1 – the good developer
Have you ever considered how requirements can be routinely misinterpreted by developers? I’ve spent considerable time analyzing this phenomenon. It is obvious to even casual…
Kill the Office, or Fix It?
A recent essay in Wired says, “The traditional office, meanwhile, remains a black hole of interruptions, procrastination, and soul-crushing politics. According to Gloria Mark, an…
Are you agile – the Nokia test
I’ve been helping lots of clients start new agile initiatives recently. This has led to me seeing up close and personal some consistent startup issues…
Agile thoughts at 37,000 feet
I don’t mind travel except for the part where you aren’t home! I especially hate traveling through Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Yet here I am at…
Surviving Rewrites
It seems like fully half the projects I come across are rewrites in one form or another. It ought to be common knowledge by now…
Fishing in Montana is agile!
I know you think the title of this post is absolutely crazy, but maybe not. Read on if you are interested in a bit of…
What do you want next?
The software industry today is plagued by long release cycles for important products. That is one of the many reasons why companies are going to…
The Power of Small Experiments
Change can be scary. Change at work is particularly threatening. After all, most of us spend more time working that doing any other single thing.…
Changing the perception of “manager”
In agile it is often counterproductive to use the title of “manager” for any role. Manager tends to imply command and control which is just…
A new blog is born!
Welcome to the “Making Agile a Reality™” blog! I’m hoping to use this blog at least weekly to accomplish several things: Capture my thoughts about…