Proof of VC – Consensus Algorithm
#ProofofVC is the decentralized and transparent framework of venture media.
Category: Agile Ideas
Venture Media – Time to Go Pro
It's time to establish and professionalize Venture Media. I'm here, now.
The #DarkScrum Formula
Ron Jeffries coined the term #DarkScrum. #DarkScrum occurs when we focus on enforcing Scrum mechanics rather than reinforcing Agile Values and Principles. This results in…
Work Should Fit People
This week, we launched the Humanizing Work Show. In episode 1, we summarize what we mean by Humanizing Work and where the phrase came from. Humanizing Work…
Object Oriented Programming in a Nutshell
Next year I’ll likely be teaching Essential Test-Driven Development to a team that includes about 50% COBOL programmers. I told the client I’d look for…
How to Give Clear Instructions When Facilitating
It’s a classic facilitation blunder: You start giving instructions for an activity, and as you’re talking, people begin the activity. You try to reel in…
“I intend to …, and …”
I was co-training an Agile for Teams workshop with Rob Myers last week. This group had been trying to do Scrum, with some success. Our…
“We don’t expect a perfect Sprint. We expect a perfect effort.” – i.e. Commitment
As I train and coach Scrum across the country, I’m often struck with the power how certain words can create a sense of fear in…
Principle Based Agile/Scrum Adoption
I’m a pragmatist. I need things to make sense. So, when something like principles are introduced to me, I start to ponder questions like… What…
Time for Change – AgileScout.com Final Post!
Dear World, This may be the most heartfelt post I’ve put down on this site in a long long while. I’ve sorry I’ve been gone…
Ask A4A: Long-running Stories
Hi Richard, My Scrum team has been working on a particular service for over a year. It’s been 20+ Sprints. I’m concerned about the deliverables…
Making Info Visible for Better Decisions
A key part of the ScrumMaster’s or Product Owner’s job is making information visible.* Whether that’s a product backlog, taskboard, cumulative flow diagram, or a…
Talking About Our Feelings—Potentially Awkward, Definitely Important
Last week, I described how to do the observation step of Focused Conversation without having to talk about all the details. At this point, many…
Ask A4A: When the Observation Part of Focused Conversation Gets Boring
The Focused Conversation method asks us to start with observations before assigning labels – good, bad, effective, worthwhile, motivating, etc. In real-life facilitation, it can…
MMFs: What they are and why they matter
Suppose you have a headache. A bad headache. “I’ll take Tylenol to make it go away,” you think. So, you grab the Tylenol bottle and…
Getting Good at Story Splitting
As I’ve said before, working in thin vertical slices is the key habit in Agile software development. Many people struggle to find vertical slices, but…
Why Most People Split Workflows Wrong
Workflows are a very common element of software. But they can be hard to split well when you’re trying to work in small, vertical slices…
How We Use Agile at Home
Here’s a short video about how my family uses an Agile approach for homeschool and chores: