visual management: leading with what you can see

Leading with what you can see…

VisualManagement:

Craig SmithRenee Troughton

Welc

om

e…

Image: @ HBO – The NewsroomC

WARNING!

Much of this may

seem obvious

Image: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V6LkCqRzKsg/URgIsr021-I/AAAAAAAAAl0/xDTQYFNRo84/s1600/captain_obvious_by_stuartmcghee-d5mbxhw.jpgC

But…

We seeCrime Scene Walls every day!

Image: © Jerry Bruckheimer Televisionhttp://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8600000/CSI-Las-Vegas-Episode-10-06-Promotional-Photos-csi-8615465-2000-1331.jpg

R

…information is communicated by using visual signals instead of texts or other written instructions.

The design is deliberate in allowing quick recognition of the information being communicated, in order to increase efficiency and clarity.

What Is Visual Management?

“

“”Image: © Charles M. Schulz / Universal UClick http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FYLeQ4ABYTA/TP5pZEWX29I/AAAAAAAAH_Q/167AW75OrHE/s1600/a_charlie_brown_christmas_13.jpg

http://www.thebestodds.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/hawks.jpg http://blog.toyota.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Kanban.jpg

Everyday Visual

Management

C

Why It Is Important

Effectiveretention

3 days after a meeting

Spoken word only

Visual + Oral

Visual

HearingSmell Taste Touch

Human Learning Retention

C

Final Thoughts

Flow Management

Usability

ComplexityThinking

GamificationThe Zone

Our flow today

R

Visual Management:

Flow Management

Image: © Thunderbox Films http://qfxblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/kenny.jpgC

Story H Story G Story E Story B Story A

Story I Story F Story C

Story D

To Do Analysis Develop Test Done

Story J

My Agile Story Wall: Iteration 3

The Basic Flow

Agile 101 tells

us to build a

wall like this

C

Clear Instructions

Development Done:• Code complete &

reviewed• Unit Tests pass &

complete• Acceptance Tests

pass & complete• Checked in & build

success• Documentation

updated

Instructions for adding

a card

Instructions for pushing a card to

next queueR

Multi-Sprint Backlog

Can see a little further down the

road…

C

Horizon & Queues

Groom your

backlog as you go

Works well for Kanban

(but iterative as well)

Manage your work

via WIP

R

Story Map Backlog

Map out features on a wall

Map out the features and

dependencies required

C

Value Tree Backlog

Single Feature, bottom up

growthR

Multiple P/O Backlog

Visualising the priorities for

multiple product owners

R

Timeline Board

To DoDoing

Done

R

Lean Startup Board

Repeat

Build / Measure / Learn

CC/R

Done By…Done by

Cycle Time

Done by Time

C

vs

Done Burn…

versus

Are we on track for end of iteration?

C

Hourglass

Limited WIP of 3

Tracks stories &

tasks

R

Scrum Hero

Limited WIP of 8

As part of a larger zone

R

To Do

Doing

Done!

Representative size

Balloon BoardC

Corfu

Corfu

Rabbitos

Roe

Warble

Tempest

Tempest

LEGO Portfolio Board

DUPLO colour = Business domain

DUPLO holes = Expected size (people)

LEGO colour = Skill type

Lower level = Number of

people needed

Upper level = Number of

people allocated

Divider height

= control level for

gate

DUPLO height = Expected value/ROI

R/C

Lego Portfolio ManagementInceptionIdea Delivery

LEGO Portfolio Board

Why Are

Doing This?

Why Are

Doing This?

Idle People

High Depend,High Risk

Under Resource

R

Back At Work?

Build boards to visualise

problems that you have

Image: © Thunderbox Films http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Film/Pix/pictures/2007/09/27/kenny460.jpg

Keep it simple, but visual

Keep experimenting (or

refine your awesomeness)

C

Visual Management:

The ZoneImage: © Paramount Pictures http://www.sorrisi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/School-of-rock.jpgC

Task Board

Story Wall

Kanban Board

Which means work items should not be called tasks, user stories or

kanbans…

They are things on a wall.

What’s In A Name? C

The Team

The Customer

Management

What do I need to work on now?

Where is my work at?

Which teams need my support to

remove blockers and waste?

Who Cares About

Transparency?

R

Visual Management

Zone

Metrics

People

Environment

KnowledgeArtefacts

Flow Zone

What’s Makes up

the Zone?RC

The Zone:Metrics

#01, 03-Dec

#02, 21-Dec

#03, 15-Jan #04, 25-Jan #05, 08-Feb

#06, 22-Feb

#07, 08-Mar

#08, 22-Mar

#09, 05-Apr

#10, 19-Apr

#11, 03-May

#12, 17-May

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Scope (points)

Cumulative Flow

DiagramBurn Up

Chart

R

The Zone:Metrics

Now Targeting

LobsterLunch

Risk Heat Map

R/C

The Zone:Metrics

Code Climate

Sonar

C

The Zone:Metrics

Qualitative & Quantitative

MaturityAssessment

C

The Zone:People

Mood Chart

Leave Calendars

Capability / Dev Plan

RR

The Zone:Environme

ntEnvironment

Status

Build Status

Client Mood

C

The Zone:Knowledge Artefacts

State Diagrams

DatabaseDiagrams

RR

The Zone:Flow Zone

Blackboard

Whiteboard

C

Back At Work?

Seek forgiveness, rather than permission

Image: © Paramount Pictures http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/schoolofrock.jpg

Visual management

isn’t just a flow boardYour key artefacts

should be visible in the zone

R

Visual Management:

Complexity Thinking

Image: © Warner Bros. Pictures http://www.intellimusica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Inception-Top-Wallpaper-Sohan-Surag.jpgC

No VisualManagement?

So What Flow To Use?

Basic Flow?Process Flow?

R

At Home

La Marzocco

• Predictable• No Expert

RequiredSimple

• Predictable• Expert

RequiredComplicated

• Unpredictable• Expert

RequiredComplexWorld Barista

Championships

Complex Coffee RR

At Home• Predictable• No Expert

RequiredSimple

Is Visual Management

needed?

Coffee At Home

C

La Marzocco• Predictable• Expert

RequiredComplicated

Is Visual Management needed?

To Do Doing Done

Large Latte 2 sugars

Macchiato 1 Sugar

Flat White

Large Latte 2 sugars

Cappuccino2 Sugars

Expresso

Coffee At A Coffee Shop

Variability is Small

R

To Do Doing Done

Large Latte 2 sugars

Macchiato 1 Sugar

Flat White

Large Latte 2 sugars

Cappuccino2 Sugars

Expresso

Coffee At A Coffee Shop

Variability is Small

R

Is Visual Management needed?

To Do Doing DoneGet

tableclothOrder cups

Test new roast

(day 7)

Test Kenyan Roast

Test new roast

(day 8)

Test new roast

(day 9)

Diffuser delivery

Waiting

World BaristaChampionships

• Unpredictable• Expert

RequiredComplex

Stop

Championship Coffee

Dependency Management

Events Block Flow

Significant Variability

Extended Flow

R

Systemic Flow Mapping

Systemic Mapping

(Organisation)

Net Mapping(Stakeholders

)

Image: http://www.infoq.com/resource/articles/net-map/en/resources/NetMap-Example.jpghttp://solutioneers.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/systemic-flow-mapping-early-synergystic.pngR/C

Back At Work?

Choose the complexity of your work to

determine the complexity of

your board

Image: © Warner Bros. Pictures http://filmjournal.net/100films/files/2010/08/2010_inception_014-1.jpg

Some work may cross over complexity boundaries

R

Visual Management:

UsabilityImage: © 20th Century Fox http://www.ropewalksliverpool.com/images/made/uploads/images/6432-minorityreport_600_super_725_340_90_s_c1.jpgC

Visual Management:

Usability

Why do we care about usability

for software?

Why don’t we care about usability in

visual management

?

Image: © 20th Century Fox http://www.tomcruise.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/tom-cruise-minority-report2.jpgC

Index Cards Have a low variability in sizes

and shapes of cards

RR

As a creator of user storiesI want to use the right coloured penSo that it is quicker for the brain to read

As a creator of user storiesI want to use the right coloured penSo that it is quicker for the brain to read

Colour Contrast

Use a strong contrast of pen to

index colour

Use a pen that works!

C

As a creator of user storiesI want to write neatlySo that it is quicker for the brain to read and recognise the work

As a creator of user storiesI want to write neatlySo that it is quicker for the brain to read and recognise the work

Writing Style

Write neatly or print cards.

Size does matter!

Although…Research shows

hard to read fonts promote better

recall.Go figure…

R

Avatars

Use real photos not characters or

images

Although, balance this with fun or team theme.

Renee T

DEPLOYED

Tokens to determine status

R

As Craig

I want my picture used for my personaSo that it is quicker to recognise all the work for me

In order for it to be quicker to recognise all the work for me

As Craig

I want my picture used for my persona

User Story Templates

Use pictures / graphics for personas

Use bold / underline to emphasise quick

searching

Be consistent with layout and template

Think differentPut the value first

Don’t write two words or the solution!C

Analyse Develop Test Cust ReviewBacklog

Doing Done Doing DoneCR Doing DoneDep Doing ADep

Done

Board Size

Can you stand back and see the whole

flow?

Can you zoom in on an area of interest?

Continuous Delivery is looking

left and right!Avoid Water-Scrum-

FallC

Board Contrast

Ensure that flow lines are not higher in

contrast than the work items

Have a strong contrast between the work

items and the surface behind them

Painters tape

R

Board Relatedness

Create relatedness of

sections through colours

Create relatedness of

queues through shading

Paint or Cardboard

R

Back At Work?

Think about design when

initiating a team

Find solutions that are quick but

effective

Image: © 20th Century Fox http://www.zuguide.com/images/10654/10654.0.570.359.jpg

Good design == faster response

== faster deliveryC

Visual Management:GamificationC

Should work be

fun?

Image: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BQOFvq6Glsk/TWUDjAesz0I/AAAAAAAAADM/cFJWykp8ADM/s1600/fun+at+work.jpgCC

Achievements Wall

.

.

I don’t mind a good game of blackjack too

All cards on the team’s flowboard have estimates

against them

The only way is up!The Cumulative Flow Diagram has been

consistently updated each day for four weeks

RR

Gaming Development

IDE Broken Build Messages

Broken Build Hat

Get Out…Free Cards

C

Back At Work?

Make work fun!

Image: http://www.agent-x.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Pacman_on_twitter-0723634-218bc0c.jpg

Choose your gaming to the

environment and the people

Intrinsic motivation

trumps extrinsic driven goals

R

Final Thoughts

Image: http://www.laboratoriopop.com.br/imagensUpload/45189434231.jpg

R

Is my wall

telling me the whole story?

Probably not!

Start by mapping the flow

Keep adjusting

Image: http://ctparentingclass.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/lets-talk-post-it-notes-300x199.jpgC

Reinforce the zone

Always go back to the zone for

discussions about workLead others by

example and take all meetings or status updates to the wall

Image: http://www.romanpichler.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iStock_000014624446Medium.jpgR

But my team is distributed…

Like distributed Agile, it takes more work!

You need an electronic zone

The default tool dashboards are

averageImage: http://ezylearn.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Lonely-office-man-003.jpgC

Spend your effort wisely…

Image: © Bays & Thomas Productions http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sLp9UDsboyU/TWExLggxICI/AAAAAAAAAp4/53_rS2PrzPM/s1600/Barney+Stinson+Quotes.jpg

C

Our ultimate goal is

to deliver value &

good quality!

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Questions?

agileforest.com

renee@unbounddna.com

@agilerenee

craigsmith.id.au

craig@unbounddna.com

@smithcdau

Craig Smith

Renee Troughton

unbounddna.com

theagilerevolution.com

We are grateful to assistance from:

@craigstrong

leanpub.com\AgileForest