the 10 golden rules of agile
TRANSCRIPT
The 10 Golden Rules of Agile
Keith RichardsCEO agileKRC
www.agilekrc.com#agile
Presentation Structure• Introductions • Methodology• The 10 golden rules• Further information• Close and questions.
Introductions• Chief Executive of agileKRC• agileKRC is a pioneering company at the forefront of agile
thinking• Specialising in all things agile (Scrum, Kanban, PRINCE2 Agile,
DSDM, AgilePM, everything!)• Consultancy, training, coaching and resourcing• Focusing on improving Agile capability at any scale• Nearly 20 years experience of agile• Detailed knowledge of combining PRINCE2 with agile • Lead Author PRINCE2 Agile and DSDM (AgilePM)• IAF Accredited / APMG Certified Facilitator • Author of ‘Agile Project Management’ (TSO)• Voted ‘Most Valuable Agile Player’ UK Agile Awards.
Style – the agileKRC way of working• We are trying to keep it simple (‘KISS’)• Real world experience• We tell it like we think it is• We want you to be ‘streetwise’• We want you to put theory into reality.
Methodology• No science• No voting• No forensic analysis
• …just my view!
• Yours will be different!
• “If everyone looked the same, we’d get tired of looking at each other!”.
Rule 10: If it is complicated, treat it as complicated• What exactly are you dealing with?– BAU, a project, a programme?
• Most of agile only addresses BAU• Are you making a sandwich or a 3 course lunch?• Take care with Epics• 99% of us still run projects• 99% of us still need project managers.
Rule 9: Understand what self-organising is not• Self-organising is great• Self direction is not
…and collective leadership……is usually an accident waiting to happen
• Watch out for ‘happy-clappy’• Empowerment breeds commitment• Those at the coalface
usually know what’s best …but they are not an island!.
Rule 8: Get appropriate ownership of your agile• This agile journey that your are on…
…do you know who owns it and runs it?…do they have enough time to do it?
• Where do you go when you have an idea?• Is the PMO fully involved?• How high up is support for this?
Rule 7: Measure it (as long as you know what ‘it’ is) • ‘Meten is weten’• ‘It’s a game of two halves’• Firstly – do you know how to measure success?• If you don’t, or can’t, you are in big trouble• Secondly – do you capture the actuals?
“In God we trust. All others must bring data” – Dr. Deming.
Rule 6: Play with the SCOPE and nothing else• Put SCOPE centre stage• It is the safest place to go for contingency• Prioritise with MoSCoW• The devil is in the detail
…and we never need it all!• Scope goes both ways – it is not all negative.
Rule 5: Create a rich communication environment• The source of so many problems is around communication• Create a blend – know what channel to use• Shift the traffic to the fatter pipes• Are you drawing things?• Are things on the wall?• Is facilitation seen as a core competency?• Don’t underestimate the damage email can do!
Rule 4: Wear sensible shoes• Ok – its boring but…
…do we have a business case?…do we have well written requirements?…have we thought about what happens downstream?
• What do you mean ‘we have already started!”• Go slow early to go fast later on.
Rule 3: Let ‘Inspect and Adapt’ become a mantra• Plan, do, check, act• Look for many small improvements• Take your time• For any problem – what caused it?• How can you change the process• Shorten the feedback loops• Can you make this ‘real-time’?
Rule 2: Collaborate. It’s a team game!• In agile this word is everywhere• Agile cannot function without this• The whole is greater than the sum of its parts• Get the team to gel• Invest as much as you can in this• Energisers or energy-sappers?• Got any email automatons?
Rule 1: On time. Every time.• The most brutal of weapons• You can run but you cant hide• Hit the deadline…
…or fail and take your medicine• Fast failure is very good for you• We live and work in a different age now• We don’t need it all
…and if you do…agile becomes very limited.
Further Information / Next Steps
• Visit www.agilekrc.com for several free RESOURCES• Join ‘The DSDM Group’ on LinkedIn • Follow us on Twitter @agilekrc
The 10 Golden Rules1. On time. Every time2. Collaborate. It’s a team game!3. Let ‘Inspect and Adapt’ become a mantra4. Wear sensible shoes5. Create a rich communication environment6. Play with the Scope and nothing else7. Measure it (as long as you know what ‘it’ is) 8. Get appropriate ownership of your agile9. Understand what self-organising is not10. If it is complicated, treat it as complicated
