Think Like an Agilist

By Jason Yip

d

d = ½gt2

What is d if…

t = 2 sg = 10 m / s2

d = 20 m

What are we learning?

d = ½gt2

How far will an object fall over time (assuming it doesn’t hit the

ground)?

OR

Which one hits the ground first?

NoviceExpert

Equations 20 m 20 m

Word problems

Same timeWhat?!?

Misconception

Adaptive Expertise

(survives change in context)

Routine Expertise

(context-specific)Indistinguishabl

e without change in context

A

B

C

Where should you aim?

Superficial

Semantic

Qualitative

What equation do I use?

The equation indicates that d is independent of mass

Just shoot the apple, the arrow will fall at the same

rateNecessary for Adaptive Expertise

Effective tactical leaders think differently about situations than ineffective ones

“What are their interests?” “They’re all out to get me!”

Run students through very difficult scenarios to expose and correct weaknesses in their thinking processes

Deliberate

practice for

effective

cognition!

Think Like a Commander

Think Like a Commander(expose weakness)

Full-scale simulation(exercise strengths)

Classroom study(basic concepts)

Our most challenging Agile scenarios!

Talk through your thought process

What would you do? Why?

THINK LIKE AN AGILIST

Thinker:Respond to the scenario using think-aloud

Scribe (1 or more):Capture the thoughts; remind Thinker to think-aloud

Think Aloud Protocol

• Describe what you are thinking, feeling, noticing, questioning so that the Scribe can capture it• What do you notice? want? suspect?• What questions do you have?• What actions would you take?• What else is passing through your head?

“Oh yeah, I

actually considered

that”

“I would have thought of that”

But if you were thinking aloud, we can see that you didn’t think of that and didn’t consider it

Warning! Scenarios may will be more unfair than reality

• No body language to read• No other background available• Not allowed to ask for

clarification (you can actually ask, but I likely won’t clarify)

Too hard!Too easy!

Can’t learn Can’t learn

Maximum learning(via failures)

SCENARIO ONE

Think Aloud Protocol Template

• Describe what you are thinking, feeling, noticing, questioning so that the Scribe can capture it• What do you notice? want? suspect?• What questions do you have?• What actions would you take?• What else is passing through your head?

DISCUSSION ONE

Assess the response

• What did you like about how the Thinker responded? What were the strengths in his / her response?

• What did you not like about how the Thinker responded? What were the weaknesses in his / her response?

More questions

• Did you consider higher intent? What is the overall purpose?

• Did you consider all the stakeholders and their interests?• Did you consider effects of organisational structure?• Did you consider what resources were available? What

might already be working that could be leveraged?• Did you consider timing?• Did you consider how the issues in the scenario might fit

into the bigger picture?• Did you consider risks, mitigation, contingencies?

END SCENARIO ONE

How many people learned something about how they

approach things that they did not previously know?

How many people will approach new scenarios differently?

Cognitive themes

• Keep focus on higher intent• Understand stakeholder interests• Consider effects of organisational structure• Consider and use all resources available• Include considerations of timing• Consider how the current situation fits into the

bigger picture• Consider risks, mitigation, and contingencies

SCENARIO TWO

DISCUSSION TWO

Assess the response

• What did you like about how the Thinker responded? What were the strengths in his / her response?

• What did you not like about how the Thinker responded? What were the weaknesses in his / her response?

More questions

• Did you consider higher intent? What is the overall purpose?

• Did you consider all the stakeholders and their interests?• Did you consider effects of organisational structure?• Did you consider what resources were available? What

might already be working that could be leveraged?• Did you consider timing?• Did you consider how the issues in the scenario might fit

into the bigger picture?• Did you consider risks, mitigation, contingencies?

END SCENARIO TWO

Overall impressions?

Adjustments if you do this yourself• Use small groups (3 – 4)• Use your own scenarios• Focus on your own common

misconceptions

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Expertise requires practice

“I’ve read the book and taken the course.”

“You’re a certified expert!”

“Um…”

Practice difficult scenarios (aka Think Like an Agilist)

(expose weakness)

Agile simulation / project(exercise strengths)

Classroom study(basic concepts)

Consider how you think not just what you do

THE END