2/06/2014
End to end Quality and other challenges with Agile @ Scale
Mack Adams and Miten Mehta
Two sessions in one combined setting
. Broader topic - Agile @ Scale - Models and Patterns
. Drill down - End to end quality at scale
Notes in attached pictures...
Two sessions in one combined setting
. Broader topic - Agile @ Scale - Models and Patterns
. Drill down - End to end quality at scale
Notes in attached pictures...
The Agile Interview
Host: Graham Bremner
this process is used to hire developers for a XP team, parts are useful for hiring anyone involved in the software development process.
after an initial short candidate screen we decide to bring a candidate into our office for a full day interview.
our schedule is :
1 hour fit question
1 hour technical screen
lunch with team
four 1 hour pairing sessions
Why Cycle Time Distribution Looks Like it Does and How We Can Use It
Troy Magennis
- Cycle time when plotted as a histogram follows certain patterns
- Understanding the odds of 4 people getting to a dinner reservation on-time (1 chance in 16) is the same issue as how delays cause a skewed distribution.
- Its unlikely that one story encounters EVERY type of possible delay, and its also unlikely that a story encounters NO delay
- By reducing a delay cause, you double the odds of delivery. E.g. for 3 people (possible delays) there is a 1 in 8 chance of on-time "delivery"
- Hypothesis: Cycle time follows a Weibull distribution
- Weibull distributions have a shape parameter. 1 = Exponential distribution this matches dev-ops teams , 1.5 matches Agile/Lean/Scrum teams, 2 = waterfall or thereabouts.
- Our goal is to find which delays move the curve to the left.
- Possible way to compute: Use an algorithm used to join Frequency of delay, Recency of Delay and Length of delay. RFM analysis was comon in the 80's for direct marketing optimization. Can we use for waste reduction?
Seeding Agile in a Reluctant Team
Host: Jay Bazuzi
Avoid Agile terminology. Use "help" instead of "pair"
If you want people to change, need to focus on what they get out of it. Focus on very specific pain points.
Look at bug trends to motivate attention.
Celebration
Ask for their ideas. Make sure this turns in to action so they feel that speaking is worthwhile
Get some praise from users.
Cynefin model for cultural terrain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynefin
Working remotely with an otherwise co-located team
Host: Jay Bazuzi
Useful technology:
Spycam: let's remote worker listen in to room chatter
Audio quality is important
For HVAC noise, blue mic snowball, or yeti mic
Video is important, but low quality is OK
Headsets for all, with good mics
VS Anywhere, for low-latency pair programming.
VS Anywhere, for low-latency pair programming.
If screen sharing and you switch times a lot, split the screens to avoid full screen refresh
Wideteams.org
Presense:
Put a picture of me on the wall -avoid out of site out of mind
Designate a partner at the beginning of the day or task
Find a pair in the morning, but also check in during the day.
ACI Coaching Model
Agile Coaching Institute has a coaching model that identifies skills and practices useful for Agile Coaching.
The Website link: http://www.agilecoachinginstitute.com/agile-coaching-resources/
- This site has resources for each element of the model (click on links in the page)
Lyssa Adkins' (Of ACI) book: http://www.coachingagileteams.com
- Resources, excepts, link to purchase
Prioritization between Agile Teams (W3-Blue)
Context:
In an environment where we have multiple teams, each with a product owner, how do we adjust the team priorities to ensure that overall business priorities are met? For example, team A may have a high priority story that is dependent on work by team B, but that work is a low priority for team B. What have people tried? What works?
Practices / Guidelines:
• must get the product owners together to hash out the organization-wide priorities – individual teams can support this effort but can’t make the decisions
Agile Transformation Stages, Obstacles, Approaches
Good conversation, thanks to all. The most recurring theme: defining and communicating the "why" before and during any agile implementation is a key to success. See flip chart photos.
What Do You Want to Say to Your Boss and Can't?
Brent Barton
This was motivated by telling my boss I wanted to hit him. Fortunately, I didn't get fired but it led to the desire to research transparency.
| Statement | Associate with this statement |
| My Boss wants to push decisions down but can't resist getting into the details. | 9 |
| "What got you where you are is now getting you nowhere." | 7 |
| Over-priviledging harmony: Consensus being more important than making good decisions. | 7 |
Open Office Space - How's that working for you?
Mary Panza - host
Summary: Open office space is still the preferred configuration for Agile/collaborative teams. However, this was clarified as an open space for teams, not necessarily the entire company/floor/department in one giant open area.
Considerations, Compromises and Recommendations
- Create an open space for each team, but not EVERYBODY in one giant space.
Summary: Open office space is still the preferred configuration for Agile/collaborative teams. However, this was clarified as an open space for teams, not necessarily the entire company/floor/department in one giant open area.
Considerations, Compromises and Recommendations
- Create an open space for each team, but not EVERYBODY in one giant space.
