June Meeting: Keeping the Dream Alive - Keys to Agile Sustainability

Note: This interactive workshop will use the full 90 minutes, so please arrive by 6pm.  We will cut the networking time to accomodate the extra time.

Much has been written and discussed about the transition phase of Agile adoptions – forming new teams, learning to work in iterations, scaling to the enterprise level. During the transition there is a focus on learning, engaging experts, and asking “are we doing Agile right?”

But how do we influence what happens after the transition phase is over and Agile becomes the new normal? How do we keep historical patterns of organizational behavior that may be the antithesis of Agile from creeping back in? There are a number of steps we can take during the transition and beyond to improve the odds of remaining Agile over the long term. This workshop explores those considerations.

Don’t let “we are agile” become “we were agile.” You will leave this session with specific actions you can take to help ensure that your dream of Agility does not become a nightmare of backsliding.

Dan Neumann is an independent Agile coach, who holds a CSM and CSP. He is experienced in leading transitions from waterfall to Agile in both small companies and large corporations. His professional experience includes software development and project management experience in a large CPA and consulting firm. Dan has presented on Agile topics at several regional conferences and user communities, and volunteer on the Agile Leadership Network’s national Board of Directors.

 Susan DiFabio is an Agile coach seeking to learn, collaborate, and enable software teams to build great software. She has been part of software development teams for many years, holding many different roles from developer to designer to project manager. She was born with the Agile mindset. After years of feeling like a round peg in a square hole trying to fulfill the role of traditional project manager, Susan was thrilled to discover like-minded people in the Agile community.

When: June 14, 2012  (Second Thursday).
Networking: 5:30-6pm.
Program: 6-7:30pm.
Where: Max Training. 4900 Parkway Drive Suite 160 , Mason (Cincinnati), OH 45040

PMP's: This event counts for 1 (one) PDU

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Update on Sunday, June 24, 2012 at 12:55AM by Agile Cincinnati

In this interactive meeting we explored our own organizations with Susan and Dan's help.

Dan introduced Schneider Culture Model and specific attributes in each culture type.

 

Then Susan presented pillars of team.

We tried to answer the following questions about our organizations and management.

• Reflect on your organization's management
• How are teams setup for success?
• What are you or your managers doing?
• What could you or they consider doing?

Last Susan discussed various parameters around metrics such as;

• Information vs. Evaluation
• People know they are being monitored
• Process vs. outcome
• Balance
• Trends vs. Targets
• Who is the right audience?

Then we searched for the answers related to metrics in our environment

• Consider a metric to use
• What is its intendend behaviour?
• What potential unintended behaviours could it foster?
• Consider ways to mitigate the unintended behaviours.

 

We had a very participative presentation and good time. Great collaboration. Many thanks to Susan and Dan for sharing their experience with us.

Here's our winners for Atlassian t-shirt and a book from Pearson. Thanks for supporting our community.

Claire Revalee	Pam Mitchell	Eric Landwehr

Comments

[Dan Neumann]

Thank you for the opportunity to share with the Agile Cincinnati group. Susan and I compiled some information that we used as background for the workshop as well our coaching on Agile Sustainability. Please let us know if you have additional questions or comments.

Best,
Dan Neumann
Agile Coach