Marlene Roth & Tobias Mohr
How to sabotage your software development with agile? – 10 pro tips for guaranteed success
#1about 4 minutes
The problem with modern agile development
The original intent of the Agile Manifesto has been lost to complex frameworks and certifications, requiring a return to basic principles.
#2about 3 minutes
Avoid creating an agile cargo cult
Copying the superficial aspects of agile companies without understanding the underlying principles leads to failure.
#3about 1 minute
Protect engineers' focus from excessive meetings
Managers' meeting-heavy schedules disrupt the long blocks of focus time that software engineers need for complex problem-solving.
#4about 2 minutes
Prefer asynchronous communication over synchronization meetings
Excessive cross-team synchronization meetings can be replaced with asynchronous communication and findable knowledge bases to save time.
#5about 2 minutes
Align team structure with software architecture using Conway's Law
Since a system's architecture mirrors the organization's communication structure, teams should be organized by value stream, not by technical function.
#6about 1 minute
Recognize software engineers as designers, not just coders
Underestimating software engineers as mere 'programmers' ignores their crucial role in designing scalable and reusable systems.
#7about 1 minute
Define the role and purpose of an agile coach
Agile coaches should focus on improving processes and removing impediments, not acting as secretaries or event planners.
#8about 4 minutes
Empower product owners with authority and dedicated time
Product owners cannot succeed when they are part-time, lack decision-making power, or are senior managers without context.
#9about 3 minutes
Choose between project mode and product mode
Use a fixed-scope project mode for simple digitization, but adopt an iterative product mode for complex problems with unknown requirements.
#10about 3 minutes
Prioritize hands-on learning over formal certifications
The proliferation of agile certifications distracts from the most effective way to learn, which is by doing the actual work.
#11about 3 minutes
Balance team autonomy with management-defined boundaries
Effective management in an agile context involves defining the 'playing field' and constraints, then granting teams full autonomy within them.
#12about 1 minute
Three key principles for successful agile adoption
True agility comes from finding the right approach for your context, providing team autonomy, and focusing on people's growth over certifications.
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