Lecture 2: Agile & SCRUM Flashcards
Business problems are social problems
- No straightforward answer
- You need to be creative and smart
- You cannot easily predict the outcome of what you are doing
- Need to consider the consequences
- They are difficult to solve
- You need to rely on the experience of people that did this before you
Every consultant tries to minimise:
- Uncertainty
- Risks
- Time
- Possibility of failure
SCRUM
- Lightweight
- Simple to understand
- Difficult to master
SCRUM Pillars
- Transparency
- Inspection
- Adaptation
Transparency
- Emergent processes and work must be visible
- Decisions are based on perceived work
- Commitments reinforce empiricism and SCRUM values
- Low transparency -> diminished value & increased risk
Inspection
Progress towards agreed goals must be inspected frequently
Inspection
Progress towards agreed goals must be inspected frequently
Adaptation
- If an aspect deviates outside limits or the resulting product is unacceptable
- Adjustments must be made as soon as possible
SCRUM Artifacts
- Product Backlog
- Sprint Backlog
- Product Increment
Product Backlog
Ordered list of what is needed to improve the product
Sprint Backlog
Composed of sprint goals (why) and set of product backlog items (what) and an actionable plan (how)
Increment
A concrete stepping stone towards the product goal
Product Owner (4)
- Responsible for team working on highest priority items.
- Accountable for maximising the value of team products.
- Derives product vision.
- Accepts the output
SCRUM Master (6)
- Accountable for establishing SCRUM
- Team Effectiveness
- Coaching
- Focus on high-value increments
- Removing impediments
- Ensuring SCRUM events take place
Developers
- Accountable for creating a sprint plan
- Adhering to a Definition of Done
- Adapting the plan to the goal each day
SCRUM Events
- Sprint Planning
- Daily SCRUM
- Sprint Review
- Sprint Retrospective
- The Sprint
Product Goals
- A product is a vehicle to deliver value
- The product goal is the long-term objective.
Ownership rights
- Product Owner: vision and planning goals
- SCRUM master: authority over timing and organization
- Developers: freedom on working (choosing the best method to deliver)
Ownership duties
- Product Owner: if the product idea is mediocre, it is their fault
- SCRUM master: if the project is underdeveloped or late it is their fault
- Developers work: if the project is poorly executed it is their fault
Empiricism & Lean Thinking
- Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is observed.
- Lean thinking reduces waste and focuses on the essentials
If I’m working as a consultant but calling myself an entrepreneur
It reveals that my true goal is my company’s freedom and financial gain, not the success of my client
If I’m an entrepreneur but call myself a consultant
It reveals that I don’t really believe in what I’m doing.
Academics and consultants
- Both creators and sellers of knowledge
- Academics focus more on knowledge creation, are not business-oriented and don’t travel together with the client
- Consultants focus more on problem solving and accompany the clients on the journey to innovation
Type of consultants
- Intrapreneur (complete knowledge of the customer)
- Entrepreneur
- Working for a company
- Freelancing
Ideal person for team work
T-shaped person (horizontal: basic knowledge, vertical: specialised knowledge)
A team that finds balance
T-shaped people in U shaped teams
Data Science consultant
Provides information and advice how to solve a data science problem
Main idea consultants
Matching supply (knowledge) with the demand (request of knowledge) and selling this solution as the best (marketing it) -> Communication is essential!
Role requirements consultant
- Client must believe that the consultant has the wisdom and knowledge they seek
- Convince the client of their own authority
- Skilled communicator or social actor
- Clothes make the man!
Resistance to change
- Persuade clients that change is good for them
- That you can deliver this chance
Learning
- Learn from the process
- Learn from the client
- Learning makes you grow
