Is Lean-Agile micromanagement? Mike Cohn says “yes” but Mike’s use of the term excludes the “excessive” aspect of the conventional definition. An attention to detail is a good thing, making for better management, and Lean-Agile has the tools to make the detail transparent. Excessive attention to detail leads to the Fallacy of Control and horror – I don’t see this in Lean-Agile teams.
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Software Batch Sizes are Plummeting
When I said Continuous Delivery is Inevitable I cited shorter iterations as the main driver. However, along with shorter iterations we’re also getting smaller batch sizes. And from a Lean perspective it is the smaller batch sizes that are more interesting.
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Three Amigos Meeting – Agree the tests before development starts
“Three Amigos” is what Matt Wynne calls the meeting to discuss the Gherkin scenarios before development starts. The Three Amigos involves the business, development and testing voices. However who turns up, where they meet, what they produce in the meeting, the homework to complete after the meeting, and who does that homework can all vary depending on the particular team.
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No need for a PM for a team of one. Professionals manage their own time
What do you do when you’re asked to project manage a team of one? Personally I say “okay” then do nothing. I believe the smaller the team the lighter the process necessary to run the team. When project management merges into time management you don’t need the project manager any more. Professionals manage their own time. I manage teams.
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Observing, eavesdropping and overhearing – essential tools for a software development leader
I believe in Management on the Ground and what better way to be on the ground than to be sitting with the team in an open plan office. By simply observing, eavesdropping and overhearing I know what is going on and I also get early warning when I have to intervene.
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I’m Impatient with the Pseudo-action Deceptions
I like to finish things. Get “Done”. Some might say I’m impatient to finish things. But not everybody is like that. Many people suffer from the various Pseudo-action Deceptions, i.e. thinking rather than doing.
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Brakes let you go faster
Perhaps counter intuitively brakes let you drive fast. Without the brakes we would drive really, really slowly. I believe the same is true of automated tests. Something that looks like it should make you go slower actually lets you deliver code faster. As long as you’re doing the right tests.
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Help! Looking for Topics for “What to do when . . . ?”
I need help. Every month for the last 18 months I’ve been posting something to answer the question What do I do When … ?. People seem to like the format but I’m running out of ideas. I’d appreciate some help finding topics for a new batch of posts in this series. Please drop me a line or add a comment if you’ve got a question you’d like answered or just a suggestion for a topic.
Accuracy vs Precision in Estimation
Which is better: An estimate of “roughly 2 weeks” or an estimate of “4.75 days”? Personally I favour accuracy over precision. “4.75” is attractive because it very precise and a smaller number, but “roughly 2 weeks” might be more accurate. And estimating must be accurate to be any use for planning.
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Are you dead? A comfortable Agile Project Manager isn’t doing their job
If no one is pissed off with you then you are dead but just haven’t figured it out yet!
Tom Peters (2004)