Agile Book
“Agile” has become a leadership buzzword as it continues to expand from being a strictly IT methodology to a business enabler. As with many new industries that create a sharp upturn in demand for certain skills, there has been a rapid increase in people calling themselves ‘Agile Coach’. It is impossible to become an expert…
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In my early days in the military, outdoor survival was the most memorable training experience for me. In the harsh Australian bush, it becomes clear very quickly that preparation is key, and as Greek poet Archilochus observed; “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” For…
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As an Agile enthusiast, I can’t help but be excited about the SpaceX launch today. This is why (WARNING: contains spoilers – watch the webcast first! http://www.spacex.com/webcast): It was iterative. This is not the final thing. We’re not launching humans to Mars yet. This is a great example of sharing work early to get feedback…
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A common question I get when I work with people new to Agile as a way of working is ‘Why Agile?’ A question that I love – because we should always be asking Why rather than What or How – especially at the start of something new or unfamiliar. This question is often followed up with ‘Why now?’ Another…
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For many businesses and leaders, “Agile” has become synonymous with any flexible working arrangements. Working from home? Thats an Agile Work Location. No chairs in the boardroom? That’s an Agile Standup. Sticky notes on the wall? That’s kanban, baby! I was talking to a friend the other day who has just started consulting for a firm…
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I often get asked what courses, books and experiences I would recommend to someone new to project management. Or someone who is thinking about going into project management. It’s a big question with many possible answers. How to introduce someone to a new world in a way where they learn enough to get started, and…
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Introducing a team to Agile concepts and ideas is one of the most satisfying things I do as an Agile Coach. The idea that I can show a team strategies, tools and techniques that will make a difference to the way they work is brilliant. Even tools like visualising work and putting more rigour into planning…
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The other day during a yoga class I found myself in an unfamiliar position. A kind of twist and stretch that had me questioning if the human body is supposed to do that. As I attempted to breathe calmly, I noticed much huffing and puffing in the room as others similarly found this position unfamiliar. The…
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The Standish Group’s Chaos Report of 2015 stated that ‘Over the last 20 years the project management field has experienced increasing layers of project management processes, tools, governance, compliance and oversight. Yet these activities and products have done nothing to improve project success.’ As a project professional, this makes me sad (especially the ‘done nothing’ bit!). But it…
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You can find just about anything you want on the Internet. From cats playing the piano, to tiny animals wearing sombreros to doom and gloom news, to happy news, to well, you name it! One thing I love about the Internet is that you can learn just about anything. The availability of online learning that is…
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John Seddon wrote Freedom from Command and Control: A Better way to make Work Work in 2003, and it would have to be one of the best books describing the Agile mindset leaders and organisations need to succeed in this rapidly changing world. It has helped countless leaders move from a more hierarchical micro-management style to…
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#MyAgileYear April is all about delivering early and often. And this often means slicing things into small, or thin, slices (manageable chunks). But a question I am often asked is: how thin is too thin? Possibly not the best question to ask before a holiday centred around chocolate, but let’s explore. You Can’t be too Thin…
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April of #MyAgileYear is about delivering early and often, in small slices. The principle states: Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software. April is a lovely time of the year. Summer has finished in Australia after a longer period of warmth that extended well into March, and the…
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#MyAgileYear is well underway, and I’m still a big flabbergasted it’s the end of March. Yes, I have become one of those people who shake my head in disbelief saying “Where has the time gone?”. Perhaps it’s going fast as every month so far has had a focus. And by focusing on a topic and…
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Welcome to February of #MyAgileYear. This month’s theme was about face to face communication. We’re all guilty of typing an instant message instead of walking to a colleague’s desk. Or sending a text when we could have called. Technology is a wonderful thing, and can save us loads of time. Time to spend scrolling through Facebook…
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In my last post, I kicked off My Agile Year with a summary of how I was simplifying my year from the start. It’s been going well. By giving the month of January a focus it’s helped me prioritise the things I need to do. And by aiming to keep things simple, the moment an…
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