Product owners, the team members who’re responsible for investing in the product that we’re delivering, are not mandatory participants of the Daily Scrum. But as people shepherding the investment, they are interested in them because it’s a valuable 15 minutes spent synchronizing with the team: an opportunity to be updated with what’s happening with the…
What should we do if our team members are in distant time zones? Team members can be difficult to manage when they’re in distant time zones because the time overlap is so small that there’s not enough opportunity to collaborate or participate in events. So, how do you turn things around, empower your team members…
In an Agile environment, you don’t have to be nice. But you should always be kind. Leaders should be: [Fill in the blank.] Depending on whether you’re a traditionalist, boomer, Gen X, millennial, or Gen Z, you probably have very different perspectives on what leadership looks like and how leaders should act. In recent years,…
People Over Process: Behind Agile’s Core Principles In “People Over Process,” Michael K Levine explains how the focus on “Individuals and Interactions” over “Processes and Tools” is key to Agile. That’s why it was the first value listed in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development. 20 years on, we can see why and how this…
Is Your Team on Target? How to use Scrum Burndown Charts to Measure Performance Scrum Burndown Charts are designed to provide your team with feedback on how you’re performing, so you can make informed decisions as you move forward. There are different levels of burndowns including project, release, and sprint burndowns, but they all have…
Is Agile Right for Your Business? When it comes to business, “one size fits all” solutions simply don’t work — especially when income is on the line and businesses can reach a make-or-break point within days. Whether you’re a small business or an enterprise, it’s vital to constantly optimize operations, reduce job costs and wasted…
Kanban vs Scrum: What’s Better for Your Project? Deciding between Kanban vs Scrum can be a tough nut to crack, especially since these terms are often mistaken for one another and go hand-in-hand. However, there are some key factors that set them apart. What is Scrum all about? Scrum is a framework that builds upon…
The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruptions to businesses worldwide, marking a fundamental change in the way many businesses operated. When put in a situation of adapt or die, some businesses were able to not only survive but thrive, while others shut their doors for good. The organizations which shifted quickly and were able to rapidly…
The Symbiotic Relationship between Sprint Backlogs and Product Backlogs If you’re new to the Scrum methodology, the difference between Sprint Backlog and Product Backlog can be a head-scratcher. Let’s take a quick look at these tools. Ready, set, go! What is the Product Backlog? Essentially, a Product Backlog (PB) is a dynamic list of potential…
The Agile Approach: Focus on Outcomes, Not Actions As they sail the ship towards success, good leaders act as role models, setting an example for team members and boosting their performance. To continue the analogy, Agile leaders are well equipped to handle changing weather conditions or stormy seas by being quick to adapt. They combine…