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BIg Design 2014 presentation on how agile can learn from improvisational theater.
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Why Agile is So Hardby: Traci Lepore
@traciuxd | #agileishard
Working in an agile environment can make you want to bang your head against a wall.
How do we get through to the other side of the wall?
I get it!
Don’t ask how to make agile easier,ask why agile is hard in the first place!
Stop asking the wrong question.
Don’t ask how to make agile easier,ask why agile is hard in the first place!
So why is agile like herding cats?
Instead of building on natural instincts, we approach agile in a way that resists them and can set us up for unnecessary challenges.
And as so we are:• Logical• Perfectionists• Comfort Cravers
Agile asks us to step outside our comfort zone
We are only human
We misinterpret the core fundamentals of improv• A vision is required• Pacing must be maintained• We must accept failure• We need to collaborate
Broken sink? Concerned face?
You MUST have a VISION
#agileishard
The only way to ensure you have a coherent story in the end is to have a vision to start
The iterations are the building blocks that get us there• Set a theme• Put the pieces together to
make sure they work• Define the connection points
between blocks
The vision tells us what we need to achieve
It’s OK for the vision to evolve• Make sure to adjust as goals and
constraints change • Be responsive, not rigid, in how
you manage your vision
Don’t set it and forget it!
Don’t set it and forget it!
It’s OK for the vision to evolve• Make sure to adjust as goals and
constraints change • Be responsive, not rigid, in how
you manage your vision
Pace must be RIGOROUSLY maintained
Without a smooth, rapid pace and rhythm, momentum is lost and you will fall down.
#agileishard
Don’t break the flow• Allowing down time means you
may overthink things• Slowing down will distract you
into the weeds
Keep your eye on the prize
OK, not fruit loops really, but…• Small enough rounds to not be
overwhelming or slow things down• Allow for detailed thought on
focused areas so things don’t fall through the cracks
Iterations need to be small, digestible loops
Feedback should be constant• Continuous iteration and
improvement requires feedback• This allows us to change path
quickly if something isn’t working and try ideas
Always be listening to hear the next step
The ability to quickly try and reject ideas is the beauty of an iterative and improvisational process
#agileishard
Learn to EMBRACE FAILURE
Human nature desires perfection
But agile succeeds through failure• Moving quickly in iteration lets us
test multiple ideas • We let go the ones that don’t work
and keep the ones that truly do
Learn to validate and reject• Share ideas early, they don’t
have to be perfect• Use this as an opportunity to
quickly validate what ideas work and which don’t
Share ideas early and often
We think failure is “bad”• If 10 bad ideas leads to leads to the 1
innovative idea – that is SUCCESS!• Think about how your failures led to
your success instead• We learn and grow by experiences
Negative energy hurts iteration
#agileishard
Collaboration is a TEAM EFFORT
You are not the lead or lone wolf• Agile means lots of face time• More talk, less documentation
Face-to-face is the only way to collaborate
Agile requires an ensemble, not a team
We all share the same goal• We need to understand ourselves
and each other to succeed• An ensemble always continues to
work on communication and shared language
Let’s recap….
Four fundamental principles of improv:• You need a vision• You must maintain the pace• Learn to accept failure• We must collaborate
#agileishard
Be a risk taker
Make sure you have a shared vision
Let go and
lose control
Get your ducks in a row!
Because Agile requires a better version of ourselves. But, it is a totally achievable goal!
So why is agile so hard?
Find more at Uxmatters.com | @traciuxd | slideshare.net/treygd
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