Practical Implementation of Agile Methodologies

Practical Implementationof Agile Methodologies

About Me• Jessie Link

• Senior Manager, Software Development at LookingglassCyber Solutions

• 12 years experience doingsoftware development

• Certified Scrum Master, PMP

• Agile Enthusiast

• Served 6 years USAF

Hello!Hello!

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

What this presentation contains:

• Discussion of how to implement agile practices in your organization

• How to refine/improve your agile techniques

• Real world examples of agile in practice

This is not for you if:

•You are an agile expert already

•You expect to learn about Scrum for the first time

•You realize you’re in the wrong session

The Basics

Agile Manifesto• Individuals and

interactions over processes and tools

• Working software over comprehensive documentation

• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation

• Responding to change over following a plan

* http://agilemanifesto.org/

Types of Agile Methods

* http://www.versionone.com/state_of_agile_development_survey/11/

What can Agile do for you?

Benefits of Agile:

• Faster time to delivery

• QA involved up front

• Flexible to fit your needs

• Highly disciplined

Who Does Agile?

Okay, so how do I implement Agile in my

organization?

The Wrong Way

Hey team!Hey team!Yes Yes

boss?boss?

Did you enjoy that Did you enjoy that 2 day Scrum 2 day Scrum

Master class I sent Master class I sent you to last week?you to last week?

Sure.Sure.

So you’re all So you’re all experts at agile experts at agile

now, right?now, right?Uhhh.....Uhhh.....

Glad to hear! I Glad to hear! I can’t wait to see can’t wait to see how productivity how productivity jumps 100% by jumps 100% by

next week.next week.

Wait a Wait a sec.....sec.....

So, where’s your So, where’s your burndown chart? burndown chart?

And your backlog? And your backlog? When can I see the When can I see the

new software?new software?

Burndown chart? Burndown chart? Backlog? Um... does Backlog? Um... does

anyone remember how anyone remember how to do those? Where’s to do those? Where’s

that binder the instructor that binder the instructor gave us.....gave us.....

AGILE DOESN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHTAGILE DOESN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT

Be Agile About Going Agile

• Agile takes time to put into placeImplementing Agile is an incremental processNot all agile practices are created equalSwitching a team to Agile is a lot like standing up a team from scratch

FormingForming StormingStorming

NormingNormingPerformingPerforming

Tuckman’s Stagesof Team Development

Forming Stage

• Team comes together - the “getting to know you” stage

• Team may be motivated but are usually relatively uninformed of the issues and objectives of the team

• People tend to avoid conflict in this stage

Things to focus on in FormingTake on a Teaching Role

Things to focus on in FormingObserve Observe Observe

Things to focus on in FormingImplement Daily Stand Up

Cadence!

Things to focus on in FormingEliminate the Tower of Babel

HelloHola

Moni

Halito

Hej Hallo

Ciao

Hai

Bonjour

Things to focus on in FormingChoose Your Weapons

Things to focus on in FormingKey Team Members

• This is Robb

• Every team should have a Robb

• You also need:

• Scrum Master

• Product Owner

• Test Lead

Tuckman’s Stagesof Team Development

FormingForming StormingStorming

NormingNormingPerformingPerforming

Storming Stage• This stage involves conflict

• Team will challenge each other’s ideas and perspectives - including yours

• This is normal - it’s part of the team figuring out how they will work together, what problems they want to solve.

• Most risky stage.

Things to focus on in StormingTake on a Commanding Role

Things to focus on in StormingStep 1: Implement Metrics

Step 2: Go ahead and completely ignore them.

Things to focus on in StormingStay the Course

Things to focus on in StormingThere Are No Sacred CowsImplement Retrospectives

Tuckman’s Stagesof Team Development

FormingForming StormingStorming

NormingNormingPerformingPerforming

Norming Stage

• Team has one goal

• Team members willing to put their own ideas aside for the greater good of the team

• All team members take responsibility for success of team goals

Things to focus on in NormingTake on a Coaching Role

Things to focus on in NormingMetrics Hooray!

Things to focus on in NormingPredictability over Speed

Tuckman’s Stagesof Team Development

FormingForming StormingStorming

NormingNormingPerformingPerforming

Performing Stage

• High performing

• Team is autonomous and self-directing

• Team is motivated and knowledgeable

• Conflict is easy handled within team

• Best. Stage. Ever. (Assuming you can reach it)

Things to focus on in PerformingBe an invisible presence at stand up

Things to focus on in PerformingGentle Course Corrections

Things to focus on in PerformingAlways Keep Improving

Things to focus on in PerformingSit Back and Enjoy the Agile Goodness

Conclusion

Remember

• Agile does not happen overnight

• Be disciplined enough to stick to the processes you have

• Be flexible enough to know when to change the processes that aren’t working for you

• Don’t be scared of conflict - this is a normal part of team evolution and transition into Agile

• Know when to apply and emphasize each process or technique as your team progresses through the stages of Team Development

Always Be Learning

• Conferences

• Meetups

• http://www.meetup.com/DC-Scrum/

• Training

• Books

• “The Agile Samurai” by Jonathan Rasmusson (http://pragprog.com/book/jtrap/the-agile-samurai)

• Other agile practitioners

Thank You!

• Please come chat with me afterwards

• jlink555@gmail.com

• Lookingglass is hiring!

• Software developers

• Cyber analysts

• UI/UX designers

• www.lgscout.com

GoodbyeGoodbye!!