Agile Complexification Inverter

Countless times I've heard people say they hate the Scrum joke about the pig and chicken .  Some people just can't tell a joke. Jeff Sutherland points the fickle finger of fate at Ken Schwaber for starting this fable : I've hated having to tell teams this joke... the lore of the Scrum pig and chicken is so pervasive that before long someone is going to call someone else a chicken (or a pig)... and then you have to tell the joke to help that person retain face... it can be quite uncomfortable for me. I think my disdain for this joke has to do with two of American's least favorite farm animals being featured.  We call people chickens to say they have little courage.  We call people a pig to insult their appearance (clothing choices, weight, manners).  Had the joke featured a cat and dog... it would be so different - wouldn't it? Now Jake it appears has taken this joke metaphor to a new level...  good job Jake! See Also: It is 2018 and this j...

For many years one example of process thinking, resource gathering, requirements, implementation and acceptance criteria has been the exercise - make PB&J sandwiches .  I've done this with groups to discuss the simple task that we typically overlook as "experts" in sandwich making, that perhaps a 5 year old will find difficulty glossing over the - get bread - instruction. Here's a TED Talk by Tom Wujec who has analyzed a similar exercise and draws some powerful conclusions from many iterations.  Watch it and then rethink the simple acts in your life. So tell me again why group collaboration is important when you are solving wicked problems? I was out walking my dog, Malibu and we stopped at a tree with lights wrapped around it's trunk.  They didn't go too far up the trunk, and I wondered if the humans ran out of effort... then I imagined the lights wrapping themselves around the tree.  What kind of motions would a set of lights on a wire learn?...

Practicing Into to Refactoring with LEGOs . Refactoring is when a developer changes the structure of the code without changing the behavior.  To do this with little or no risk a craftsman will have a set of well maintained tests that prove the code still behaves exactly as before. A simple way to visualize refactoring is to think of 12 eggs.  Most people will imagine a carton of eggs.  But it is possible to think of 2 cartons of 6 eggs; or even 6 packages of two hardboiled eggs.  Refactoring get's its name from the factorization of numbers.  Twelve has multiple factors (6 x 2), (3 x 4), (2 x 6), (1 x 12).  No matter which factorization the resulting collection is twelve eggs.  In TDD we have test to make sure we don't break the eggs. Note:  Many IDE's claim to do refactoring, and many times they work just as expected; however not all IDE refactorings are reliable.  I suggest you test your IDE's refactoring before you trust it. To int...

Agile Tetrahedron Model I was in a workshop just the other day and asked if everyone was aware of the dynamics of the classic project management iron triangle.  While most people had heard of it, it was apparent that few actually understood the dynamics of the model. For a better model than the PM triangle see the Agile Tetrahedron. Perhaps a physical model of the PM triangle would help people to grasp the meaning.  So let's build an adjustable Iron Triangle out of something.  It needs to be inexpensive, made from common items, and build-able in 20 minutes. Here's is how to make a PM iron triangle out of plastic drinking straws. You need: Straws - the bendable kind - multi-colored. Scissors I used 3 yellow straws for the flexible corner pieces.  Cutting the straw just about 2cm beyond the flex on each side.  I cut the straw at an angle.  This makes assemble easier, as you must crimp and slide this piece into...

The Hokey Pokey   — by William Shakespeare O proud left foot, that ventures quick within Then soon upon a backward journey lithe. Anon, once more the gesture, then begin: Command sinistral pedestal to writhe. Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke, A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl. To spin! A wilde release from Heavens yoke. Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl. The Hoke, the poke — banish now thy doubt Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about. From a Washington Post Style Invitational contest, that asked readers to submit instructions for something (anything), but written in the style of a famous person. The winning entry was The Hokey Pokey (as written by Shakespeare), written by Jeff Brechlin, of Potomac Falls, Maryland.   Source . A rehab center with a mission. David Koontz - CHPI

We were invited to Thomson Reuters for our AgileFest! 2013 planning retrospective.  Derek and Modesto did a wonderful job designing a metaphor board.  We had fun filling it in with concepts, ideas, feelings and reflecting on 3 months of work.  That work resulted in a great day of learning. Get Silverlight and view a PhotoSynth of the Retro board and space. Derek raises an eye at that comment Modesto can see with eyes shut AgileFest Lessons Learned Review

Here's my online collaboration tools list.  It is an ever growing and contracting list.  I'd love to collaborate with you on this list - leave a comment with your best tool. Tools for collaboration on documents: http://drive.google.com   Google Docs http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki http://sync.in/ http://icloud.com - Apple's Pages, Numbers, KeyNote etc. http://www.zoho.com/ http://codebunk.com   collaborative platform for online technology interviews (code & run) http://usecandor.com/  - a better form of brainstorming (removes first in list bias) http://jsfiddle.net  a JavaScript development (IDE) collaboration tool on the web https://www.hylighter.com/ enables intensive collaboration through a unique color-coding mechanism and linking capability. https://cocalc.com Collaborative Calculation -  a  sophisticated web service  for online computation;  batteries included. http://www.work-visual.com This App exist...

I had a wonderful Christmas.  My nephews got me addicted to the Dragonvale game.  A land where one breeds dragons of various types - did you know, dragons are very hybidizable (I'm sure that's not a standard dictionary word). Dragonvale - iOS simulation game. To build up to a high enough level to purchase a breeding cave one must build treat farms, dragon habits and grow crops.  For this there is an internal game monetary market.  The prices of these goods are set by the game designers (I'm assuming it is not a true " free market ").  The game does not have a sane and balanced market pricing system. The objective of any game designer is to get you to play and have fun.  That is objective number one - design in the fun-factor (see MIT Technology Review 's Exploiting the Fun Factor ).  A secondary objective is to build a game where people will spend money - real cash in exchange for virtual goods.  This is one technique f...