Agile Complexification Inverter

December's issue of Harvard Business Review creates a compelling case for the concept of persistent teams. And hey, if they do it in the operating room, then there must be good science behind it. But heck, we don't need no stinking science, we just know it works, right? http://hbr.org/2013/12/the-hidden-benefits-of-keeping-teams-intact/ar/1 Harvard Business Review - Dec 2013

Do you remember the 70s TV show " Welcome Back Kotter " - this is not about that! I doubt the Harvard Business Review has ever done an article on the TV show. In this case Kotter is John Kotter author of many books and leading organizational change guru. Every few years it seems the HBR republishes in slightly revised ways Kotter's Eight Step Plan for implementing change initiatives. I think the HBR does this because they haven't found anyone taking up the baton and running with it. Kotter is still the leader in leading change ( and that's the name of his book ). Kotter derived these simple 8 steps from his analysis of many companies that had failed. So these are the principles that he says will lead to success. In summary they are: 1. Establish a sense of urgency by creating a compelling reason for why change is needed. 2. Form a coalition with enough power to lead the change. 3. Create a new vision to direct the change with strategies for achieving the vis...

Scrum uses a burn down graph to track progress. Turns out this is a powerful motivator. An article in Harvard Business Review discusses a survey of 600 managers on motivation in the workplace.  The number one motivator from manager's perception is recognition for good work .  However a multi-year study tracking workers has a very different finding.  Contrary to manager's belief workers define that progress is the top motivator. "On days when workers have the sense they're making headway in their jobs, or when they receive support that helps them overcome obstacles, their emotions are most positive and their drive to succeed is at its peak." Note the removal of impediments in the quote above. The article supports the Scrum practices of tracking progress every day, of removing impediments, and of celebration of progress toward the companies goals. An interesting TED video is Dan Pink's talk ' The surprising science of motivation '.  Where h...