People work out of their existing mental models. When they examine their current actions, they may achieve incremental improvements. But they may take a potentially useful new practice and kill it with 1000 compromises, shaping the new practice to fit the old mental model. This can happen even when people are trying to learn a new way of working. The first OO program I wrote looked remarkably procedural– I was trying to wrap my head around the new paradigm, I hadn’t quite gotten there yet. In a retrospective, if people try to improve their agile practices, they may improve them right back to serial development. Or, people may make a genuine effort to improve, but they only know what they know, and the possibilities for improvement they can see are within the bounds of their current thinking. So the task, then, is to examine the thinking and expand possibilities. About Esther Derby I consult with you to help you develop a holistic view of your organization and take action to achieve optimum success. I coach you to boost your effectiveness and confidence as a manager, and I deliver workshops that bring insights to life, build skills, and engage your people in learning. If you have questions about my services, contact me to schedule a free initial conversation. I'd be delighted to share my thoughts with you and learn about your company. Phone: +1 612.239.1214 Email: esther@estherderby.com Visit my website to learn more about what I do, browse my blog and sign up for my free email newsletter.