The naive implementation of old-school agile, invented in the 1990s and aimed at small, colocated teams, actually works remarkably well. Since that time, not only have we learned Why it works, but also how to use that Why to approach larger, more difficult, and even quite different problems. This keynote is a firehose introduction to the modern science of designing in teams, including ideas, strategies and techniques not found in the standard agile texts. Inside of it, you will learn how the best teams make use of the ideas presented to deliver unexpected good results.

1. © Alistair Cockburn 2015
“Agile is for Wimps”
2015
Dr. Alistair Cockburn
http://Alistair.Cockburn.us

2. © Alistair Cockburn 2015
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The Heart of Agile
Collaborate
Deliver
Reflect
Improve
“Post-Agile”
Value
Learning
time
Tail

3. © Alistair Cockburn 2015
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The Agile Manifesto invites wimpy-ness
"… Individuals and interactions over processes & tools…"
(Yayy!! I don't have to follow those stupid processes any more!)
"… Working software over comprehensive documentation…"
(W00t!! Dump the documentation! I LOVE this agile stuff!)
"… Customer collaboration over contract negotiations…"
(I'm done when I'm done and I never have to say when!)
"… Responding to change over following a plan…"
(No plans! No project managers! No architects! )
Where do I sign up?

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People ...
To an interpreter unforgiving of error
Making decisions
every decision has economic consequences
and resources are limited.
… they don’t understand
which keeps changing
Deciding
… they don’t understand
which keeps changing
… they don’t understand
which keeps changing

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People develop skills in 4 stages
Shu: Learn a technique
Ha: Collect techniques
Ri: Invent / blend techniques
Kokoro: Simplify

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“Shu”
(Learn)

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“Ha”
(Collect)

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“Ri”
(Blend)

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“Kokoro”
(Simplify)
“Jiro Dreams of Sushi”

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The Heart of Agile
Kokoro: Simplify

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It’s either People, or Strategies

12. © Alistair Cockburn 2015
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Return to the Heart of Agile
Collaborate
Deliver
Reflect
Improve

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The Heart expands into Details
Learning Income
Collaboration
Trust
Experiment Change
Examine
Introspect
Collaborate
Deliver
Reflect
Improve
Business
Social Technical
Cost
Queues
Early Revenue
Goals
Results
Include
Emotions
Focus
Forwards
Emotional
Safety
Concretely
(Solutions Focus)
Limit
Changes
Aggressively
Allow failure
Let someone
else do it
Step forward
Listen

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It makes a handy “Fortune Teller” for use J
(I’ll send you the PDF, email me:
TotherAlistair@aol.com)

15. © Alistair Cockburn 2015
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”Post Agile”
(Learning as a delivery strategy)

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Delivers nearly
no knowledge
(or risk reduction)
Knowledge comes at
the “moment of truth”:
final integration.
Waterfall is a late-learning strategy
time
cost
Growth of knowledge with
big-bang integration

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Development sequence
indifferent (with respect
to knowledge)
Delivers knowledge
(risk reduction)
We can pay to learn early in the project
time
cost
Growth of knowledge with
early, continuous integration

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“Trim the Tail”: Deliver by value or date
Trim to deliver
on-time (or early)
Delay to get more
or better

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Sequence & split stories for learning & tail
time
Knowledge growing
(risk reduction)
cost
Trimmable Tail
* Business
* Social
* Technical
* Cost / Schedule
Business value growing

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Map for Learning / Value / Tail
Learning Value TailFeature:

21. © Alistair Cockburn 2015
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Collaborate
Deliver
Reflect
Improve
http://Alistair.Cockburn.us