We’re all familiar with Schrodinger’s cat right? The cat in a box which has the state of both dead and alive whilst the box is closed … when the box is opened it is one or the other. I can’t help but see the parallels to work items in our system. Schrodinger’s Work Item An …
What is Monte Carlo? In simplest terms, Monte Carlo is running an experiment multiple (often tens of thousands of times). We use random paths through the future using the past as a model to figure out what is the likelihood of different outcomes. The Inputs The key metric we use for MC is Throughput. This …
What is Kanban? Let us take a look at the Kanban Guide definition – ‘Kanban is a strategy for optimizing the flow of value through a process that uses a visual, pull-based system’. The focus of Kanban is flow. It pushes you to figure out how we can optimize value moving through a process. Kanban …
What is Zombie Scrum? We first heard of Zombie Scrum through ‘The Liberators. It refers to teams following the events and practices described in the Scrum Guide without understanding the values and the intent behind these practices. The Liberators define this as – “Mindless, drooling herds of developers, testers, designers and others moaning ‘chaaaange’ and …
The Last of Us…Kanban as a Cure for Zombie Scrum Read More »
When I got my license to teach ProKanban.Org courses in early 2020, the pandemic was just around the corner and with health restrictions in place, opportunities to meet other trainers in-person were more difficult unless you live in the vicinity of other PK trainers. Fortunately, last month, ProKanban.Org trainers had their second in-person Face-to-Face since …
Let’s address the immediate question… It’s rather odd that I’m discussing a Scrum Event on a Kanban blog! However, I’m a firm believer that Scrum and Kanban complement each other exceptionally well. Kanban brings Flow Metrics, Work Item management, and powerful forecasting tools to Scrum, and in turn, the Scrum Framework helps ensure that we …
Many organizations have departments within IT where teams or individuals are specialized to do work to support product teams. These teams are often considered shared services, with team members having specific skill sets or working in an area which has traditionally been maintained by a small team. These teams often have their own initiatives to …
Kanban for Shared Services Teams – Using data to deliver predictably Read More »
I’m a Scrum Master, in fact, I’m fairly sure that if you sliced off my arm you’d see Scrum written through me like a stick of rock at the seaside. So why did I volunteer to write an article for a Kanban Blog? In an attempt to answer, I’m going to start by telling you …
We regularly talk about optimizing the workflow but we don’t talk as often about who should be doing that optimization. Should it be the manager, or some dedicated process specialist, or should we be leaving it up to the team to figure out their own workflow? Spoiler: We should let the team figure it out. …
What does the future of Kanban look like? You’ve had a great view into how Kanban got started, and how it should look, so what is next for Kanban? I don’t know how long the changes the pandemic brought to the working world will last but there is one that I hope sticks- the relentless …
The Kanban Pocket Guide: Epilogue – Professionalism and ProKanban.org Read More »
