Tag: leadership
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Product stream
Posted by Simon Baker
Think of a product stream as a small company working exclusively on a product and delivering features that excite users to maximize profit and growth. The stream invests in its relationship with users and is set up to compete on the basis of speed. It has everything it needs to conduct business, from concept to production to operational support, and unlike a project it persists as long as the product is in service. It includes a dedicated and diverse technical team that is actually part of the business and helps them use software more effectively. It self-organizes for optimum delivery and minimum risk, and produces flexible software that responds as the business learns from user and market feedback.
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Friday, September 5, 2008
Artful? You must be joking
Posted by Simon Baker
I mentioned before that I've been reading Artful Making. Well I've just finished it. The final chapter struck a particular chord with me, ending the book on a high. I felt that, in many respects parts of it described (what I like to think) is my approach to working with teams:
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Sunday, July 13, 2008
Inconspicuous authority
Posted by Simon Baker
I talk a lot about facilitating self-organizing teams. For a Scrum Master, a little more than facilitation skills and authority for the process is needed to ensure people interact with professionalism and demonstrate the right behaviors - respect, humility, empathy - at all times.
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Comments: 1
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Follow me and let's figure it out together
Posted by Simon Baker
Via InfoQ . Mary Poppendieck talks about the role of leadership in software development at Agile2007 . Here's the handout to accompany the video. What I found particularly interesting was the history lesson: 1900s: Frederick Winslow Taylor and his Scientific Management and his contemporary Charles R Allen with his on-the-job training. 1940s: Training Within Industry . 1980s: W Edwards Deming and his System of Profound Knowledge . 1980s - Present day: Toyota Production System . Here's a quote Mary used that I like:
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Comments: 1
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
A true leader
Posted by Simon Baker
A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. - Anonymous
Comments: 2
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Bad managers and good leaders
Posted by Simon Baker
Where there's smoke, lurks failure. Watch team capability go up in smoke in 3 easy management steps: Do not commit fully and demonstrate less than full conviction. Expect full commitment from others. Micromanage people and their efforts. Delegate accountability and then deny ownership. If something goes wrong, hang people out to dry. Innovative leaders make meaning through: Integrity. Doing the right thing by consistently accepting responsibility and demonstrating sound judgement. Vision. Setting a firm ambition toward creating a new reality that everyone can share. Guidance. Demonstrating a sincere desire to see people succeed by showing unwavering support and constant encouragement.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Scrum Master pulls the trigger
Posted by Simon Baker
A Scrum Master should trigger: Direction by steering the team with a light touch while letting people self-organise. Destiny by leading the team on a journey that realises a shared vision. Discovery by creating an empowering context for the team where people are free .
