take5IRL Podcast

Welcome to part two of our 3-Part Lean Portfolio Management series!    From our previous episode, you now know what Lean Portfolio Management is. The next question is: how do you maximize value with LPM to achieve your business objectives? Tune in to explore how Lean Portfolio Management uses products to deliver value. 

How do you prioritize and allocate resources across various projects to ensure optimal outcomes? How do you ensure alignment between these outcomes and your organization's strategy and business objectives? Tune in to this episode to learn how Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) can help executives, project/product managers, PMO leaders, and key stakeholders bring most the value to business objecti...

Should companies be outsourcing their product development? Join us as we explore the potential solutions for developing core product development. We also explore if it is possible to maintain agility while outsourcing. Tune in to discover the verdict! 

The differences between Agile and Waterfall are well understood, but making them work together is still a challenge. Tune in to hear recommendations on how to integrate Agile and Waterfall teams effectively. 

Psychological safety is foundational in the success of any team, and it becomes even more challenging to establish when work is sent abroad. How can teams create and sustain psychological safety with significant geographical and cultural differences? In this episode, your hosts share their experiences working with dynamic offshore teams, and some tips on increasing that psychological safety. Tune...

A difficult question for organizations is how to maintain an Agile approach while outsourcing development. Outsourcing can have both benefits and drawbacks; tune in to this episode to understand if outsourcing can improve the value your organization delivers. 

As Agile coaches and trainers, we see many of the same behaviors repeat themselves. You can prevent these common problems by understanding why Agile is important in your organization. Hear about common failures in Agile implementations and learn how to avoid them in this episode of the take5IRL podcast.

Before changing their "way of working", organizations should know first what business outcomes they want to achieve - which will be unique to each organization. Discover why focusing on Agile practices alone could lead you astray from the ultimate goal: achieving tangible and strategic business success (as well as determining which outcomes are most important in your organization). Fulfi...

In this episode, Mike, Jeff and Pat predict 2024 trends in the Agile world. Gain valuable insights into the shift towards skills-based training and the role it plays in business success in today's fast-paced and ever-changing landscape. Hear why achieving business outcomes takes priority over following any specific Agile framework. Most importantly, understand how to Take Care of Business…

We are thrilled to announce that Pat Campbell has joined agilityIRL as a Partner. More importantly, he’s the newest member of the take5IRL podcast! Ever wonder how an entire organization can become agile? Pat sheds some light on this challenge, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between individual teams and the overarching organizational structure. Discover how Pat, through the lens of...

Definition of Done is one of the most misunderstood concepts for people attending our Scrum training classes. It’s probably also understood by people in your organization. In this episode, Mike and Jeff share how they explain it as Scrum trainers, with metaphors drawing from chicken sandwiches and cocktails. If you hunger or thirst to explain how Definition of Done differs from requirements or Acc...

Not all stakeholders are the same. To be a great Product Owner, you must understand their needs and segment them accordingly. Tune in to this episode as Jeff and Mike share strategies in ways Product Owners can manage and build relationships with their stakeholders, delivering more value with less friction. 📌 Improve your stakeholder management with our upcoming Skills Week training sessions in J...

It’s more than just ordering a Product Backlog. A great Product Owner must have hard skills to make them more effective at working with stakeholders and managing a Product Backlog. Tune in as Mike and Jeff suggest techniques for improving facilitation and breaking down work. 📌 Check out our upcoming Skills Week training sessions to improve your product management! We are offering Professional Scr...

Ever wondered what an Agile Coach really does? Contrary to common misconceptions, they're not the sports coaches barking orders; instead, they're facilitators who ask more questions than provide answers. Good coaches make themselves expendable by mentoring Scrum Masters to take on that accountability. Check out our Agile Coaching services to maximize your team dynamic! https://www.agilityi...

Create focus for your team and get more done by breaking down work. In this episode, Jeff and Mike explore the transformative impact of aligning teams to a Product Vision and creating incremental goals that bring your product toward that vision.

We often get asked… Do Scrum Masters need to be technical? In this episode, Mike and Jeff unravel the technical intricacies that empower Scrum Masters to facilitate seamless communication between Product Owners and Developers. Discover the benefits of a Scrum Master's technical toolkit, which is different than the toolkit used by Developers on their team. ➝ Where can Scrum Masters learn these...

No, this isn’t a new Agile weight loss fad. It’s better! In this episode, Jeff and Mike talk about how thin slicing can help you get value to your customers sooner. Thin slicing gives you fast feedback loops, reducing the risk that you might be building something that users and customers don’t want. 

The term Minimum Viable Product means different things to different people. Join Mike and Jeff to understand what it was intended to mean and misconceptions in its use. Check out our Scrum training courses to maximize the value you bring to your organization: https://www.agilityirl.com/class-schedule/ Follow our Instagram page! https://www.instagram.com/take5irlpodcast/

Spikes help teams mitigate risk and explore unknown technologies; however, Scrum teams often misuse spikes as a solution to uncertainty. Join Jeff and Mike as they unravel the complexities of spikes, transitioning from uncertainty to wisdom in Agile, and the essential mindset shift needed for teams to “get things done”.

A dynamic Product Backlog requires continuous attention and adjustment. In this episode of take5IRL Podcast, hosts Jeff and Mike explore strategies for effective Product Backlog Management and debunk common misconceptions. Stay tuned for a condensed yet valuable discussion that will enhance your Backlog management skills and boost your project efficiency.  Ready to dive deeper into these technique...

Welcome to Product Backlog Quiz Bowl! In this episode, Mike shares questions about the Product Backlog from his recent class. Who can update the Product Backlog? Are User Stories necessary? How does a Product Owner better understand their customers? Stay tuned for a sneak peek into our upcoming Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills (PSPBM™) training course with Jeff Lee, promising v...

Product Owners play a pivotal role in curating and communicating information to ensure that stakeholders have a clear understanding of the product's direction. In this episode, Mike and Jeff explore various methods for enhancing transparency such as using a product roadmap to provide a holistic view of the product's journey. Discover how Product Owners can harness this tool to foster a sha...

Explore the key prerequisites that organizations need to have in place to ensure a smooth and effective Agile implementation. Join our hosts, Jeff and Mike, as they emphasize the importance of understanding the outcomes you want to achieve, the business value you want to create, and the leadership alignment you need to succeed.

The validity of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) as an Agile solution continues to generate headlines and social media debate. In this episode, Mike and Jeff suggest a simple answer to end the debate forever. It doesn’t matter.   The important question is if it helps your organization deliver value more effectively. Tune in to hear why. If you want to add a comment indicating your appreciation fo...

We have seen many Scrum teams attempt to resolve challenges by giving up and moving to Kanban.  Kanban stands on its own and can also seamlessly complement the Scrum Framework. However, the decision to switch from Scrum to a Kanban typically arises not from Scrum shortcomings, but rather from challenges in its implementation. In this episode, Mike and Jeff explore misguided reasons to move away fr...