Troubleshooting Agile

Is your plan to avoid conflict making things worse? In this episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss the Paul and Ted Case Study, the concept of 'easing in,' and what leaders should do instead, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile. LINKS - Eight Behaviors for Smarter Teams: https://www.csu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/917018/Eight-Behaviors-for-Smarter-Teams-2.pdf --------------------------...

Do you document and analyse failure? In this episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey draw inspiration from Donald Knuth's detailed study of his own software mistakes to give you the lowdown on learning from past mistakes, including meaningful postmortems and retrospectives. LINKS: - Knuth's paper: https://yurichev.com/mirrors/knuth1989.pdf - Foundation Failures: https://www.abebooks.com/Foundation-Failures-...

What do you do when you inherit a 20 year old codebase? In this episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey look at an extreme example of legacy software and discuss why it's important to understand past contexts as well as address modern discrepancies. Links: - Brian's Archaeology Tips: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-tips-software-archeologists-brian-reich-n0ase - Ask Why, But Never Answer: https://blog.jbr...

How do you make sure that critical information is preserved over time? Tune in to learn about “reverse smuggling,” lost TV shows, outdated video game formats, and Rob Landley's Petrochemical archaeology, in this week’s episode of Troubleshooting Agile. Links: - Petrochemical archaeology from Rob Landley: https://landley.net/history/mirror/institutional_memory.html - Dr. Who archaeology: https://en...

Can extreme constraints help you think of radically different solutions? In this week’s episode, Jeffrey and Squirrel explore what happens when you point a figurative gun at your team, inspired by Grant Slatton's provocative article 'Algorithms We Develop Software By’ Links: - Grant's article; https://grantslatton.com/software-pathfinding#algorithms-we-develop-software-by - Thinking, Fast and Slow...

Would you delete your unfinished work to ensure a fresh start? On this week’s episode, Jeffrey and Squirrel discuss whether using deletion as a tool can provide focus and improvement, with help from Grant Slatton's provocative article 'Algorithms We Develop Software By’ Links: - Grant's article: https://grantslatton.com/software-pathfinding#algorithms-we-develop-software-by - Code as liability: ht...

Do you or your team show resistance to change? There are some common ingrained habits that can affect your ability to learn. Find out how difficult conversations, pair programming, and test-driven development can help you create new habits to foster meaningful transformation, in this episode of Troubleshooting Agile. Links: - Toyota Kata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Kata - Karate Kid: htt...

Do you avoid making uncertain predictions in favour of task lists to ensure success? If a fear of being wrong means you can’t embrace uncertainty and learn from mistakes then you’re missing out on the natural discomfort of learning. Find out more about how to combat this in this episode of Troubleshooting Agile Links: - Toyota Kata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Kata - Recent Kata episode:...

When deception overshadows disappointment, severe ethical breaches can occur. Join your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey to discover how clear, honest communication can make sure you’re not dealing with the next Volkswagen emissions scandal, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile. Links: - Goal displacement: https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780191843273.001.0001/acref-9780191843...

Challenging the iron triangle in software development - balancing quality, time and scope. In this episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss Andy Giese’s recent provocative article 'How to Make Product Give a Shit About Your Architecture Proposal.’ Join us to learn how you can use ‘feature thinning’ and joint design to promote collaborative approaches in situations like this. Links: - Andy G's article...

Boost team results by measuring carefully and using consistent methods to move toward your goal–with “scientific thinking” “the Improvement Kata” and “the Coaching Kata”. In this bumper episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss quality and delivery the Toyota Way. Links: - Toyota Kata: https://public.websites.umich.edu/~jmondisa/TK/Homepage.html - Gemba: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemba Other relevant epis...

Your elaborate spreadsheet that prioritises features isn’t rigorous mathematical analysis and should be a conversation starter not a definitive guide. Find out how to avoid ‘Mathiness’ with Squirrel and Jeffrey in the latest from Troubleshooting Agile. Links: - Mathiness article: https://www.votito.com/methods/mathiness -------------------------------------------------- You'll find free videos and...

Need to transform decision-making in your agile team? In this episode, we discuss how to harness the power of perceptiveness using Jeffrey’s insights from a lecture on the architect Christopher Alexander and the book 'How Emotions Are Made.' Links: How to Become Perceptive: https://www.henrikkarlsson.xyz/p/perceptive - Ryan Singer’s Christopher Alexander: A Primer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Create, nurture, and increase empathy with all your customers, even the ones you didn't know you had! Inspired by Gojko Adzic and his new book Lizard Optimisation, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss how you can do just that, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile. Links: - Gojko’s book, Lizard Optimisation: https://www.amazon.com/Lizard-Optimization-Product-Engaging-Long-Tail/dp/0993088171 - Kahneman...

The products you have today could be 5x more profitable if you found out how customers really use them and tuned accordingly, says Gojko Adzic - and we’re inclined to agree! Find out how to do it on this episode ofTroubleshooting Agile your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey. Links: - Gojko’s book, Lizard Optimisation: https://www.amazon.com/Lizard-Optimization-Product-Engaging-Long-Tail/dp/0993088171 -...

Junior coders aren't going to be purged, but trained, just like we taught ditch-diggers to drive excavators. Find out why Squirrel thinks Steve Yegge is wrong, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile. Links: Enterprise Technology Leadership Summit: https://itrevolution.com/product/enterprise-technology-leadership-summit-las-vegas-2024/ - Steve Yegge's talk at ETLS: article https://sourcegraph.com...

Being radically transparent by reporting progress daily has surprisingly positive effects. Learn how and why to do daily flashes in this episode of Troubleshooting Agile with your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey. Links: - PPP reporting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress,_plans,_problems - Wienberg, Becoming a Technical Leader: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/714344.Becoming_a_Technical_Leader...

The most obnoxious person in your team may in fact be saving your bacon. Discover why and how to encourage "disagreeable givers" in this episode of Troubleshooting Agile with your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey. Links: - Givers and Takers from Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2013/04/in-the-company-of-givers-and-takers - Disagreeable Givers: https://www.inc.com/laura-montini/the-most-underval...

Talk louder, set limits on your generosity, and learn to disappoint people helpfully. On this episode, Squirrel and Jeffery offer advice inspired by Adam Grant on giving and taking in your organisation. Links: - Adam Grant on giving and taking: https://hbr.org/2013/04/in-the-company-of-givers-and-takers -------------------------------------------------- You'll find free videos and practice materia...

Boost team results by measuring carefully and using consistent methods to move toward your goal–with “the Coaching Kata”. In part three of this mini series, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss quality and delivery the Toyota Way. Links: - Toyota Kata: https://public.websites.umich.edu/~jmondisa/TK/Homepage.html - Gemba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemba Other relevant episodes: - https://soundcloud.com...

Boost team results by measuring carefully and using consistent methods to move toward your goal–with “the Improvement Kata”. In part two of our Toyota Kata series, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss quality and delivery the Toyota Way. Links: - Toyota Kata: https://public.websites.umich.edu/~jmondisa/TK/Homepage.html - Gemba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemba Other relevant episodes: https://soundclou...

Boost team results by measuring carefully and using consistent methods to move toward your goal–with “scientific thinking”. In part one of this mini series, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss quality and delivery the Toyota Way. Links: - Toyota Kata: https://public.websites.umich.edu/~jmondisa/TK/Homepage.html - Gemba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemba Other relevant episodes: https://soundcloud.com/t...

Too ashamed of your outdated tech to ask for help with it or touch the ancient code? 70s heartthrob Barry Manilow has the cure for your "technical shame" - Squirrel and Jeffrey explain why on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile. Links: - Barry Manilow Effect paper: https://www.psychologyib.com/uploads/1/1/7/5/11758934/the_spotlight_effect_-_ib_psychology.pdf -------------------------------------...

Stop trying to control what your software does! Instead, invite surprising answers from users that lead to amazing product innovations. This episode of Troubleshooting Agile features a lesson from 18th-century Spain via Elan Ullendorf. Links: - 500 maps article by Elan Ullendorff: https://escapethealgorithm.substack.com/p/should-this-be-a-map-or-500-maps - Wardley Mapping: https://en.wikipedia.org...

Being puzzled is the first step to genuine questions and real learning. Join your hosts Squirrel and Jeffrey to discover why execs like you need more “aporia” to understand your teams and lead them effectively, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile. Links: - Aporia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aporia - Derrida: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Derrida - Dave Snowden's talk: https://gist....