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© 2016 Dwellworks, LLC
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Lean & Agile Playbook v.2.01 – modified MAY2016
Agile Teams
Building processes and services using Agile approach is a “team sport.” The concepts
discussed are about our associates: enhancing how we communicate and collaborate
together.
Do we have everyone on the team that we need?
The Whole Team requires the entire team together to work as a unit and share
responsibility for producing high quality service. The Whole Team approach is the glue of
Agile practices, holding all the other practices together.
Are people broadly skilled, knowledgeable, and able to help each other?
A T-Shaped person continuously broadens their knowledge while deepening a core skill
set. They are also known as generalizing-specialists or “Renaissance Man” workers.
Is our team located in the same space?
Face-to-face communication is extremely valuable whenever possible. In an open work
environment, the team uses open space facilitate communication, and shorten feedback
loops and ideation. We adjust for our workspace since our global offices don’t have this
similar space in common. By using photos, emails, boards, conference calls, video
conferencing, and committees, our team works to have the best collaboration possible,
overcoming geographic barriers.
Do we have the workload set so we don’t need heroic efforts?
A Sustainable Pace is a constant pace that a lean project should be able to maintain
indefinitely, to ensure the team has time to plan, think, rest, and deliver effectively.
Do we have inexpensive and simple ways to communicate?
Clear communication requires a validation of shared understanding. Diagrams, flowcharts,
and other visual aids are an excellent way to ensure that ideas discussed are actually
understood in the intended manner. Incremental changes are intended to shorten
feedback cycles and improve responsiveness by implementing small changes, throughout
the whole process. This improves productivity by providing more opportunities to handle
new or changing requirements, or adjusting priorities of planned work in response to
business or customer needs.
Is it easy for the team and non-team members to understand where we
stand?
Visuals (posters, boards, etc.) display important project information simply, communicating
information even from across the room. Use visuals to map project statuses so the team
knows the status at all times.