Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

Managing The Network of Promises in Lean Construction | Luca Cotta Ramusino

Jun 19, 2025

Luca Cotta Ramusino, a Lean advocate in construction guiding agile transformations, discusses the concept of the 'network of promises.' He defines success in Lean construction through metrics like the Percentage of Plan Complete and emphasizes the importance of clarity in project commitments. Luca introduces his unique 'Reflect and Disinfect' retrospective format, encouraging teams to learn from daily experiences. He highlights the need for a shared understanding of project completion to enhance collaboration and improve overall performance.

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ADVICE

Reflect and Disinfect Retrospective

Use the "Reflect and Disinfect" daily retrospective technique to encourage informal team reflection.
Answer three questions: continue doing, stop doing, and start doing, taking about 15 minutes after work.

INSIGHT

Promises Define Construction Flow

Construction projects are networks of promises where teams rely on each other's commitments.
Measuring promise reliability with PPC and analyzing failures with RNC improves project flow.

INSIGHT

Reliable Promises Need Clear Agreement

A promise must be deliverable, negotiable, and have a clear shared definition of done between provider and receiver.
"Done done" means both parties agree on completion, ensuring reliable commitments.

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Agile in Construction: Managing The Network of Promises in Lean Construction, with Luca Cotta Ramusino

Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.

Luca defines success in Lean construction through two critical metrics from the Last Planner Method: PPC (Percentage of Plan Complete) and RNC (Reasons for Not Completing). Success means creating reliable promises in what he describes as construction's "network of promises." The Last Planner Method removes layers of management by having those closest to the work do the planning themselves. PPC measures how reliable your promises are—similar to Scrum's definition of "done"—while RNC identifies where problems concentrate, typically in 2-3 areas. Both the work provider and receiver must agree on what "complete" means for these metrics to be meaningful.

Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Reflect and Disinfect

Luca developed this daily retrospective practice where people share what was interesting about their work day without formal meetings. Inspired by both Scrum retrospectives and Toyota's focus on reflection and introspection, this 15-minute format answers three questions: what should we continue doing, what should we stop doing, and what should we start doing? The practice emphasizes that teams need moments to stop and think back in order to improve how they work. The informal nature makes it accessible to construction crews who might resist traditional meeting formats.

Self-reflection Question: How reliable are the promises your team makes, and what patterns do you see in the reasons they're not kept?

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About Luca Cotta Ramusino

Luca is a passionate Lean advocate with roots in the construction industry, now guiding teams through agile transformation. He thrives on exploring uncharted territory, then helping clients navigate it with confidence. Ask him how Lean and agile methods can unlock your team's potential in today's fast-paced, ever-evolving work environment.

You can link with Luca Cotta Ramusino on LinkedIn.