Greatest Hits - Commitment: Engagement is (Still) Not Enough
whatshot 6 snips
Apr 9, 2025
Discover the crucial difference between engagement and true commitment in agile teams. The hosts share tools to foster real commitments and highlight a cautionary tale about avoiding isolated components in software development. They stress the need for a shared language in project management to ensure clear communication. The discussion also covers the pitfalls of a defensive mindset, advocating for an environment that promotes pride and constructive feedback, ultimately leading to better alignment and collaboration.
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insights INSIGHT
Engagement vs. Commitment
Engagement is good, but it's not enough for effective teamwork.
Shared understanding of commitments is crucial for producing results.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Misaligned "Done"
Douglas Squirrel shares a story about misaligned interpretations of "done."
The team and Squirrel had different understandings, causing issues.
insights INSIGHT
Ubiquitous Language
Defining "done" isn't enough; agreeing on the meaning of components is key.
Domain-driven design helps create a shared understanding, like in ubiquitous language.
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It's time to talk about commitment! Not engagement, which is insufficient to produce effective results. In this episode - a repost of a previous conversation - Squirrel and Jeffrey offer specific tools for effective commitments and tell a story about a company that created a pile of bones instead of a Walking Skeleton.
You’ll hear lots of references to “the book.” That’s our book - Agile Conversations!! You can learn more about that here: https://agileconversations.com/agile-conversation-book/
SHOW LINKS:
- Domain-Driven Design: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain-driven_design
- Big Book of Concepts: mitpress.mit.edu/books/big-book-concepts
- Specification by Example: gojko.net/books/specification-by-example/
- Walking Skeleton: wiki.c2.com/?WalkingSkeleton
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You'll find free videos and practice material, plus our book Agile Conversations, at agileconversations.com
And we'd love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or feedback you have about the show: email us at info@agileconversations.com
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About Your Hosts
Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick joined forces at TIM Group in 2013, where they studied and practised the art of management through difficult conversations. Over a decade later, they remain united in their passion for growing profitable organisations through better communication.
Squirrel is an advisor, author, keynote speaker, coach, and consultant, and he's helped over 300 companies of all sizes make huge, profitable improvements in their culture, skills, and processes. You can find out more about his work here: douglassquirrel.com/index.html
Jeffrey is Vice President of Engineering at ION Analytics, Organiser at CITCON, the Continuous Integration and Testing Conference, and is an accomplished author and speaker. You can connect with him here: www.linkedin.com/in/jfredrick/
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