Agile Bites

The discussion tackles the common misconception that efficiency and value are opposing forces. It highlights how focusing on efficiency can actually enhance value delivery. By streamlining processes, teams can deliver better products faster and gather user feedback more swiftly. This approach ultimately boosts team morale and productivity, proving that caring about both aspects is not just possible, but essential.

Discover how setting limits on work in progress can supercharge your team's efficiency. These limits focus on completing tasks rather than just starting new ones, leading to quicker delivery and faster user feedback. Learn the significance of WIP limits in Agile methodologies like Scrum and Kanban, and explore tips to optimize productivity. Unlock the potential of mathematical concepts to cut down on cycle times and boost overall performance.

People tend to have a lot of mixed feelings associated with metrics. They can seem intimidating and like a lot of extra work—or even an oppressive tool used by some managers. But when used properly, metrics can be the guiding star on your path to Agility. In this episode, we're showing you the value metrics can bring (hello, better projections and team improvements!). Plus, we're giving you three simple metrics you can start using with your teams right now. And trust us—once you start, you won't ever want to go back. Connect with Agile Bites Host Phil Ledgerwood on LinkedIn Visit our website

So you've got an idea that you think will make your team's lives easier, but the only way it will be implemented successfully is if they all get on board. So how do you convince those involved to accept, and better yet, support the vision? In this episode, we're breaking down strategies for getting buy-in. And *spoiler alert* — it's not always about it being your idea.

Before you write this episode off as another anti-Scrum talk, hear us out—Scrum is not a bad system, but a lot of the teams using it are not who Scrum was made for. Scrum was meant for exploratory development—the kind of development when you don't even know the next piece you'll be building—and most software development teams don't fall into that category. So why are so many dev teams trying to fit a round peg into a square hole with Scrum when another system would be so much more valuable? And what do you do if that sounds like you? Listen to this episode to find out! Connect with Agile Bites Host Phil Ledgerwood on LinkedIn Visit our website

Happy, Halloween, Agile Spooks and Ghouls! In this special episode, we're sharing three truly chilling Agile horror stories about the Middle Management Slasher, a shadowy project with no owner, and the treacherous Pit of WIP. So gather around, grab your emotional-support sticky note pads, and get ready to hear some bone-chilling software tales of Agile terror.

If you've been listening to our podcast, you know we're not the biggest fan of themed retrospectives (see Ep. 1 "Retrospectives That Work"). But not everyone shares the same opinion, and some find them to be a valuable tool for their team. In the spirit of sharing valuable knowledge and continuing the longstanding debate of themed retros vs. non-themed retros, we've invited a guest with a compelling argument for spicing up those retro meetings. Hear from Chris Stone, an Agile coach who is an advocate and creator of hundreds of themed retro templates, as he shares his perspective on the value he's seen with themed retrospectives. Connect with Agile Bites Host Phil Ledgerwood on LinkedIn Visit our website

Too many stand-ups (or daily Scrums, for our Scrum friends out there) have turned into status updates, and that's hardly valuable for anyone. Say goodbye to everyone going around the circle, proving that they've been staying busy. Use your stand-ups as an opportunity for your team to come together and come up with their plan of attack for the day to stay on track as a group and reach team goals. Connect with Agile Bites Host Phil Ledgerwood on LinkedIn Visit our website

Despite the coder stereotype, programming is not best done alone in a dark room. Building software is a team sport, and features are best tackled by tackling them as a group (aka swarming). Swarming is one of the most powerful and effective ways to increase your team's throughput. But so many teams struggle to execute it. Find out how simple swarming really can be for your team and how it can not only increase efficiency but also morale.

100% utilization rates— we know it doesn't sound like the most exciting thing to hear about, but it could be the key factor that's slowing you down. What if we told you that the people working on your project should not be as busy as possible? Sounds crazy, right? But if delivery is your ultimate goal, optimizing your system for everyone to be "busy" could be working against your flow and decreasing your delivery rate. Connect with Agile Bites Host Phil Ledgerwood on LinkedIn Visit our website