creating great agile teams

Creating Great Agile Teams

Mário André Araújomario.araujo@outsystems.com

The Dysfunctional Team

Game

What makes a great agile team?

• Co-location

• Engaged Customers

• Accountable and Empowered members

• Cross-functional

• Transparency

• Trust

And…

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Image source: Wikipedia

Source: http://www.saferpak.com/teamwork_articles/ensuring_success.pdf

Zawacki, R. A. and C. A. Norman. "Successful Self-Directed Teams and Planned Change: A Lot in Common." OD Practitioner

• Stage 1: the typical hierarchical structure

• Stage 2: the leader is a team coordinator/coach

• Stage 3: members coached to take on more leadership tasks

• Stage 4: the team assumes most of the duties previously reserved for the group manager

• Stage 5: The group manager is a resource for the team

Team Evolution

Wanted Agile Team

• Look for generalists*

• Comfortable working with ambiguity*

• Get an Agile Coach

• Give constant feedback

• The rule of 5

• Run individual and group retrospectives

* In Agile Samurai

Java

Scrum Master

XP .NET

Test Driven Development

Writing User Stories

Product Owner

Ajax

SQL

OutSystemsRuby

1. Novice

2. Advanced Beginner

4. Proficient

5. Expert

3. Competent

1. Novice

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• Context free rules

• Instant gratification

• Can’t overcome obstacles

2. Advanced Beginner

• Can break the rules

• Need information quickly

• Still can’t overcome obstacles

3. Competent

• Can troubleshoot

• Solve problems

• Trouble keeping focus

4. Proficient

• Self-improve

• Can learn with maxims

• Get frustrated with over simplified info

Expert

• A lot of experience

• Uses intuition

• Trouble articulating experience

Thank you!

mario.araujo@outsystems.com

twitter.com/maaraujo