Agile for the rest of us

© Anders Ramsay, 2009 IA Summit

Agile for the rest of usIA Summit, March 22, 2009

Anders Ramsay, 2009 IA Summit

Big Picture

Traditional(Waterfall)


Big Picture

AgileTraditional(Waterfall)


Big Picture


Developers


Big Picture


Developers

Us?


I talk to *a lot* of IA’s

NYC IA Meetup, Founded 2003, 700+ Members



Adoption Patterns

Developers

Us?UX

Doesn’t seem to

make sense for what we

do.



Adoption Patterns

Developers

Us?UX

Interested, not sure how to

adopt.

Doesn’t seem to


do.



Adoption Patterns

Developers

Us? UXUX


adopt.

Doesn’t seem to


do.

Trying it, but struggling.



Adoption Patterns

Developers

Us? UX

Yup, we’re Agile.

UX


adopt.

Doesn’t seem to


do.




Adoption Patterns

Developers

Us? UX

Yup, we’re Agile.

UX


adopt.

Doesn’t seem to


do.


© Anders Ramsay, IA Summit 2009

What I’ll Be Talking About

o A UX Reading of the Manifestoo Agile via Waterfallo Re-Thinking Documentso The Smallest Biggest Stepo Pushing Backo Looking Forward


A UX Reading of the ManifestoBeyond working sofware


The Agile Manifesto

www.agilemanifesto.org


The Agile Manifesto



The Agile Manifesto



The Agile Manifesto


A Value Framework


ScrumBacklogs

Standups

Extreme Programming

Crystal Methods

Story Cards

Sprints

Spikes

Feature-Driven Development

Lean Development

Burndown

Dynamic Systems Development

Adaptive Software Development

Refactoring

Customer

Agile Coach

Product Owner Velocity

Pair Programming

Scrum Master

Daily Standups

Test-Driven Development

Planning Poker


ScrumBacklogs

Standups

Extreme Programming

Crystal Methods

Story Cards

Sprints

Spikes


Lean Development

Burndown



Refactoring

Customer

Agile Coach


Pair Programming

Scrum Master

Daily Standups

Test-Driven Development

Methodology Templates

Planning Poker


Agile via WaterfallConfronting Future Promises


Waterfall

Initiate Research Design Build Test Deploy


Waterfall

Production (Developer Perspective)



Waterfall

Design (Our Perspective) Production (Developer Perspective)



Waterfall

Design (Our Perspective)

Documents


Software



GrandVision

Waterfall

Design (Our Perspective)

Documents


Software



GrandVision

Initiate Research Design Build

Test Deploy

Design

Build

MuddlingHeroics

Research

Reality


GrandVision


Test Deploy

Design

Build

MuddlingHeroics

Research

Dev: This is taking longer to build

than I estimated…

Reality


GrandVision


Test Deploy

Design

Build

Biz: Our competitor just released a much better product….

MuddlingHeroics

Research


than I estimated…

Reality


GrandVision


Test Deploy

Design

Build


MuddlingHeroics

Research


than I estimated…

Dev: Saving changes is taking 15-20 minutes(!)

Reality


GrandVision


Test Deploy

Design

Build


MuddlingHeroics

Research


than I estimated…

I can’t hold her together much longer Captain!

Dev: Saving changes is taking 15-20 minutes(!)

Reality


Reality

A “waterfall” lifecycle, big up-front specifications, estimates, and speculative plans applicable to predictable manufacturing have been misapplied to software projects, a domain of inventive, high-change, high-novelty work.

– Craig Larman, Agile & Iterative Development: A Manager’s Guide


The Agile Response

Reacting to

• Planning for status quo rather than real-world turbulence.

• Dividing the team into phases.

• Over-reliance on documents as communication conduits.

• Waiting too long to confront design with reality.


One Change that Changes Everything

Developers

We need to start building earlier…

Earliest Responsible Moment



Timebox Timebox(Micro-project 1)

Many Micro-Projects

Foundation:Core NeedsBig Picture Working Software

Becomes

Reflect,Adjust

Timebox (Micro-project 2)

Working Software

Reflect,

Adjust

Timebox (Micro-project n)

Working Software

Reflect,Adjust

Timebox (Iteration 1)

Working Software



Timebox Timebox(Micro-project 1)

Many Micro-Projects

Foundation:Core NeedsBig Picture Working Software

Becomes

Reflect,Adjust

Timebox (Micro-project 2)

Working Software

Reflect,

Adjust

Timebox (Micro-project n)

Working Software

Reflect,Adjust

Timebox (Iteration 1)

Working Software


GrandVision?


A Process Narrative

Phase Zero Foundation:Core NeedsBig Picture

Iteration 1

Working Software

Research

Design Build

Release, Reflect,Adjust

Iteration 2

Working Software

Research


A Process Narrative


Iteration 1: Top Priority vs Early Win?

Working Software

Research

Design Build


Iteration 2

Working Software

Research


A Process Narrative


Iteration 1: Top Priority vs Early Win?

Working Software

Research

Design Build


Iteration 2

Working Software

Research

Designing Ahead Researching Ahead


Re-Thinking DocumentsComprehensive vs Just Enough


Asking a different questionComprehensiveWhat is everything developers need to know to build the whole application?



Just EnoughWhat is the minimum developers need to know to build the next piece?



Just EnoughWhat is the minimum developers need to know to build the next piece?


Document Cost-Benefit


Document Cost-Benefit

Yes, you can keep doing wireframes!but…

Design the delta.

For conversation.

As a means, not an end.


Dissolving Us/Them

Us Them

Documents Software


“That leak is on their side of the

boat.”


Dissolving Us/Them

Design is Production is Design

Working Software

Research

Design Build

Us Them

Documents Software


vs

“That leak is on their side of the

boat.”


The Smallest Biggest StepMinimal change, maximum value.


Get a Room

Sending an email vs Turning your head


Beware AgileRitual andOrthodoxy

o Terminology fixation.o Just going through the

motions.o Intimidating to non-

technologists.

From Henrik Kniberg’s Blog at blog.crisp.se

http://blog.crisp.se/henrikkniberg/2007/02/19/1171842120000.html





One waterfallTwo waterfallThree waterfall…

Step Zero:

You


PUSHING BACKWhat’s not to like?


The BigCorp Factor


Deliverables model based on waterfall.

Big Deliverables a security blanket for execs.

One idea: shadow agile.

The BigCorp Factor


Deliverables model based on waterfall.

Big Deliverables a security blanket for execs.

One idea: shadow agile.

The BigCorp Factor


We Do A Lot More Than Software


Sometimes Manufacturing Lines Make Sense


Looking ForwardFollowing, Leading, Evolving


Key Take-Aways

o Don’t Flip The Methodology Switch

o Iterate the transition o No Silver Bulleto Participate in evolving

Agile



Lean Development

ScrumBacklogs

Standups

Extreme Programming

Crystal Methods

Story Cards

Sprints

Spikes


Burndown



Refactoring

Customer

Agile Coach




Lean Development

ScrumBacklogs

Standups

Extreme Programming

Crystal Methods

Story Cards

Sprints

Spikes


Burndown



Refactoring

Customer

Agile Coach


IX?


Thanks!

[email protected]

andersramsay.com

twitter: @andersr

Technology

Agile for the rest of us