This is a hard story to tell.
You may want to grab some Kleenex.
OK.
It is not that bad.
But you may want to read this through a few times and pass it on to people in your organization.
There are some great lessons learned (for me anyway).
Names and places have been changed to protect the innocent.
But.
It is a story that must be told.
Since.
Well.
It involves me.
As the ScrumMaster.
And.
I wound up becoming a “Dead” ScrumMaster today.
How did that happen?
About three weeks ago I got called into meet with the CIO of a large private company somewhere on this planet (actually it was through someone who knew him and I and trusted us both).
The company is professing itself as “Doing Agile” and has a few small projects started up.
The CIO had a particular project in mind [for me] and we spent about a half an hour having a conversation about what he wanted me to do, and discussing some of the implications (including implosion of the project).
Basically at the end of the conversation my direction was set — in the next day and a half… figure out fast how to make the biggest impact.
Boy.
I guess I did. In retrospect.
You see, the project they were getting ready to kick off as “Agile” was still not an officially funded project.
Read that last sentence loud and clearly — they had no approved budget. This was all supposedly under the radar.
So, as with a lot of organizations, people spent months and many many many hours creating the “perfect” power point presentation for their senior leadership team to review. This was prior to me coming in.
It was not good enough yet, and the team had two weeks to clean up the presentation.
I boldly asked for a team that could produce some working software during those two weeks, while the parallel effort of the funding presentation went on.
We started gaining the needed resources (wow.. did I say resources [yes... PEOPLE and the other stuff to DO a project??!!) and ideas.
We were going to take their highest priority customer and run a [one] real transaction set through a real working architecture (not on power point).
It was approved by a VP on Friday afternoon, just before a holiday weekend. I went home excited.
I arrived back on Tuesday morning and the team starting getting wind of this, and we got together in the afternoon to talk about what would happen in the next 8 business days.
Lots of blank stares and smiles, but people started getting excited.
It was something the team could focus on.
Technical people working on technical stuff — not power point presentations.
We reviewed the basics of Scrum and that during the next two weeks we would get a course — by doing the work — on what it looks like to actually do it.
Once we delivered, we would have a Retrospective and see what we could improve once the project was funded and actually “officially” started.
We talked a little about User Stories — this is a Use Case shop — and we wound up writing very basic user stories that were tasked out. No owners, no estimates. This is “normal” [real world] from what I see on the first cut in situations [and timing] like this.
Should I have put a stop to the project (or un-project) then? I made a call not to do that.
We went home.
The next morning we had a temporary conference room and we had an effective stand-up meeting.
Kept it at 15 minutes.
People were off and doing real work.
It was cool to see. I stood back.
We had an impediment with getting some dev machines that was taken care of by the team and outside stakeholders in an incredibly quick manner. Kudos for getting that first impediment out of the way!
The parallel process of getting the project funded (via the power point presentation) was happening outside of the room.
We started talking about the “Cone of Uncertainty.”
I left town that evening and the team worked for two days focusing on the tasks and items on the wall.
All highly visible to the people walking into the room (or by it).
The team got moved around a bit each day, but we had our eye on one room for the “final week” of this part of the project (or is that pre-proect?).
Not all the team members were there all the time. Hmmm…
Stand-ups stayed focused and on track. No more three hour status meetings to schedule status meetings with the entire team.
People (including me) were calling in if they could not be physically located in the team room.
I arrived the next Monday morning to the new location for the team. It was “ours” for the week. The five business days remaining on this part of the project.
New building. But we could have all the players collocated in one room or on the phone. Things were humming along.
Impediments came up and were handled by the team. Awesome. We even got a temporary AC unit put in the room to cool us off — 12 people in a small room with lots of computers… you know how that can get.
The parallel process of getting the project funded was happening outside of the room. Still. Small concern, which, in retrospect, I should have dealt with better.
During the few days I was there that week, I did what I told the CIO and others I would be doing — a lot of observation on team interaction.
I did not want to jump in and be the answer man for coding [nor did I really feel like me getting into the code would help anyone -- including the people that really needed to be in it (which was awesome to see how people recognized this and stood up and took ownership without being directed!)].
I did a little nudging along the way to fill out the task cards with owners and estimates (so we could start having what looked like a Burn Down to see what that represents); however, I mainly stayed out of the way and let the technical team dive in and watch them do what many thought to be impossible.
The goal now was to deliver working software, not a methodology (a tough balance in this situation).
Get to “Done.”
Before leaving, the Project Manager and I came up with a plan for the following week.
Assuming the project was funded, the Project Manager would start assembling the team and getting them lined up to start the “real work” the next week (people had to be lined up to work on this project).
I would not be on site this week, and meeting notices started coming into my inbox as expected and according to our plan.
Then, Thursday night I get a call telling me the client probably does not want me back. It came to fruition today.
Partly because I “sat in the corner” watching.
Partly because people heard me say things that did not tow the party line (and I did not do the Schwaber, “You Suck and that makes me Sad“).
Partly because I did not code.
Partly because I was not engaged with that team doing the request for outside funding.
I am sure there are a lot of reasons.
Go back and notice a key role missing. One that was unfortunately a key to this part of the success — or lack thereof — of this part of the project.
I did not do a good job of managing and communicating expectations with all of the stakeholders — known and unknown.
Funny thing happened though.
I hear the team delivered working software.
And.
I had a lot of great conversations with the people on the team and saw negative energy transform into a powerful focus of delivering working code in a very short period of time.
Is it perfect?
No.
Is it something they can show to outside stakeholders that has true business value for them today?
I think so.
So in part I have failed that team, and I am sorry. I am doing the failure bow now — hoping they understand.
And.
I have learned [again] that any ScrumMaster can be taken out and shot at any time.
Hopefully this is a lesson learned that does not happen to you.
It has happened to me before.
And.
Will again.
I do this at a lot of places around the world, and I know I cannot please everyone all the time.
Is it any wonder that most teams fail using Scrum?
Yet.
I try.
As do others.
Yet.
I will not blow smoke or be a “yes man” (or woman, as in the last panel of this cartoon).
And.
I am OK with that.
In some places people call this career suicide — so YOU be careful.
Read this lesson.
Read this real world situation.
And.
Talk about it with other another ScrumMaster or two or three in your organization.
Talk about it with your stakeholders.
Talk about it with your Scrum Team.
Talk about it with your Product Owner.
Talk.
Have the conversations.
BEFORE things implode on you.
Because remember.
A Dead ScrumMaster is a useless ScrumMaster.
I am going to go eat some humble pie and hope that someone learns something from this posting.
I apologize if it was a long one this week.
Lots for me to learn.
Still.
I may post more on this during the week.
And if you want to hire me (smile)….
Gotta run!.Please send comments, questions, criticisms, ideas, or whatever here.
You can also enter The Scrum Community to discuss this entry and other Scrum topics. Thank you!
March 10,2008
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that the comic strip and blog entry this week is going to hit a nerve.
It did.
With me.
Be prepared for a reality check.
Sometimes life just throws them at you.
Thank you,
- Mike Vizdos
-
Contact Information
www.implementingscrum.com
www.michaelvizdos.com
AOL IM: MikeV Work
Skype: mvizdos
=========
For a complete list of my upcoming workshops and public appearances please visit www.michaelvizdos.com/enroll.
Need a Mentor? Take a look at www.michaelvizdos.com/telephone and please let me know your feedback and thoughts.
==========
Welcome back to a new week at www.implementingscrum.com.
I am writing this blog entry from the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon. Nice place and I am having a great time teaching a CSM Class here earlier today and tomorrow.
Wednesday early early in the morning, I am “off” to Santa Clara for SD West. It is an awesome conference and one that I look forward to attending and speaking at each year.
Now, as most of you may know, I am a total introvert.
Or. This may come as a total surprise to you.
This makes it challenging for me to get up in front of people to speak (imagine that… and I am a Certified Scrum Trainer who does this regularly).
Does this mean it is impossible?
Nope.
I do it.
Why?
Because I really do love what I do for a living, and I hope it shows (from writings here and the public speaking that I do around the world).
Another “insider” tip — most of the times the speakers do not get paid or reimbursed in cash or expenses to speak at the conferences. Big names and Key Notes — probably different.
But folks like me, well, guess where this expense comes from?
My own pocket. Not some corporate expense report either.
Really.
And.
This is OK with me. I truly love what I do and am willing to spend my own money to talk about it.
Yeah, there are “perks” like a shirt and a pass to other speakers and working with an awesome professional conference staff… and what can really beat that (smile)?!?!?
I try to set an example for other introverts around the world to see that anything is possible if you are willing to try.
And learn.
And get over the feeling of wanting to barf in your shoes or die than rather talk to people.
So.
Today’s posting is about the topic of making the most of any “Conference” event.
You know, where there are a lot of similar people congregating in some city trying to learn some new things and and and….
Yes, even if you are an introvert, these things can be fun and actually help you in the future.
Here are my Seven Conference Survival Tips for Geeks
1) Network. Network. Network.
This means bringing along a good supply of current business cards to hand out to everyone you meet (people make fun of me for handing out cards… if that is the worst I can be known for, well….).
Keep an eye open for a “Networking Section” at conferences. This is where you may actually have to talk face-to-face with others.
Suck it up and do it. You may be amazed.
It is a small world.
Work on making contacts — there are people from all over the world here and it is amazing the contacts I have made over the years.
Bring a current copy of your resume or be able to email it to someone if they ask — you never know who you may bump into (for me, I can just say “google me” and well, I am out there now…. something that did not happen overnight.
2) Attend Workshops.
And go to some of the night sessions or BoF’s (”Birds of a Feather” - usually an informal gathering with key people in the industry to chat about a specific topic — some like Star Trek (how much more geek can you get LOL?)) and keynote speakers you can grab a beer with. Or buy one for :).
Figure out what courses / workshops / trainings / keynotes you want to see.
Conferences can be overwhelming. Listen to feedback from other attendees.
Be flexible and go with the flow when needed.
Maybe… and this may be a big leap for you… attend some workshop or talk on some technology or methodology or bla bla bla that you have never heard about.
Open your mind.
Make some connections to things out there in other parts of the world that may actually have something to do with what you are doing today.
Or…. something you may want to do tomorrow.
3) Spread out.
If you have multiple people from your organization attending - spread out and cover multiple sessions during the same time; when you return to reality (work) following this conference, the stuff you learn can be great input for brown bag lunches.
Or talk about via IM or blogging or even back to talking to yourself (smile).
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WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING
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A lot of what you hear may get you fired up and excited about making swift changes within your organization. Please remember do not make any career ending moves when your return to reality the following week.
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WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING
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4) Leave feedback.
Always.
Most conferences take the feedback of its customers (you and I) very seriously.
If some speaker is awesome — let them know about it.
If someone is absolutely terrible — let them know about it (and why).
Conferences are continually evolving and get better every year with feedback from you and me.
Even as introverts we have a say. Let it be heard! It only takes a few minutes…. and REALLY makes a difference.
5) Have fun.
Yeah, sometimes you are stuck hanging with fellow geeks.
So meet people and start talking to them. It is amazing to see that other people may have the same “problems” as you do in your development shop today — creative solutions flow freely here.
And if you are into male Dolly Parton Cover Bands… well…. I can tell you a story from a few years ago.
Expect the unexpected.
Really.
6) Learn.
Stretch yourself. There are plenty of topics here that you may not know about — now is the time to learn something about those topics.
7) Network. Network. Network.
Oh, I said that.
Hmmmm….. That is the most critical thing in my opinion (smile).
Here is a “final ask” before signing off tonight — if you are attending the SD West Conference — or any other one where I am attending or speaking around the world — PLEASE contact me to see if we can meet face-to-face.
And I promise as long as you are not some hot six foot four supermodel with some name I cannot pronounce, I will not barf on my shoes (I may barf on your hot shoes — shoot…. YOU are the six foot four supermodel).
Kidding.
Really.
Would love to meet fellow introverts.
Or.
Learn from friendly extroverts!
Got any other ideas? Share and leave copious comments. Consider it practice for real-world-networking!
Gotta run!.Please send comments, questions, criticisms, ideas, or whatever here.
You can also enter The Scrum Community to discuss this entry and other Scrum topics. Thank you!
March 3,2008
Hi all,
OK. So I am not as geeky as I used to be. Especially to some of you reading this blog. But. Um. Errrr…. Uh…. I still code for fun, does that count? And. I work with teams and actually can code when I need to do that?!?!?!?
This coming week will be a three-city-tour for me.
On Monday and Tuesday I am teaching a CSM Workshop in Portland, Oregon. I have a seat or two left if you are interested — see www.michaelvizdos.com/enroll to sign up if you are local or want to hop on a plane there :). Or drop me an email and I can offer you a discount for responding to this notice. Discounts are always good. I hope.
On Monday evening I will be meeting with a small group of APLN and other agile people at about 7:30PM local time…. good time for networking and drinking beer or whatever and talking about Scrum or not. If you’d like to attend the “meeting” please contact me off this list.
Wednesday and Thursday I will speaking at a conference (www.sdexpo.com). I’ll send more info later this week about my topic (funs stuff) and if you are interested in meeting please contact me off this list.
I hope you all have a great remainder of the weekend, or — if you are reading this on Monday morning — well…. welcome to Monday! Tony and I have a great comic strip coming to you — as usual — on Monday evening (where ever I am in the world!).
Thank you.
- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
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