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Good day,
Yesterday I promised I would start a difficult conversation for someone out there.
If this one is for you, please use it.
If it is not applicable to you, bag it and save it for the future. And maybe hope it does not happen to you.
The original cartoon and blog entry on the topic of “Done” was one of the first I published on the site. It is something that has been slapping me in the face more and more lately.
Here is one of the difficult conversations you may be facing:
Let’s say you have completed a task on a user story. You are happy to be moving it from “Work in process” to “Done” on your story board.
It is indeed a happy event.
Pause.
Do me a favor.
Walk into a “Best Buy” right when it opens. On a weekday.
If you cannot do that, here is what happens….
Right when the doors open, you have about 15 people (all the staff) standing in the door opening CLAPPING THEIR HANDS as you walk in.
Managers are watching the employees like hawks to make sure they clap.
I am dead serious.
Do this.
And.
Notice something.
While they are clapping at you, they are chatting between themselves, some of them are actually texting their friends on the phone, blowing bubbles with bubble gum, or staring off into space.
And that is just the employees interested in you being there.
While I am sure this is meant to be a great welcoming gesture, it is extremely uncomfortable to both the people walking into the store to buy their headset (or other cool technical crap) and the employees who are being “forced” to do this.
Now.
Back to moving tasks from “Work in Process” to “Done.”
I have seen teams who have been told that “YOU WILL CLAP YOUR HANDS” when tasks are moved to “Done.”
Um.
Do you see a parallel here between Scrum Team Members and Best Buy Employees and their Customers?
If this “Ceremony” does not work for your Scrum Team…
Talk to your outside stakeholders about it.
If you are an outside stakeholder on a Scrum Team who thinks “forcing” people to clap when stories are moved to “Done” is a good thing…
Please please please stop by Best Buy at opening on a weekday and feel the experience.
Remember. Feelings?
They matter.
OK now.
Start talking :).
Let me know how it turns out via comments or email.
Thank you,
- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
4 Comments! to “Done. Start Singing, “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” UB40?”
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This only happens once (more if you are using multiple computers). Once you are in the system, everything is good to go after that.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:03 am
How can they text while clapping? Call, yes, especially with Bluetooth headsets, but text? I call BS.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I have seen something like this with teams where people have to pay a dollar if they get late for Daily meetings.
I agree 100% with you. People try to create teamwork, synergy and respect with this. If it’s not real, it’s not worth doing at all.
It’s money for nothing… people should search for better ways to get motivation from teams.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I’m mystified by the reference to UB40 in the subject - surely that should be Bobby McFerrin?
October 1st, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Answering comments #1 - #3…
First, thank you for the comments. I appreciate them!
#1: Eh… the point is go in and see it happen. It is not genuine.
#2: So the people who are searching — I suggest you talk to your teams!
#3: Yeah… yeah… you are right. My bad. Sorry Bobby :).