The chat test today during the two hour-long sessions was a success.

I learned many things, and, as all things we do with Scrum the next iteration will be even better.

I can go into the retrospective we had — but suffice it to say that there were enough in the “cons” section (versus “pro”) for trying another tool.

So.

From 13:00 – 14:00 EST (GMT-4), Friday, June 12, 2009, we will test a new page (it is located at www.implementingscrum.com/chat).  And a new chat system.  Feel free to go in and take a look at it ahead of time; however, I will plan on being there for an hour in the afternoon to discuss a Product Backlog for the ImplementingScrum site.

As a stakeholder, I’d really appreciate like your input.

Tony is back from a short vacation and we will have yet another comic strip out early next week.

And.

I’ll make an announcement on Friday night that will put another service “live” on this site.  And yes, as usual, it is still all free.  I do love what I do for a living, and thank all my clients (and future clients) for the work I get so that I can give back to the community through initiatives like this site, www.implementingscrum.com.

And hey… if you are not following me on Twitter yet… do so on the right side of the screen in the sidebar.  It is 2009 and there is so much GREAT stuff on that system about agile and scrum.  Stuff you should not miss!  Including real-time announcements that I do not make via the blog entry or e-mail (it is usually THAT time sensitive!).

I hope to see you online to discuss the Product Backlog for the site at 13:00 EST (GMT-4) at the following address:  www.implementingscrum.com/chat.

Thank you.

- mike vizdos

Today is our first try at a new format (in addition to the cartoons) at www.implementingscrum.com.

It is called, “ImplementingScrum – UnScripted” and will feature audio and/or video in different formats along the way.  By the time this goes out, it should be out on youtube and here is a link to the “.mov” format (uses quicktime and is just under 17MB — for some reason this is MUCH clearer — any recommendations???).

Using FeedBurner, it should also find it’s way out to iTunes as a podcast… let’s see together how it all works and continue to inspect and adapt.

Fair? (smile)

This first version of this is with a guy “Down Under” who had some spectacular patience with me this morning (in addition to the fifteen hour time difference!).

His name is James Brett and he maintains a site at www.scrummaster.com.au and recently (with a LOT of help with the people there!) published a survey, where you can see the results at www.scrummaster.com.au/Article.mvc/Detail/43 or download the PDF file from www.scrummaster.com.au/Content/download/ScrumSurveyResultsJan09.pdf.

The video of this is about eight minutes long and goes into the survey a bit and introduces the topic.  It is not meant to be exhaustive — right now it is a test of the technology convergence(s) and as usual we want to keep these things short and to the point.

A few other references made in the video included a retrospective formats article and retrospective why.

You can also check out a few cartoons about retropectives on this site (there is a three part series here:

www.implementingscrum.com/2007/09/04/scary-team-retrospectives-part-one/

www.implementingscrum.com/2007/09/10/retrospectives-not-just-reading-a-book-part-two/

www.implementingscrum.com/2007/09/17/walk-into-the-light-retrospectives-part-3-of-3/

As usual, any errors anywhere on the video or my site — I accept that responsibility.

Take a look at the video and the links above for the survey and other stuff and PLEASE comment about it below.

Inspect and Adapt.

Let’s see where we go.

As usual!

Thank you.

- mike vizdos

www.implementingscrum.com
www.michaelvizdos.com

Thank you for continuing to follow and spread the word about this blog and our cartoons.

Get ready for a blast this coming year.

The last cartoon of 2008 covered the topic of how to handle questions from outside stakeholders during a Scrum (or iteration).

Remember that even familiar chickens can be dangerous to derailing an iteration.

Eek.

Does that sound too dogmatic?

Hmmm.

Let’s think.

Who calls an iteration “Done?”

That would be the Product Owner (look back at this old comic strip from the early days for a refresher on that).

And, the “old way” of doing this — in a waterfall environment — was to bow to the pressure.  That leads to very funny cult-movies; however, in reality it sucks for everyone involved.

Especially if you bow to it while using Scrum.

So.

If you are a Team Member on a Scrum team and you get asked to do something that is outside the Sprint Backlog, you’ve GOTTA turn it over to the Product Owner to deal with.

So, this comic strip shows that.

Our intrepid character Pig did the right thing.

And.

What is the Product Owner now supposed to do with this information?

This is not a blame game.

But.

Someone needs to be responsible for the decisions.

How does this sit with you?

And where does the ScrumMaster play in this situation?

Comments, as usual, are requested and will help guide where we take this in the future (smile).

Thank you,

- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com

For new subscriber via email, facebook, and twitter — Welcome and thanks for the interest in the site.

Please feel free to pass this site on to your friends and talk about it on twitter and other social networking sites.

The problem depicted in this cartoon is something I see a LOT when working with teams around the world.

Even when Scrum is being implemented on teams within an organization.

Hmmm.

So what do we do about this situation?

When asked for a status from a Chicken within a Sprint, Scrum talks about the team members not saying, “No” and punting it to the Product Owner.

The same goes for a new feature request.

In the past… before Scrum… this type of request was a major cause of never getting to “Done.”

This is the main reason to have a strong demarcation point between the Product Backlog and the Sprint Backlog.  The main reason is to help shield the team from the outside “Noise”.

Care to share some real life stories about this via comments below?

How do you do this without committing career suicide?

Who really is responsible for telling outside Chickens to speak with the Product Owner?

What does the Product Owner need to do with this next?

Is this really an important concept or what do you think about it?

Please share with us…

Thank you,

- mike vizdos

Welcome back to yet another week at www.implementingscrum.com.

Thanks as usual for coming back this week and helping me spread the word about this site.

If you have some time today, please tell three or four of your friends about it, and let’s see if even more people can have fun with us.

Ask them to subscribe. Please. There are opportunities all over the site (please let me know if it is confusing in any way!). In fact, you can forward them this note and have them Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!

Now… about “Fun.”

Yeah, I know, I know… we do serious work in the real world Mike….

I know.

I live it, as I hope you can tell.

So last week I wrote a few segments about Fantasy Island, and I really loved that comic strip.

One of the things listed was, “You may be on Fantasy Island” if you play Planning Poker without your Product Owner.

For a quick overview on an introduction to Planning Poker, please see this posting.

And come back! I am not going anywhere.

You back?

See. I told you I’d still be here. I am persistent that way (get it geeks of the world?!?! HA??? Ug… nevermind lol).

OK.

Ug.

WARNING: IF you have a very sensitive sense of humor (or none at all)… PLEASE STOP READING THIS POSTING.

My title tonight varied from, “How Planning Poker is like Unprotected Sex” to the one you see you actually displayed.

Guess it is at least a little more politically correct.

SO.

Um.

How can Planning Poker look like a one night stand?

Let me see if that can be answered sufficiently….

1) When you leave a Product Owner out of the process, you are at risk of waking up the next morning wanting to gnaw your left arm off. Clear?

OK.

Next one.

2) A Product Backlog does not have to be something that the Scrum Gods (aka Mr. Schwaber or others) think is perfect. Here is a fair question for you…. “Does it meet the needs of your customer?” If yes, all is good. If no, hire me (smile). Um. Dunno what that has to do with a one night stand (sorry).

3) Scrum Planning Poker without a Product Owner lands you in Fantasy Island. And. You cannot get off. Much like drinking and partying which can lead to the one night stand. You know, cannot get off the Island. And… never get to “Done.”

4) You cannot do any type of real release planning. Just like a one night stand, you may wind up with something you will have to live with for the rest of your life in about 10 months with not a clue it was coming (see my “Making Babies” post). Well, you saw it building and growing, but you have no idea what you are in for.

5) Hmmm…. I think the number one reason was the best (lol). Let me think. Oh…. this thing called “Group Think” may take place where everyone makes ASSumptions about the other. Can lead to going back to #1 in this list (smile).

6) Having a Product Owner there is like wearing a…. hmmm… do I dare say it? Nope. Use your imagination if you can. And. If it is missing it may feel fine but your team can wind up catching something that is hard to get rid of – or even cause your team to die.

7) And I guess my final word of advice… If you find yourself out during that “last call” and someone has that “five beer” look… GO HOME ALONE. This can be paralleled to playing Planning Poker without a Product Owner. If the Product Owner is not there… CANCEL THE MEETING.

Wow.

Was that the most inuendo-filled-posting I have ever posted? I think the most inuendo-filled-COMIC-STRIP was the one on CSM Training. Strange how that is the most downloaded comic strip on the site (smile).

Hehe… It was a little fun.

Now… back to the work thing.

And remember your PRODUCT OWNER!

If you or your friends [or enemies] have not signed up for FREE updates to this blog, please Subscribe to Implementing Scrum via Email!

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!

OK.

This week may be the week that actually dates people reading this blog.

Tattoo. Not Toto.

Scary.

But true.

Admittedly I have had grey hair for a while (that is one of the reasons I keep it short short lol) and I know I am one of those people “in between” on the high and low-age readership of this group. Next year will be 20 years in the industry for me, so I do have some real life experience. And for you, a lot of this life is lived working with clients on Scrum Projects around the world.

And.

This may be one of my favorite cartoons Tony has done to date. This has been one that has been brewing and talked about for over a year with clients and class participants.

And as usual, Tony nailed it (got it right for the non-Americans — this is a good thing (smile)).

Maybe for tonight I just leave you with the cartoon.

An give you a little more about it as the week progresses.

I am on the road.

And wow do I have some ideas and opinions on this one.

See where this one cartoon strip can lead you?

First… see if you get the context of it!

Here is the cheater link if you have no clue (and THAT is OK!).

Please read part two here

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!

I am announcing another test (remember — inspect and adapt) on our site at implementingscrum.com.

Know what a Product Backlog is?

I am opening the Product Backlog to you — the reader — for input.

Is it the perfect tool for this? Maybe not.

However.

Let’s see if we can get some things started on here.

You can read more about it (see the product backlog and be able to enter your ideas into the product backlog) here.

Thank you.

- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com

Today I am addressing something that has been bothering me — and others in the industry too — and maybe even you, my great reader!

Scrum talks about having having working software at the end of every Sprint (or iteration).

Wow.

Not a Requirements Document. Working Software.

Not a Design Specification. Working Software.

Not a great Architecture PowerPoint Presentation. Working Software.

Not Compiled Code. Working Software.

Not an incredible Test Plan with Automated Testing and complete coverage. Working Software.

Yikes.

Get the point here?

Not too preachy I hope (smile).

That is awesome, right?

“Working Software” then became recast or known a, “Potentially Shippable Product.”

Huh?

Is there a difference?

Yes.

There is a difference.

Think about it.

In your Scrum Teams today, do you have someone from your Production and Support areas involved with your Sprint on a daily basis? How about the Daily Scrum (or Daily Stand-up meeting)? What about in your Sprint Planning? Planning Poker?

Any planning?

At all?

Hmmm.

Now OK.

We may have different definitions of Production and Support people. You can look at them as one separate team, two separate teams, or actually part of your Scrum Team.

In Agile and Scrum, I’d argue that the Production and Support people should be an integral part of the Scrum Team.

In the end, it is the Scrum Team agreeing on the definition of, “Done” for the Sprint (or iteration).

And where does Working Software actually spend most of its usable life?

Say it with me now… “In Production and Support.”

Wow.

What a paradigm shift in the way you are working today.

Or is it?

And.

Think about this.

If your Scrum Team does not include the Production and Support people into your Scrum Team, you may be creating more “Working Software” than the rest of organization can handle.

What? You may be asking yourself?

Are you kidding me?

Nope.

I see this.

Often.

And.

One way I advise clients about handling this situation is to include the Production and Support people into the Scrum Team.

Do they always listen?

Nah.

And then they have a big dump truck full of stuff (waste…. work in process…. inventory….).

What does this cost an organization?

What is this costing your organization today?

Do you care?

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!

Please note:

Tomorrow will most likely be the last comic strip for the end of 2007. Tony (our artist!) is planning on taking a two week hiatus between now and the new year. This is good stuff and shows he works on having a life (something we talk about a lot on here). While he is gone, I may do a little refactoring on the site and add some additional material and ideas.

If you have any ideas about the content for the remainder of this year, please contact me anytime and we can chat, email, or meet face-to-face.

I have a lot of great plans to be unveiled for 2008.

For those of you who are “stuck” doing the work thing over the upcoming holidays — spend some time surfing the net — specifically at this site and learn more about your craft and how to get better at it. Find something you like? Pass it on to your friends (they do not even need to be geeks!).

So… Tomorrow we will introduce the last comic strip of 2007.

Hope you enjoy it!

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!

Thanks for continuing to read the series this week about the ImplementingScrum Forum and the entries I’d like to highlight for you. Hopefully also you take the time to register as a member – it is FREE and I do not sell or rent your name or email address to anyone!

Good day.

The topic today is “Done” and what that means on a Scrum Team.

For those of you practicing Scrum today, think about how important this is.

For those of you who are not yet practicing Scrum today, remember when you start that it is a very important topic to discuss with each of your Scrum Teams.

Today we continue examining some of the postings and related comments at www.implementingscrum.com and the forum.

This entry is going to ask you to look at the topic, “Developer Done, or all done?“. Go ahead and take a look at it.

Any new ideas or comments you’d like to add to this topic?

You may also want to check out the following blog postings and comments related to this:

Done. Really?
Who’s Your Product Owner?
Welcome to Oz.

Thanks for continuing to read this — or welcome new people reading and subscribing to this forum!

- mike vizdos

Have a great day and thank you for your time.

- mike vizdos
www.implementingscrum.com
www.michaelvizdos.com

PS –> Want to join the Forum? Click here!

Thanks for the positive feedback I have received so far on the idea for this week. It is good to hear and see that people are interested and some are learning about the forum for the first time!

One of the most viewed threads on this forum is called, “Understanding Velocity“. It has some great information and questions / answers that help clear up (I think) the usage of story points for measuring velocity within a Sprint and for Product Backlog Planning purposes.

You may also want to check out the following blog postings and comments related to this topic:

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Over.
Scrum = Communication.
Ya Got to Know When to Fold ‘Em.
Burn Baby Burn.

Hope this is helpful and please feel free to add to this or other threads located at the forum.

Get involved!

Have a great day and thank you for your time.

- mike vizdos
www.implementingscrum.com
www.michaelvizdos.com

PS –> Want to join the Forum? Click here!

We have a LOT of comic strips (I think we are are approaching 50!) and of course our characters. At this point, all the artwork on the site is “optimized” for the web viewing (meaning if you try to print them they are not “book” quality). This will take time to do.

So.

Instead of me rushing to convert all the artwork and creating a lot of products and an online store (bla bla bla)… I figured I’d ask YOU and see if there is any interest in merchandise for you and your teams. Am thinking T-Shirts, Mugs, and whatever cool stuff you can think of doing.

That’s where YOU come in.

Please let me know if there is any interest in merchandise from the site.

It is not a commitment to order, but rather actually me talking to my customers before trying to deliver something. Wow. How Agile .

If you can, please take a few moments and send me your thoughts.

I’d really appreciate the feedback!

And also don’t forget to tell your teams and friends about the site (thank you).

Gotta run….

Please send comments, questions, criticisms, ideas, or whatever here.

You can also enter The Forum to discuss this entry and other Scrum topics. Thank you!