Ok.
OK.
I surrender.
Please.
Let’s stop the misquotes and fires about the virus-like position that has been taken by multiple people I quoted and see if we can come up with an answer that makes sense for all of us.
Especially you — the reader.
If you recall… two nights ago I presented a comic strip and blog entry about something I had seen over the weekend.
Wow.
I did not even come close to expecting the traffic and responses related to that one.
The first response (of many) came in yesterday morning:
Hi Mike,
I didn’t see Jason’s post, but as a preacher’s kid (make that double preacher’s kid) and ScrumMaster (woof), I would take Jason’s comments as a complement. I DO think you are like a preacher – but like you said – not preachy, more like a spiritual leader. Scrum and spirituality are very much linked in my mind because of the emphasis on continuous improvement.
As Ghandi said – “Be the change you want in the world.” I believe that you do that by helping people question their beliefs, behaviors and discuss them. Like you, my pastor does not us what to think or how to think it, but ask those probing questions to help us come to our own core values. I find this to be generally true in the UCC – United Church of Christ.
Anyway – I read your site religiously (ha ha). I use your cartoons to prompt discussion and to keep the humor in the air when things get hard. Please continue to post.
Thanks,
Christy Zuzelo
Ohhhhhhhh K. Um….. Daughter of two preachers kids? Yikes. I will not even delve into THAT topic here (smile) but I am sure Christy is a well-adjusted adult who loves my comics.
[Christy thank you for the note -- yours was one of many I wanted to post up here as a follow-up!]
So then,
Out of the blue I see this posting. Ashwin has been a great supporter (albeit it quiet up to his posting!) as most of you are.
Really?
You?
Quiet on this topic?
Why?
Plenty of others are joining into the fray..
HL Arlidge here.
And then someone named Ashwin (another long time reader of the blog) posts this entry.
Wow.
Jason Gorman got the guts (this is an Americanism) to put up his original posting with the cartoon, located here.
Phew. I do not need to post it here! I have permission to do so by the way… but go to his site to see what is happening!
Arlin fired more back here.
And then Jason more here.
Following all of this?
Wow.
Will it continue?
Probably.
is this a good thing?
What do you think? Post a comment or on your blog and let me know!
I do understand that getting stuff like this is important to everyone inside — and “outside” the Agile Software Development Community.
And, for the record, check out my posting on “ScrumMaster and Snake Oil.” A fun read. Or at least I think so.
Thank you.
- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
PS — I may have missed something here. But please post comments to this posting at the end!
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!
February 6, 2008
Wow.
The posting from yesterday seems to have started some additional conversations today.
And people are taking a stand.
More tomorrow as I see where it leads… and will send you an update on the fun conversations happening around this topic.
Thank you!
- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
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!
February 5, 2008
In French
Welcome back to a new day at www.implementingscrum.com.
Good day.
I am sorry I was unable to write about this topic further last evening. Life happens and I thank you for staying with us.
You know how some days you just know things will not come out sounding correct? Last night I had one of those feelings.
So. I stopped.
Until tonight.
Without further ado….
I am blogging about Social Networking Sites.
Now…. before you think you hear crickets singing in the trees from the dead silence you may think this topic deserves…. please hold on and let me explain. There is actually a reason for using Social Networking Sites when you are on Scrum Teams.
Can you think of some off the top of your head?
Seriously.
Think of the possibilities!
Got some? Write them down, as that list — I hope — will motivate you to sign-up or become more active in some of the sites I mention this evening.
Trust me. I know there are a ton of Social Networking sites out there (heck, I am working with a few clients who are developing their own portals for niche markets today!).
I’d like to talk about the main Social Networking sites I am using today, along with “why” I am using them, and for how long. Will it be an exhaustive list?
No.
Do they work for me?
Yes. In different ways.
And.
In an Agile fashion, if it is delivering the results you expect, maybe that is “good enough” for now.
Will these change in the future?
Of course.
So.
Here is a snapshot of a few “Social Networking Sites” I use today (along with my links to them) with the main reasons why I use them.
I use three main Social Networking Sites today.
They include the following:
- Plaxo
- Twitter.
I use Plaxo to keep my address book on my computer and iPhone up-to-date.
Why is this important?
I see a lot of people move around quite a bit — both personally and from company-to-company. As people become members of Plaxo, it keeps me up-to-date. If I have a business relationship with a person who moves from Company A to Company B, at least I am aware of it. As people then move from Company B to Company X, I know about it and stay informed.
From a Business standpoint, I find this information valuable so I can keep in contact.
Or at least try.
Which brings me to the next one I use, LinkedIn. I have been a member of that service since the product was in Beta many years ago. My personal network has over 500 people (who I have worked with in the past!) and the way this works is to “link you” to other people’s connections — out to what they call “degrees.” From spending the time using this tool, I am approaching almost 4 MILLION other people I can actually contact through the connections my direct contacts with me have.
My link to this profile is just below on the button.
This has been a powerful tool for me at the business level both for introductions to others — and making connections for people that I know and trust. Also, this is a place where people can find out more about me at a professional level, and even feel free to leave (or read) comments from people I have worked with in the past. It is something that I also use when talking to new people I meet and may want to do business with.
At the personal level, I got pulled into 2008 with FaceBook. OK… so this is what I thought would be a totally “personal” kind of site. It turns out that a lot of my contacts from the two services listed above also use FaceBook… and I am learning more about them too.
My “profile information” can bee seen in the little signature thingee below.
Are there other Social Networking sites out there?
Yes.
Will I join them.
Maybe.
I do think as the “open standards” (where the different Social Networking Sites start “talking” to each other and “sharing” information) come about in this space, it will be a lot easier for people to become even more involved.
If they want.
I have personally not hopped on the Twitter bandwagon yet, since I really do not think people need to know everything I am doing every second of every day. Um. I don’t even want to remember that sometimes LOL.
OK. I am now on Twitter. Follow me! Man, how hip am I now!?!?!?
What does this all have to do with Scrum?
Remember.
Scrum deals with what?
People.
Not technology. There are plenty of other Agile Software Development techniques out there for that.
People.
People.
People.
Are you beginning to see how there may actually be a connection to these Social Networking sites and Scrum?
Do some thinking about it.
And get out there and do some personal and professional networking.
It is a small world.
Trust me. I travel it regularly (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!
January 15, 2008
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