Distributed ScrumMasters and the art of digital facilitation

Distributed
ScrumMasters
& the art
of digital facilitation
@davidjbland
#Agile2010

ScrumMaster
& Agile Coach
Introduced to
Agile Software
Development in 2002
Co-located &
Distributed Teams
Tech Startups &
Enterprise Organizations
financial – saas - ecommerce - counter terrorism

Distributed Scrum
is painful*
*especially for
unpreparedScrumMasters

Vanilla flavored Distributed Scrum is a myth

Training often focuses on co-location

Effective ScrumMasters
in co-locatedteams can be…
…ineffectivefor distributed teams

Tips that will help you find your way with Distributed Scrum

Virtual Scrum Boards

DistributedScrum is not an AgileLifecycle Management tool.

Complex tools can raise your barrier to adoption

Teams will channel
their frustrations
into the tool.

You’ll steer around the
usability flaws

Individuals and Interactions…
… over processes and tools
http://agilemanifesto.org/

Find the right balanceof tools for your team
vs.

Lightweight & low cost experience

Try a lightweightvirtual scrum board tool for 2 to 3 iterations

You’ll place the focus backonto your team

DistributedCommunication

Distribution generatesmore documentation
Daily Scrum Recaps
Documenting Impediments
Planning & Preparation
Reviews & Retrospectives

“I haven’t even opened my email today”
- Anonymous Developer

Online Text Chat
(8:00am) ScrumMaster:Yt….
(8:01am) ScrumMaster:You there?
(8:02am) ScrumMaster:hello?
(8:03am) ScrumMaster:HI
(8:04am) ScrumMaster:Ping me
(8:05am) ScrumMaster:yt?
(8:06am) ScrumMaster:what’s up
(8:07am) ScrumMaster:hi there…
(8:08am) ScrumMaster:YT?

Body languageis important

Fight for the video conference room

Setup 10 to 15minutes early

Stand Up

3 Questions(max overlap)
What did you do yesterday?
What will you do today?
What is in your way?

3Questions(min overlap)
What did you do today?
What will you do tomorrow?
What is in your way?

Feedback loops10 minutes vs. 10 hours

Removing impedimentswhile the team is asleep

Humanize the distributed teamexperience

Establishtrust with retrospectives

Being a mirror for distributed teams is difficult

“Metrics are people too”
- Eric Ries

Team membersare notresources

Cultureaffects your distributedteam

To Recap
- Start with a lightweight, virtual scrum board
- Use video chat whenever possible to communicate
- Humanize the distributed development experience

Questions?

Thank You &
Good Luck!
#Agile2010
@davidjbland

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Distributed ScrumMasters and the art of digital facilitation

by David Bland

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