The Agile Facilitator Kevin Barron Business Analysis Practice Lead Hewlett-Packard New Zealand

Technology is easy, but people… Focus Communication Commitment Enthusiasm Hierarchy Power Consensus Conflict

Focus

Communication

Commitment

Enthusiasm

Hierarchy

Power

Consensus

Conflict

Agile characteristics Managing limited time to deliver alot Harness varied roles and experience Use people to best effect Defined business goal but dynamic path to get there Use visualisation as communication aid

Managing limited time to deliver alot

Harness varied roles and experience

Use people to best effect

Defined business goal but dynamic path to get there

Use visualisation as communication aid

Soft skills have a place in our projects How valued are soft skills over technical? Projects are multi-disciplinary and collaborative

How valued are soft skills over technical?

Projects are multi-disciplinary and collaborative

Mr Barron is in a meeting…

So what’s wrong with meetings? Meeting goal is unclear Vague, non existent agenda No time limits on discussions No process to work through No preparation by participants Circular discussions Argument not debate Individuals dominate No progress checking No closure or actions

Meeting goal is unclear

Vague, non existent agenda

No time limits on discussions

No process to work through

No preparation by participants

Circular discussions

Argument not debate

Individuals dominate

No progress checking

No closure or actions

Why do workshops work? There is an owner Agreed objectives and deliverables Committed, empowered participants A process is prepared A process is followed An impartial, trained, skilled facilitator

There is an owner

Agreed objectives and deliverables

Committed, empowered participants

A process is prepared

A process is followed

An impartial, trained, skilled facilitator

Preparation For I have six good serving men They taught me all I knew. Their names are What and Where and When And How , and Why , and Who. Rudyard Kipling

Workshop objectives – business driven

Drive the agenda from the objective … but stay flexible

Frequent delivery Aim for interim deliverables

Empowered participants

Create ideas through iteration and synergy

Issues Blah blah blah And another thing What’s more… Complexity Importance Idea Idea Idea Use visuals for communication Agenda Do this Do that Do more

Issues

Blah blah blah

And another thing

What’s more…

Agenda

Do this

Do that

Do more

Brown paper planning Timebox planning May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team 4 Team 5 Team 6 Team 7 Project Project Plan Timebox 1 Timebox 2 Timebox 3

Timebox planning

Record visually

How many participants?

How many participants?

How many participants?

How many participants?

The right room is important for a successful outcome Refreshments Observers Flip charts White board Scribe Participants Wall space

The facilitator A diplomat A mediator A referee A guide A pioneer A mug Experienced, trained, accredited?

A diplomat

A mediator

A referee

A guide

A pioneer

A mug

Experienced, trained, accredited?

The facilitator’s role changes as the group matures Facilitator Dialogue/ Discussion Full Productivity Cohesion Start-Up Group Time and level of activity Time and level of activity

Facilitator’s responsibilities Listening Reflecting Summarising Interpreting Challenging Checking progress Problem solving Crisis intervention Confronting Referring Refocusing Supporting Observing

When to use workshops When there are lots of stakeholders When you have a complicated issue When you need to be efficient When you are expecting trouble When you want to be creative

When there are lots of stakeholders

When you have a complicated issue

When you need to be efficient

When you are expecting trouble

When you want to be creative

When NOT to use workshops When you are bored or feeling lonely When there are only a few of you When you want a scapegoat When a meeting will do

When you are bored or feeling lonely

When there are only a few of you

When you want a scapegoat

When a meeting will do

Example Workshops Agile assessment Planning (project, iteration / timebox / sprint, training, cutover) Modelling process, functions, data, screens Requirements gathering and prioritisation Test strategy Architecture and design Retrospectives Prototype planning, design or review Option evaluation Problem definition and resolution Risk identification, assessment and mitigation planning

Facilitated workshops demonstrate an agile project’s values, attitudes and skills Empowered team working Collaboration and team spirit Speed Quality of deliverables Synergy Creativity Business focus

Empowered team working

Collaboration and team spirit

Speed

Quality of deliverables

Synergy

Creativity

Business focus