A quick overview of agile methodologies and concepts, with an emphasis on how families and students can use it in everyday life. Also used the example of how we built a demo-able app (NomNom Finder) in less than 3 days using agile methods.

1. Agile In Your Life
Hala Saleh
http://www.halasaleh.com
@HalaSaleh1

2. Who Am I?
• Hala Saleh, CSM, CSP, PMP
• History/Evolution:
Developer -> QA -> PM -> Agile Coach/ Consultant
• Today: All of the above (ok, maybe minus Developer)
PLUS:
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

3. Ice? What Ice?!
• Find a partner, and take 5 minutes to find out
some cool stuff about them:
1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of
your life, what would that food be?
2. If you had to choose 3 movies to watch for the
rest of your life, what 3 movies would you pick?
3. What about your work/school gets you excited?
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

4. Agile Whaaat?
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com
• Show of hands: On a scale of 1 – 5, how
familiar are you with “agile” development?
1. Not familiar with agile at all
2. Heard about it, not familiar with details of any specific
methodology
3. Moderately familiar, can name/describe at least 1 agile
methodology/framework at a high level
4. Familiar, can explain details of at least 1 agile
methodology & can name others
5. Very familiar, can explain details of more than 1 agile
methodology & have experience implementing at least 1

5. HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
Agile Methodology:
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

6. What does ‘Agile’ mean to you?
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

7. Quiz: What is Agile?!
• Working in groups of 3 – 4 people, write
down what you think Agile is in no more
than 2 – 3 sentences. (5 minutes)
• Share!
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

8. The BA (Before Agile) Era:
A Brief History
• In the beginning, there were factories
• Manufacturing had a known set of
requirements, and needed a highly
repeatable process
• The answer: A linear, sequential process
model that produced predictable results
every time
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

9. Along Came Software
• In the 1960 and 70s, the software development industry
inherited the manufacturing process model
• The “Waterfall” model for software development:
Development
Tes9ng
Deployment
Maintenance
Requirements
Design
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

10. Then Came Trouble
• For cases where requirements and technologies are
known and do not change, waterfall works (sometimes
really well!)
• But software is complex. And customers of software are
even more complex.
• Requirements and technologies now change faster than
ever before.
• Development teams need to be able to adapt and
respond to change in order to be competitive and fast to
market.
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

11. Enter: Agile
• In the 1980s and 90s, new software development
methods emerged that were more lightweight and
responsive to change.
• In 2001, a group of 17 software development
experts and thought leaders met in Snowbird,
Utah.
• The goal: Figuring out how to better develop
software.
• The result: The Agile Manifesto (set of values)
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

12. VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
Agile Methodology:
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

13. The Agile Manifesto
“We are uncovering better ways of developing software by
doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have
come to value:
• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan
That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the
items on the left more.”*
*Source: agilemanifesto.org

14. Agile Principles
• The Agile Manifesto is based on 12 principles. See here:
Agile Principles
• Discussion: Key Agile Principles and Takeaways
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

15. Agile: Defined
• Agile (traditional definition):
An iterative and incremental approach to
developing software that incorporates
continuous feedback loops, adaptability,
and collaboration.
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

16. Agile: Not Just for Software!
• Agile methodologies are being used in
industries including:
– Marketing, Sales, Insurance, Legal practices,
Academics, and even: Manufacturing!
• Cool examples:
– WikiSpeed - Manufacturer of ultra efficient, low-
cost cars: WikiSpeed Video
– Family Life: Agile Parenting Video
– Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing: Case Study
– Agile in Academics (Higher Ed)
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

17. Agile: RE-defined
• Agile (redefined):
An iterative and incremental approach to
achieving an end-result (product, project,
goal) that incorporates continuous feedback
loops, adaptability, and collaboration.
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

18. Agile Manifesto for Education
• Students and relationships over class plans and
tools
• Making progress over comprehensive
documentation
• Student collaboration over grade/ assignment
negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan
That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we
value the items on the left more.
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

19. Self-Organizing Teams: Why?
• What do you think of when you hear the term
“self-organizing team”?
• Self-organizing teams are 30 – 50% more
productive*
• Self-organizing teams are motivated
– People are motivated by a sense of contribution,
personal growth, and autonomy
– See
Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates
us
• Accountability!
* Source: Esther Derby
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

20. Agile At My House
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

21. COMMON FRAMEWORKS
Agile Methodology:
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

22. Common Agile Frameworks
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

23. Agile Frameworks:
Common Themes
• Iterative AND incremental
• Emphasize collaboration (with customer,
stakeholders, other team members)
• Empower teams (self-organization, cross-
functional team members)
• Responsive to change
• Create a culture and environment that values
PEOPLE over PROCESS
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

24. SCRUM: A HANDS-ON INTRO
Agile Methodology:
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

25. Scrum. (Scrum?!)
• In Rugby: A scrum is a team pack where
everyone acts together to move the ball
down the field of play.
• In Agile: Scrum is the most widely-
adopted agile framework
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

26. Scrum Framework
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

27. Scrum Artifacts:
Product Backlog
• Prioritized list of work items: tasks, requirements
(user stories). (A.k.a Stuff That Needs To Get Done)
• Prioritization is mostly value-driven (i.e. Biggest
Bang for the Buck):
– In software: What items have the highest business
value?
– In education: What curriculum items have the highest
educational value?
• Dynamic: Reprioritized/revisited constantly
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

28. Product Backlog Example
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com
Priority
Product
Backlog
Item
Descrip6on
1
As
a
student
of
Advanced
Algebra
II,
I
need
to
complete
my
weekly
assignment
by
Tuesday
at
9
pm
2
As
a
student
of
Mrs.
Jones’
piano
class,
I
need
to
prac9ce
for
45
minutes
3
days
a
week
3
As
a
student
in
Advanced
Biology,
I
need
to
write
a
term
paper
by
June
10th,
2014
4
As
a
crea9ve
wri9ng
student,
I
need
to
prac9ce
free
wri9ng
in
my
journal
once
a
day
5
As
an
aspiring
soPware
engineer,
I
need
to
spend
at
least
two
hours
prac9cing
and
learning
new
technologies

29. Sprint Backlog:
An Example
• Read
Chapter
6
of
Algebra
textbook
• Solve
Review
Ques9ons
• Solve
Chapter
Ques9ons
P:
1
Title:
Algebra
Homework
As
a
student
of
Advanced
Algebra
II,
I
need
to
complete
my
weekly
assignment
by
Tuesday
at
9
pm
• Prac9ce
Pages
13-­‐14
in
Piano
book
(Monday)
• Prac9ce
Pages
20-­‐22
in
Piano
book
(Wednesday)
• Review
Pages
13-­‐14
AND
20-­‐22
in
Piano
book
(Friday)
P:
2
Title:
Piano
Prac9ce
As
a
student
of
Mrs.
Jones’
piano
class,
I
need
to
prac9ce
for
45
minutes
3
days
a
week
•
Finish
reading
last
chapter
of
Fluorescent
Plant
Life
• Write
outline
for
Mutant
Plant
Life
research
paper
P:
3
Title:
Biology
Term
Paper
As
a
student
in
Advanced
Biology,
I
need
to
write
a
term
paper
by
June
10th,
2014
• Sprint Goal: Finish weekly assignments on time and finish
outline of Biology paper
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

30. Product Backlog:
User Stories
Title
As a <user>
I want to <action>
so that <benefit>
Priority:
Size:
Front:
Back (Acceptance Criteria):
Acceptance Criteria:
When <user does X>
Then <Y should happen>
When <user does X>
Then <Y should happen>
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

31. Scrum Artifacts:
Team Task Board
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

32. Scrum Activities:
Daily Scrum
• Also called “Daily Standup”
• 3 Questions:
– What did you do yesterday?
– What will you do today?
– Is there anything blocking/ impeding you?
• Time-boxed to 15 minutes
• NOT for status, rather for peer accountability and
coordination/ collaboration
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

33. Scrum Activities:
Sprint Review/ Demo
• Team shares what they’ve accomplished
• Review shows real progress
• Product Owner either accepts or rejects
work items at the review
• Rejected items get put back into the
backlog (may be reprioritized)
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

34. Scrum Activities:
Sprint Retrospective
• Regularly and frequently, reflect as a team on
what is/is not working
• Whole team participates
• Goal is to identify and acknowledge:
– Things that are going well
– Things that could be improved
– Specific actions the team can take to improve
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

35. Retrospectives:
A Deeper Look
• Learn how to facilitate retrospectives; they are a
powerful tool.
– Read: Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great
(Esther Derby, Diana Larsen)
• Retrospectives can be a great addition to a project-
based learning environment
• Retrospectives contribute to continuous improvement
• Retrospectives are part of a powerful Inspect-and-
Adapt cycle
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

36. Retrospectives:
An Example

37. BUILDING NOMNOM FINDER
Agile in Your Life:
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

38. NomNom Finder:
Find Food Trucks now
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

39. NomNom Finder:
Birth of an idea
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

40. NomNom Finder:
Team Gets to Work
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

41. NomNom Finder:
52 Hours Later
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

42. RESOURCES
Agile in Your Life:
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com

43. Presentation Links
• WikiSpeed - Manufacturer of ultra efficient, low-cost cars:
WikiSpeed Video
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8jdx-lf2Dw)
• Family Life: Agile Parenting Video
(http://www.ted.com/talks/
bruce_feiler_agile_programming_for_your_family.html)
• Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing: Case Study
(http://agile2010.agilealliance.org/files/A%20Non-Software%20Scrum
%20Experience%20PDF.pdf)
• Agile in Academics (Higher Ed)
(http://cf.agilealliance.org/program/files/9604.pdf)
• See Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc)
©
2014
Hala
Saleh
www.halasaleh.com