Presentation supported by a game for global project teams presented at the Agile Lean Europe Conference 2011 in Berlin

1. A Game for Global Players
With AGILE MINDSET from a supplier to a partner
Sabine Canditt, sabine.canditt@allianz.de
Eva Kisonova, eva.kisonova@siemens.com
Siemens Program and System Engineering s r.o.

2. Siemens Software House in Slovakia
One of the biggest software houses in Slovakia
(~ 750 employees)
working in 2 areas in CEE Cluster of Siemens
Development Center of Corporate Technology
Communication, Media and Technology Development
2 Siemens Program and System Engineering s.r.o.

3. Building up agile mindset
Supplier:
“They (customer,
Siemens headquarters)
decide everything, Partners:
write specifications.
“They and we
We (in Slovakia) just deliver"
work together as self-
responsible partners"
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4. From a supplier to a partner
Our customer wants
Frequent delivery
Just-in-time features
Increased business value
Our management wants
More project responsibility for our teams
Integrated topics, value added services
Highly motivated employees
We all get
More transparency
Close collaboration
Domain knowledge
Short feedback loops
Self improvement
simply A PARTNERSHIP
4 Siemens Program and System Engineering s.r.o.

5. Building up agile mindset
Our management provides for
Agile trainings for teams and management
Direct support (agile rooms, management attention)
Experience sharing (Workshops, unit retrospectives, InterestNet, PM Club)
Internal customer provides for
Agile transition programs
Coaching
Product Owners
Cultural challenges
Organizational functions vs. agile roles
“Us”-“They“ phenomena
Cultural diversity
…
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6. Cultural differences
In an ideal world…
The policemen would be English,
the car mechanics would be German,
the cooks would be French,
the innkeepers would be Swiss,
and the lovers would be Italian.
In a living hell…
The policemen would be German
the car mechanics would be French
the cooks would be English
the innkeepers would be Italian
and the lovers would be Swiss
Source: http://www.analytictech.com/mb021/cultural.htm
Fotos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catdonmit/2447637952/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hasznosagi/2798176662/
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7. Germans and Slovaks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vizzzual-dot-com/2593623974/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredericjon/4783989440/
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8. Germans and Slovaks
Germans think Slovaks are: Slovaks think they are:
• Lacking own initiative • Broadminded
• Obedient to authority • Suppressed
• Slow • Solid
• Backward • Modest
• Too shy to ask • Careful
Germans think they are: Slovaks think Germans are:
• Disciplined • Disciplined
• Bureaucratic • Formal
• Honest, direct • Arrogant
• Hard working • Uncreative
• Reliable • Rich ;)
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9. Different cultures in one team
Different ways of expressing oneself
Different ways of looking at things
Misinterpretations: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markb120/2952951404
High power distance is (mis)interpreted as command-and-control
Low power distance is (mis)interpreted as laissez-faire
High individualism is (mis)interpreted as egoism
Low individualism is (mis)interpreted as egalitarianism
High openness is (mis)interpreted as fear
Low openness is (mis)interpreted as dishonesty
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10. Diversity
Can you think of advantages to have different cultures in one team?
If yes, what could be done to make best use of these advantages?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58847482@N03/5871095906/
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11. Dichotomy Game
Original idea: http://www.thiagi.com/pfp/IE4H/september2007.html#Framegame
Purpose:
Understand and accept cultural diversity
Please form groups of 3 persons. One person in each group is the judge.
Look at the 1st dichotomy and think about pros and cons to support each
side of the dichotomy.
The 2 persons in the group take the 2 words of the dichotomy (if in doubt
the judge decides who takes which word). Find arguments to support this
side and to attack the other side. (1 min)
Now each person presents the arguments (1 min per person). The judge
evaluates by secretly distributing 13 points between the presentations.
Write the numbers on a sheet of paper and place them upside down next
to the participants.
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12. Dichotomies
conformist - nonconformist
factual - intuitive
direct - indirect
fast - slow
egalitarian - hierarchical
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rightbrainphotography/2849414417/
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13. Dichotomies
abstract - concrete yes, and - yes, but
accommodating - competing rational – emotional
active - passive realistic - idealistic
big picture - details
command and control - collaborative and consensual
conformist - nonconformist
decisive - indecisive
direct - indirect
egalitarian - hierarchical
factual - intuitive
fast - slow
formal - informal
harmonious – disruptive
individualistic - team oriented
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14. Debriefing Options
Do you believe that people who belong to different cultures and
different groups may look at each of these dichotomies differently?
Are there any dichotomies about which all human beings will have the
same preference?
How difficult was it to come up with positive points about the side that
you personally dislike? Similarly, how difficult was it to come up with
negative points about the side that you personally like?
What did you learn in this game that can
help you to make decisions or resolve
conflicts?
How does this game relate to the Scrum
values “Focus, Respect, Commitment,
Openness, Courage”?
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15. From a supplier to a partner
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16. Thanks for your attention
Siemens Program and System Engineering s r.o.