The slides from my Agile Testing Days 2016 conference workshop about complexity and system modeling.

1. IT’S MORE COMPLEX
THAN YOU THINK
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2. IT’S MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK - ATD17
ABOUT ME
‣ Software developer
‣ Agile coach
‣ LeSS certified trainer
‣ Father and husband
‣ Amateur DJ
‣ Depeche mode fanclub
member.

3. IT’S MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK - ATD17
ABOUT YOU…
Take a few minutes, get to know each other
‣ Tell a story about your weirdest job

4. LOCAL
OPTIMIZATION
Is the enemy of a well
working system

5. LOCAL OPTIMIZATION EXAMPLE 1 :
FOCUS ON CHOPPING TOMATOES OVER DELIVERING FOOD

6. LOCAL OPTIMIZATION EXAMPLE 2 :
FOCUS ON PLAYER JOB TITLE OVER MOVING THE BALL?

7. IT’S MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK - ATD17
EXAMPLES OF LOCAL OPTIMIZATIONS
what are examples of local
optimizations you have
witnessed?

8. CAUSATION FALLACY:
WE BELIEVE THAT VERY EFFECT HAS A CAUSE…
AND WE CAN TELL WHICH IS WHICH.

10. Systems thinking is a
discipline for seeing whole
rather than parts
For seeing patterns of
change rather that static
snapshots, and for
understanding and subtle
interconnectedness that
gives living systems their
unique character.”

11. THERE
IS NO
BLAME

12. System modeling (aka Causal loop diagram) is a tool to
learn and better understand system dynamics.
Using system modeling helps us to apply a systems
thinking approach.

13. SYSTEM MODELING BASICS
Linear -
More A leads to more B
Opposite -
More A leads to less B
Delayed -
More A leads to more B
with a delay
A
A
A
B
B
B

14. IT’S MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK - ATD17
SYSTEM OF (NOT) DOING HOMEWORK
“My child often does not do his homework because he prefers
to play with the computer or watch tv”
Start with these attributes (verbatim)
‣ % of homework complete
‣ amount of homework pending
‣ Time required to prepare homework
‣ Difficulty of homework

15. IT’S MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK - ATD17
REVISIT YOUR SYSTEM MODEL
Can you detect relationships that are not “absolute truth” but a
results of your assumptions?
For each relationship that is based on an assumption add a
visual element to mark the assumption
A B
ASSUMPTION WE HAVE EXPLAINING WHY A->B

16. WEINBERG-BROOKS’ LAW:
MORE SOFTWARE
PROJECTS HAVE GONE
AWRY FROM
MANAGEMENT’S TAKING
ACTION BASED ON
INCORRECT SYSTEM
MODELS THAN FOR ALL
OTHER CAUSES
COMBINED.

17. IT’S MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK - ATD17
SYSTEM OF DELIVERING VALUE TO CUSTOMERS
“Our teams don't deliver enough value to our customers”
Start with these attributes (verbatim)
‣ Amount of Value delivered (in $$$)
‣ Number of bugs in the software
‣ Number of people on our program
‣ Time invested in Refactoring

18. WE ARE LOOKING FOR REINFORCING FEEDBACK LOOPS

19. IT’S MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK - ATD17
DETECT THE LOOPS IN YOUR SYSTEM
What can you do in order to:
‣ Amplify these loops.
‣ Reduce impact of these
loops

20. IT’S MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK - ATD17
SYSTEM MODELING
‣ Gather multiple people that represent different
aspects of the situation.
‣ Describe the situation or dynamic you want to
investigate
‣ Collect measurable factors related to the situation.
‣ Start building your model
‣ Add assumptions, factors, relationships.
‣ Observe the outcome and suggest experiments

21. Celebration of learning

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23. Final things

25. THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
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HTTP://BIT.DO/ATD16