“It’s all about execution” proclaims one popular Agile framework. But is it really just about execution? Software development organizations are knowledge work organizations, and they require different thinking about their primary constraints. In this session, we will explore better learning as a method to improve software development outcomes. Implementing feedback loops enhance the speed and frequency of learning. Understanding the ephemeral nature of tacit knowledge helps us optimize for focus and flow rather than utilization. A learning approach gives us a different lens to examine the traditional Lean and Agile themes of collaboration, work-in-process, and customer value. In knowledge work, improved learning enables effective execution. Without learning, execution just becomes motion.

1. Learning to Learn
Troy Tuttle
Lean Agile Coach
KanFlow.com
troy@kanflow.com
@troytuttlelinkedin.com/in/troytuttle
”Learning is not compulsory... neither
is survival.”
- W. Edwards Deming
"Without theory, experience has no meaning.
Without theory, one has no questions to ask.
Hence without theory there is no learning"
- W. Edwards Deming

2. What Do I Do?
@troytuttle
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Troy Tuttle
Lean Agile Coach
KanFlow.com
troy@kanflow.com

3. Say What? Learning…?
Much of the knowledge around Learning is how
individuals learn new things -- how our brains work,
learning styles, better teaching techniques, etc.
@troytuttle
This talk will explore Learning in terms of building
the capability for teams and organizations to
change course.

4. Learning Outcomes
• Feedback Loops
• Tacit Knowledge
• Double Loop Learning
• Anti-patterns
• Small Batches / Limited WIP
• “Expanding” Retrospectives
• Improvement Kata
ModelsApplication
Learning is the Constraint!
@troytuttle

5. Coding is Learning
For the programmers in the room, imagine
writing a relatively complex algorithm that
takes about a day to complete…
Now delete the code and write the algorithm again.
How long does it take the second time?
@troytuttle

6. The Work is Learning
Idea Analysis Design
Build
(Dev)
Test
“Learning” Phases “Execute” Phases
Deployment
Idea Analysis Design
Build
(Dev)
Test Deployment
“Learning” Phases “Execute”
Phases
Production
@troytuttle

7. Learning Through Feedback Loops
2 digit lottery example:
We can buy a two-digit lottery ticket for $1.
A winning number pays off $100.
Buy Two Digits at the Same Time:
Pay $1
Make Nothing
Make $100
99%
1%
Buy Two Digits with Feedback:
Pay $0.50
Make Nothing
Pay $0.50
90%
10%
Make Nothing
Make $100
90%
10%
Expected Payoff: Zero
Expected Payoff: $0.45
Reinertsen, The Principles of Flow @troytuttle

8. Learning Through Feedback Loops
Doing
DoneBacklog
F
E
I
DevelopmentTo Do
Done Doing Done
G D
A D
P1
B
T
TestingAnalysis
Doing
Team
P
Internal Stakeholder
C
Customer
How quickly are we learning?
@troytuttle
AA DD D T

9. Learning Through Feedback Loops
“It's in the doing of the work that we
discover the work we must do”
- Woody Zuill

10. “We can know more than we can tell.”
Tacit Knowledge: Learning and knowledge that cannot
be written down, and is difficult to express through
language. It requires a shared experience to understand.
Tacit Knowledge
Explicit Knowledge
@troytuttle

11. Tacit Knowledge
Tacit Knowledge Examples:
• Playing an instrument
• Speaking a language
• Social intuition
• Leadership
• Sales
• Humor
• Delivering Software Value as a Team
All require a Shared Experience to learn.
@troytuttle
Tacit Knowledge is fleeting!

12. Single and Double Loop Learning
The most common style of learning is just problem
solving—improving the system as it exists.
Single Loop Learning
More than just fixing the problem, this style of
learning questions the underlying assumptions,
values, and beliefs behind what we do.
Double Loop Learning
--Argyris and Schon, Theory in Practice, 1974
@troytuttle

13. Single and Double Loop Learning
Results
(What we Get)
Strategies and Techniques
(What we Do)
Assumptions
(What we Believe)
Leads to
Informs
Leads to more effective
Question beliefs and assumptions
--Argyris and Schon, Theory in Practice, 1974
@troytuttle

14. “Expanding” Retrospectives
Retrospectives are reflection tools
for teams and organizations
Single Loop Learning Double Loop Learning
Team system governed
by tacit assumptions
@troytuttle

15. Learning Anti-patterns
@troytuttle

16. Learning Anti-pattern #1
@troytuttle
Working too far ahead of the team
Backlog Design Develop Test Done
Delays cause tacit knowledge decay and re-learning
Sally
2 months away

17. Learning Anti-pattern #2
@troytuttle
Too much WIP and context switching
Backlog Design Develop Test Done
Context switching requires
constant tacit knowledge recreation
Sally

18. Learning Anti-pattern #3
Declaring the larger system (org) as off limits
Teams that only operate in their sphere of control ensure
the organization will never achieve transformational change
Double Loop
Learning
Team
system governed
by tacit assumptions
Off Limits!
Off Limits!

19. Improvement Kata
Awesome
Current Condition
Our Vision
Next Target Condition
Steps: PDCA
P
D
C
A
The Improvement Kata concept comes from
the Toyota Production System

20. Improvement Kata
How to get started with Kata:
Improvement Theme
Now / Current
Condition
Next Target
Condition
Definition of
Awesome
(vision)
Obstacles:
--Jimmy Janien, Crisp Blog, 2013@troytuttle

21. Improvement Kata
Practical Toyota Kata Format:
@troytuttle

22. Improvement Kata
@troytuttle

23. Application of Learning Models
ü Feedback loops enable learning
ü Small batches allow us to accelerate feedback loops
ü Much of our Knowledge is Tacit, so we must act on it
before it evaporates.
ü Reflection tools like “expanding” retrospectives
enable double loop learning
ü Improvement Kata provides structure for single and
double loop learning
@troytuttle

24. Learning to Learn
Troy Tuttle
Lean Agile Coach
KanFlow.com
troy@kanflow.com
@troytuttlelinkedin.com/in/troytuttle
”Learning is not compulsory... neither
is survival.”
- W. Edwards Deming
"Without theory, experience has no meaning.
Without theory, one has no questions to ask.
Hence without theory there is no learning"
- W. Edwards Deming