This document discusses strategies for staying lean and agile with a distributed team. It acknowledges that while being colocated is ideal, it is not always possible for distributed teams. As such, it recommends focusing on frequent and open communication using video when possible, externalizing work so everyone can participate, participating in remote user research, and visualizing work to build shared understanding despite physical separation. The overall message is that distributed teams can maintain lean and agile principles by prioritizing open communication, taking responsibility, and focusing on the reasons for practices rather than just following them.

1. Staying Lean and Agile with
a Distributed Team

2. Hi. I’m Ray.
Senior UX Consultant
at Catalyst Group in NYC
What about you?
15 years experience in Finance, Legal,
Education, Medical, Consumer

3. We strive to improve our process
Lean
Agile
Waterfall

4. Waterfall
1. Requirements specification
2. Design
3. Construction
4. Integration
5. Testing and debugging
6. Installation
7. Maintenance

5. Agile
●
Individuals and interactions
over processes and tools
●
Working software
over comprehensive documentation
●
Customer collaboration
over contract negotiation
●
Responding to change
over following a plan

6. Lean UX
Build
Learn
Measure

7. Lean UX
TEAM
Small, dedicated, colocated
Cross-functional
Problem-focused
No rockstars, ninjas, gurus
Externalize your work
Shared understanding

8. Lean UX
APPROACH
Continuous discovery
Making over analysis
Small batch size
GOOB (Get Out Of the Building)
Get out of deliverables
business

9. Lean UX
PHILOSOPHY
Learning over growth
Progress = Outcomes not output
Remove Waste
Permission to fail

10. But there are realities we have to deal with
We can’t all be in the same place
We don’t all work at the same time

11. Which principles does this affect?
Small dedicated colocated
Externalize your work
Get Out Of the Building
Shared understanding

12. Small, Dedicated, Colocated
Better...
Communication
Focus
Camaraderie
Relationships

13. Connect
● Frequent, OPEN communication
● Try to meet in person
● Use video (often)
● Simulate “hanging out”

14. Externalize Your Work
Everyone sees
Inspires new ideas
Allows ALL to participate
“Osmosis”

15. Externalize Virtually
● Project wiki
● Discourage email
● Encourage sharing
● Seek information

16. Get Out Of the Building
Everyone learns from
customers if the product
is ready

17. Participate in Research
Use technology
Participate
Make an effort to learn

18. Shared Understanding
Depend less on 2nd hand reports
Fewer detailed documents

19. Shared Understanding
● Expose your thinking
● Confirm understanding
● Visualize
● Be OPEN to looking dumb
(it’s okay, we all do)

20. To Summarize
● Open up
● Take responsibility
● Focus on the reasons

21. THANK YOU!
Keep in touch!
Please visit
@rayraydel
raydelapena@gmail.com
http://spkr8.com/t/27071
to let me know how I did.