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Don‘t ignore the hidden preconditions for Scrum

Don‘t ignore the hidden preconditions for Scrum

Don‘t ignore the hidden preconditions for Scrum Did you know that many organizations are not a great fit for Scrum? Scrum makes a few assumptions that are often ignored and not fulfilled. And when we naively start to implement Scrum, we wonder why it doesn’t seem to work as promised. Let’s uncover these hidden assumptions today! Hello Reader, you’re reading a free article of the Agile Compass. If you find my articles valuable, you might want to become a…

Beyond Bug Hunting: Mastering Agile Testing For Superior Product Quality!

Beyond Bug Hunting: Mastering Agile Testing For Superior Product Quality!

The Agile Compass Matthias Orgler Beyond Bug Hunting: Mastering Agile Testing For Superior Product Quality! Did you know that “testing” in an agile context is very different from what testing traditionally means? Agile companies invest heavily in test automation and shift from a test last to a test first approach. Hello Reader, last week we talked about how emotional check-ins can boost collaboration, trust and communication in a team. This week we dive into product quality and testing. I…

How To Demo The Backend In An Agile Way?

How To Demo The Backend In An Agile Way?

A common question I get: How do we demo virtual deliverables in the Sprint Review or System Demo? If we only have a backend or a library to show, how can we best do it? Let me give a few tips in this week’s article.

Is Extrinsic Motivation Really Bad? Understand the Balance for Great Leadership

Is Extrinsic Motivation Really Bad? Understand the Balance for Great Leadership

The Agile Compass by Matthias Orgler Hello [FIRST NAME GOES HERE], this week’s topic is extrinsic motivation and bonuses. But first let me welcome a bunch of new readers hopping over from my “Life of Scrum Master” newsletter. I’m so happy this newsletter is growing and delivering value to all of you 😃. Here is what you might have missed in the last couple of weeks: The Manifesto Most Organizations Live By Overcoming Resistance To Change In Agile Transformations The Overlooked Management…

Unlocking Performance: The Overlooked Management Strategy That Works Wonders

Unlocking Performance: The Overlooked Management Strategy That Works Wonders

The Agile Compass
by Matthias Orgler
Hello Reader,
in the last two weeks we looked at planning: assessing why we insist on finalizing the plan (and how to stop) and why you shouldn’t pick user stories in Sprint planning (and what to do instead).
This week we’ll talk about an overlooked management strategy that could unlock high performance for you.
Thank you for reading the free edition of The Agile Compass! Consider upgrading today. Paying subscribers improve their knowledge and skills…

The Great Agile Paradox: Why We Can’t Seem to Let Go of “Finalizing the Plan”

The Great Agile Paradox: Why We Can’t Seem to Let Go of “Finalizing the Plan”

The Agile Compass
by Matthias Orgler
Hello Reader,
last week we talked about why Product Owners shouldn’t spend so much time writing user stories. This week we’ll look at the paradox of well knowing how much waste big upfront planning is, yet still insisting on doing it.
Before we dive into why we can’t let go of planning to plan the plan, here are other articles you might have missed:
Overcoming Resistance to Change in Agile Transformations: A Guide for Agile Coaches and Leaders​
Unlocking…

Rapid Experiments vs. Big Upfront Planning

Rapid Experiments vs. Big Upfront Planning

What is better: An iterative approach with rapid experiments and lots of failures, or a cautious big upfront planning trying to sketch a perfect solution while avoiding risks? While we Agile Coaches talk a lot about this topic, it helps to look at real world cases of...

How to easily destroy agility

How to easily destroy agility

If you don‘t set clear goals & priorities on top management level, you‘ll stir unhealthy conflict & confusion in teams. It‘s not uncommon for managers to spend half of their workday resolving conflicts that bubble up to them. Many of these conflicts stem from...

How long is your backlog?

How long is your backlog?

If you start having trouble finding stories – or wondering whether the story is already in there somewhere – your backlog is probably too long 😅 The idea of a product backlog is that of a short-term buffer. A backlog lasting about 6 weeks is good; a backlog lasting 6...

How to slow down your business

How to slow down your business

If you can change direction every 2 weeks 🐆, but you only decide to change direction once a year 🐌, you‘re not agile. Agility is far too often confined to the delivery organization. But without agility on the portfolio level, you‘re not actually using that delivery...

Your budgeting kills agility!

Your budgeting kills agility!

Agility is much more than teaching teams to deliver in sprints. If your goal is to tackle the challenges of today, you'd better become agile on all levels. Traditional budgeting often works somewhat like this: 👏 Management decides to pursue a business opportunity🤦...

Are you afraid of user feedback?

Are you afraid of user feedback?

While sprint reviews or system demos are meant to focus on feedback from users, so that you can deliver more value… …some PMs and POs are afraid that user feedback could challenge their plans/backlogs. What I see play out almost every week is the struggle to adopt an...