Agility and Values-Based Leadership (Part 3): Openness

Andrew Burns, PMP, PMI-ACP is a Chief ScrumMaster in Edgewood, Kentucky.

  Agile   Estimating   Leadership   Scrum  

All agile frameworks may be examined in terms of core values. This third entry in a five-part series continues to explore agile frameworks from the vantage point of values, principles and practices. Agile’s Scrum framework in particular espouses five values: courage, focus, openness, respect and commitment. This offering looks at the value of openness to bring principles and practices into better relief.

The reader may conclude that any agile project management practice (e.g. sprint planning) should be selected based on the facts observed through a scientific principle. Sprint planning is “just-in-time” estimating coming directly from the people who will do the work. This principle of “being adaptive” is empirically shown to outclass many planning techniques. If this principle and practice sustains customer, company and colleague values, it’s clearly essential; do it!

Be simple with agile project management. Understand values and select aligned principles and practices. Be aware that literally hundreds of agile practices present opportunities to improve. How do you select them? Should our project use them? Committed to the proposition that “one size doesn’t fit all,” this series intends to empower you with a rational mode for evaluation. This article explores openness, the misnamed “yearly portfolio planning …

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