Thank you, Al. Do you think these steps are limited to software development?

Posted: Nov 17, 2019 8:27 PM

@Andrew, not if you cut out step 8 ;-)

Posted: Nov 17, 2019 10:10 PM

Thanks for sharing

Posted: Nov 18, 2019 7:44 AM

@Sante
I don't understand your comment. PDSA is not at all specialized to software development. It's origins is with Deming and was refined by Toyota.

@andrew - no. The concepts apply everywhere. Scrum, btw, is not limited to software development, but i think if you are doing SW development you should adjust to the needs of SW Dev.

Here's how to state it in a non-software perspective:

Step 1: Consider whatever process you're doing as an example of what can be done. Anything in it can be changed as long as the objective of what’s being replaced is still met.

Step 2: Use flow theory to create a focus on finishing and to avoid handoffs, handbacks, and delays in workflow/feedback

Step 3: Have your workflow be based on Lean. Include systems-thinking to help you see the big picture and have explicit workflow to facilitate collaboration.

Step 4: Validate-first to some extent relating both to requirements and development understanding and requirements to implementation. Ask the questions:

When given a requirement: how will I know I’ve done this?
When about to implement it: how will I test this?
Step 5: use Minimum Business Increments. While MVPs are in vogue, most companies are not making an investment to see if a new product is useful but rather are trying to create additional value for an existing product/service.

Step 6: include management in improving the process. Servant leadership is to the organization not to the team. See Toward Middle-Up-Down Management: Accelerating Information Creation

Step 7: Have everyone agree to the guardrails. The basic agreements are:

Work on items that will realize the greatest amount of business value across the enterprise.
Collaborate with each other in order to maximize the realization of business value across the enterprise.
Ensure that all work will be made visible.
Take the necessary steps to sustain or increase predictability.
Keep the work throughout the value stream within capacity.
Encourage everyone to strive for continuous improvement.
Step 8: Continuously improve by deepening your understanding of software development by usin PDSA in your retros to improve your understanding of the challenges being faced

Posted: Nov 18, 2019 9:15 AM

Dear Al
Interesting this perspective of Improved Scrum

In your opinion can these 8 points be included in other project development approaches?

Posted: Nov 18, 2019 9:45 AM

Of course. let's look at the intention of each:
1) don't demand particular practices
2) use flow
3) use lean
4) validate first
5) use MBIs
6) use middle up down management
7) use the guardrails
8) continuously improve

Posted: Nov 18, 2019 9:48 AM

Dear Al
Just now I read your answer to Andrew.
Thanks for sharing

Posted: Nov 18, 2019 9:57 AM

@Al, it's called humor/sarcasm, something many empiricists seem to lack. Andrew was asking if the 8 steps were limited to software development, and since you mentioned software development in step 8, I jokingly replied "not if you cut out step 8", which was suffixed by a wink ;-) emoticon, lending further evidence of the jovial nature of the reply. My comment had nothing to do with PDSA.

Posted: Nov 18, 2019 12:01 PM

Interesting points Al - Thank you !

Posted: Nov 18, 2019 2:12 PM

@Al - Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Yes, agree, Scrum can certainly be used outside of software development.

In fact, I am currently not in S/D at all at the moment. First time actually :) and interestingly, I do know recognize why those who are not in S/D always feel that when people talk about Scrum, it typically through the lens of S/D.

After reading through the steps again, aside from #8, I recognize you did abstract S/D out, though your opening statement through me off - "Scrum can be a solid foundation for software development teams. In the 24 years since it’s creation, many concepts new to software developers have come forth"

Thanks!

Posted: Nov 19, 2019 7:46 AM

Thanks for sharing

Posted: Nov 20, 2019 8:40 AM