Category Archives: Communication

Is the impact of Agile just a Hawthorne Effect ?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by

The Hawthorne Effect is a human behavioural theory drawn by various social scientists from trials undertaken between 1927 and 1932 at Western Electric’s Hawthorne Works. The trials found that improvements in behaviour, and productivity changes observed after adjusting a workplace, … Continue reading →

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What software people can learn from great Lego design – YOW 2012

Posted on December 16, 2012 by

At YOW! Australia in Melbourne I had the pleasure of introducing and getting to know John-Henry Harris, a product designer at Lego in Denmark. Originally from the UK, his passion for product design, and a love of Lego saw him … Continue reading →

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Genchi Genbutsu – Go and See

Posted on December 6, 2012 by

Taiichi Ohno was reputed to take new graduates at Toyota to the factory floor and draw a circle on the ground.  The graduate would then be told to stand there and observe; if upon his return they had not seen … Continue reading →

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WHY ?

Posted on August 18, 2012 by

At various times I’ve heard Fiona, Nigel and myself telling people “If you only adopt one Agile practice make it the retrospectives” … But why ? The boards are useful, but they are really just give you a prompt when … Continue reading →

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Documentation – is video an agile option?

Posted on April 11, 2012 by

Working software over comprehensive documentation – one of the tenets of the agile movement that was enshrined on the agile manifesto over 10 years ago. But it is often hard to convince grey-haired old men carrying sharpened stakes (aka the … Continue reading →

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From Insight to Strategy to Innovation – while standing at the Toyworld Checkout

Posted on February 23, 2012 by

Listen up lean and agile thinkers. This is a simple illustration of the kind of things that make innovation and strategy easy – a gift from someone on a toy shop counter that probably earns less than $20 an hour. … Continue reading →

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Challenger 1986: NASA’s most explosive retrospective.

Posted on February 16, 2012 by

As I read this week’s Telegraph obituary of a great American rocket scientist, I was moved to thinking about how we deal with the whistleblowers and truth-tellers in an agile world. How can we strike a balance between encouraging transparency … Continue reading →

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