Is your plan to avoid conflict making things worse? In this episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss the Paul and Ted Case Study, the concept of 'easing in,' and what leaders should do instead, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.LINKS- Eight Behaviors for Smarter Teams: https://www.csu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/917018/Eight-Behaviors-fo…

Do you document and analyse failure? In this episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey draw inspiration from Donald Knuth's detailed study of his own software mistakes to give you the lowdown on learning from past mistakes, including meaningful postmortems and retrospectives.LINKS:- Knuth's paper: https://yurichev.com/mirrors/knuth1989.pdf- Foundation Failures…

What do you do when you inherit a 20 year old codebase? In this episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey look at an extreme example of legacy software and discuss why it's important to understand past contexts as well as address modern discrepancies.Links:- Brian's Archaeology Tips: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-tips-software-archeologists-brian-reich-n0a…

How do you make sure that critical information is preserved over time? Tune in to learn about “reverse smuggling,” lost TV shows, outdated video game formats, and Rob Landley's Petrochemical archaeology, in this week’s episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links: - Petrochemical archaeology from Rob Landley: https://landley.net/history/mirror/institutio…

Can extreme constraints help you think of radically different solutions? In this week’s episode, Jeffrey and Squirrel explore what happens when you point a figurative gun at your team, inspired by Grant Slatton's provocative article 'Algorithms We Develop Software By’Links: - Grant's article; https://grantslatton.com/software-pathfinding#algorithms…

Would you delete your unfinished work to ensure a fresh start? On this week’s episode, Jeffrey and Squirrel discuss whether using deletion as a tool can provide focus and improvement, with help from Grant Slatton's provocative article 'Algorithms We Develop Software By’Links:- Grant's article: https://grantslatton.com/software-pathfinding#algorithm…

Do you or your team show resistance to change? There are some common ingrained habits that can affect your ability to learn. Find out how difficult conversations, pair programming, and test-driven development can help you create new habits to foster meaningful transformation, in this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Toyota Kata: https://en.…

Do you avoid making uncertain predictions in favour of task lists to ensure success? If a fear of being wrong means you can’t embrace uncertainty and learn from mistakes then you’re missing out on the natural discomfort of learning. Find out more about how to combat this in this episode of Troubleshooting AgileLinks:- Toyota Kata: https://en.wikipe…

When deception overshadows disappointment, severe ethical breaches can occur. Join your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey to discover how clear, honest communication can make sure you’re not dealing with the next Volkswagen emissions scandal, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Goal displacement: https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.10…

Challenging the iron triangle in software development - balancing quality, time and scope. In this episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss Andy Giese’s recent provocative article 'How to Make Product Give a Shit About Your Architecture Proposal.’ Join us to learn how you can use ‘feature thinning’ and joint design to promote collaborative approaches …

Boost team results by measuring carefully and using consistent methods to move toward your goal–with “scientific thinking” “the Improvement Kata” and “the Coaching Kata”. In this bumper episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss quality and delivery the Toyota Way.Links:- Toyota Kata: https://public.websites.umich.edu/~jmondisa/TK/Homepage.html - Gemba:…

Your elaborate spreadsheet that prioritises features isn’t rigorous mathematical analysis and should be a conversation starter not a definitive guide. Find out how to avoid ‘Mathiness’ with Squirrel and Jeffrey in the latest from Troubleshooting Agile.Links: - Mathiness article: https://www.votito.com/methods/mathiness------------------------------…

Need to transform decision-making in your agile team? In this episode, we discuss how to harness the power of perceptiveness using Jeffrey’s insights from a lecture on the architect Christopher Alexander and the book 'How Emotions Are Made.'Links:How to Become Perceptive: https://www.henrikkarlsson.xyz/p/perceptive- Ryan Singer’s Christopher Alexan…

Create, nurture, and increase empathy with all your customers, even the ones you didn't know you had! Inspired by Gojko Adzic and his new book Lizard Optimisation, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss how you can do just that, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Gojko’s book, Lizard Optimisation: https://www.amazon.com/Lizard-Optimization-Prod…

The products you have today could be 5x more profitable if you found out how customers really use them and tuned accordingly, says Gojko Adzic - and we’re inclined to agree! Find out how to do it on this episode ofTroubleshooting Agile your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey.Links:- Gojko’s book, Lizard Optimisation: https://www.amazon.com/Lizard-Optimiza…

Junior coders aren't going to be purged, but trained, just like we taught ditch-diggers to drive excavators. Find out why Squirrel thinks Steve Yegge is wrong, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links: Enterprise Technology Leadership Summit: https://itrevolution.com/product/enterprise-technology-leadership-summit-las-vegas-2024/- Steve Yegge…

Being radically transparent by reporting progress daily has surprisingly positive effects. Learn how and why to do daily flashes in this episode of Troubleshooting Agile with your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey.Links:- PPP reporting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress,_plans,_problems- Wienberg, Becoming a Technical Leader: https://www.goodreads.c…

The most obnoxious person in your team may in fact be saving your bacon. Discover why and how to encourage "disagreeable givers" in this episode of Troubleshooting Agile with your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey.Links:- Givers and Takers from Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2013/04/in-the-company-of-givers-and-takers- Disagreeable Givers: http…

Talk louder, set limits on your generosity, and learn to disappoint people helpfully. On this episode, Squirrel and Jeffery offer advice inspired by Adam Grant on giving and taking in your organisation.Links:- Adam Grant on giving and taking: https://hbr.org/2013/04/in-the-company-of-givers-and-takers------------------------------------------------…

Boost team results by measuring carefully and using consistent methods to move toward your goal–with “the Coaching Kata”. In part three of this mini series, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss quality and delivery the Toyota Way.Links:- Toyota Kata: https://public.websites.umich.edu/~jmondisa/TK/Homepage.html- Gemba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GembaOth…

Boost team results by measuring carefully and using consistent methods to move toward your goal–with “the Improvement Kata”. In part two of our Toyota Kata series, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss quality and delivery the Toyota Way.Links:- Toyota Kata: https://public.websites.umich.edu/~jmondisa/TK/Homepage.html- Gemba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G…

Boost team results by measuring carefully and using consistent methods to move toward your goal–with “scientific thinking”. In part one of this mini series, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss quality and delivery the Toyota Way.Links:- Toyota Kata: https://public.websites.umich.edu/~jmondisa/TK/Homepage.html- Gemba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GembaOth…

Too ashamed of your outdated tech to ask for help with it or touch the ancient code? 70s heartthrob Barry Manilow has the cure for your "technical shame" - Squirrel and Jeffrey explain why on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Barry Manilow Effect paper: https://www.psychologyib.com/uploads/1/1/7/5/11758934/the_spotlight_effect_-_ib_psyc…

Stop trying to control what your software does! Instead, invite surprising answers from users that lead to amazing product innovations. This episode of Troubleshooting Agile features a lesson from 18th-century Spain via Elan Ullendorf.Links:- 500 maps article by Elan Ullendorff: https://escapethealgorithm.substack.com/p/should-this-be-a-map-or-500-…

Being puzzled is the first step to genuine questions and real learning. Join your hosts Squirrel and Jeffrey to discover why execs like you need more “aporia” to understand your teams and lead them effectively, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Aporia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aporia- Derrida: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqu…

You’re allowed to do much more than you think, including working outside your team, disappointing others (helpfully), or learning things that aren’t on your business card. On this episode, we continue our theme of agency with inspiring ideas from a listener email.Links:- Things You're Allowed to Do: https://milan.cvitkovic.net/writing/things_youre_…

Successful experiments with negative results are a vital part of learning to have agency. Discover how to fail for success on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile with our guest. Sammy Hath: Links:- https://hath.blog/posts/hire/- https://hath.blog/posts/cultivating-destroying-agency/- Failing for Success: https://failingforsuccess.substack.com- Ta…

"Agency" "empowerment" "accountability" can be empty promises to your tech team, or real skills you can learn. In this episode, Squirrel and Jeffrey are joined by “competent minion” Sammy Hath to discuss how to solve difficult problems.Links:- https://hath.blog/posts/hire/- https://hath.blog/posts/cultivating-destroying-agency/- Message to Garcia e…

Fast feedback to executives on whether executing the HiPPO (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) actually made your software more profitable. Get answers on how and why "prediction markets" speed up learning, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile, with Douglas Squirrel and Jeffrey Fredrick. Links:- Manifest prediction markets conference: https://www.m…

Frequent repetition and practice doesn't constitute micromanagement, if done well: it reinforces accountability and alignment. Tune in to this episode of Troubleshooting Agile to find out how and why you and your tech team need daily rehearsal and feedback, with your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey.Links:- Toyota Kata Practice Guide: https://theleanthi…

Getting users to love your product isn't enough. Somebody needs to give you rectangular pictures of kings and presidents in exchange for it. Join your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey for product pitfalls and how to avoid them, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Squirrel's tweet: https://twitter.com/douglassquirrel/status/17914386690704265…

If you or your tech leaders are exhausted from tracking an overwhelming number of individual tickets, features, or products, you're gardening when you should be farming. On this episode of Troubleshooting Agile, Squirrel and Jeffrey give their insights on how to manage whole "flocks" of engineers and customers.Links:- Briefing and Back Briefing : h…

You've never been in a plane crash because accident investigations are blameless, but do you know how to run a blame-free postmortem? Timelines, timeboxes, and more ways to learn from disasters before they happen, when you join Squirrel and Jeffrey on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Airline Safety article - https://asteriskmag.com/iss…

When disaster looms and results are immediate, joint design really shines by driving informed, prompt, unpopular decisions. Learn how to keep your decision process when all about you are losing theirs, with your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey,Links:- Horowitz on wartime vs peacetime: https://a16z.com/peacetime-ceo-wartime-ceo/- Squirrel decisiveness s…

Is your timid tech team constantly seeking direction and second-guessing themselves? Improvement is possible - if you create frequent accountability. Discover how your team can get a "message to Garcia", by tuning in this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Patrick McKenzie tweet: https://twitter.com/patio11/status/1781424185094402558- Sammy (…

The Imperial Japanese Navy and Borland Software made the same strategic mistake: testing hypotheses but ignoring negative results. Join your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey to discover what they missed and how you can make falsification work for you on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Shattered Sword: http://www.shatteredswordbook.com/- Bo…

Do you have an "Eeyore" in your technology team, for whom it's all thorns and no roses? Can you help them to be more Tigger.. and would you even want to? Join Squirrel and Jeffrey as they discuss pessimism and burnout on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Eeyore & Tigger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Winnie-the-Pooh_characters- …

Mistakes are only obvious looking backwards, looking forwards, they seem like good ideas. On this episode of Troubleshooting Agile, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss why they encourage meaningful errors that lead to learning and how a negative result is a sign of a successful experiment.Links:- Retrospective Coherence: https://www.chriscorrigan.com/park…

Agile is dead, but does anyone care? Cynefin tells us that we should be watching the slope of improvement, not aiming for a mythical "best practice". Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss why agile is irrelevant, on this episode of the (ironically named) Troubleshooting Agile podcast.Links:- Ubiquitous Language: https://martinfowler.com/bliki/UbiquitousLang…

Has "adopting Jira" become the definition of "being agile"? If so, Squirrel says he’ll find another line of work! Tune in to hear Squirrel and Jeffrey's discussion on using the right tools for certain and uncertain environments, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.- Squirrel’s Jira tweet: https://x.com/douglassquirrel/status/176753616579037628…

Build centralised, standard structures for your tech only when you're sure the terrain isn't moving under your feet and stable software is no guarantee against market avalanches. This week’s episode is all about centralisation and decentralisation, with your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey.Links:- Wardley Mapping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wardley_…

Cancel your standup and record your decisions in writing, not conversations. This week on Troubleshooting Agile, Collaborations Expert and Author, Sumeet Moghe joins Squirrel and Jeffrey to explore "async-first" software development.Links:- Sumeet Moghe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumeetmoghe/ and https://www.asyncagile.org/- The Async-First Playb…

Go ahead and bravely demand the next feature right after the completion of the last! This week on Troubleshooting Agile, Squirrel tells us why he likes to be more demanding than Kent Beck.Links:- Kent Beck: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Beck- Tidy First: https://tidyfirst.substack.com/p/tidy-first-in-one-page- Extreme Programming: https://en.w…

This week on Troubleshooting Agile, we bring you a bumper edition of 2022’s Summer Shorts - Learning Loops. Taking iterative development to heart, Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss six learning loop topics in less than five minutes each. Join us to learn about:- Basic daily learning loops- Weekly planning- Elephant Carpaccio- Walking the board- Retrospe…

"Scope" and "requirements" for software rely on a common understanding of basic concepts like "vehicles" or "names" but humans have no idea how to nail down those ideas. Join your host Squirrel and Jeffrey to find out why, and what to do about it, on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- No Vehicles in the Park game: https://novehiclesinthe…

One guy you've never heard of kept the Apollo moonshot on track - by holding great meetings and taking super notes. Do your ADRs and Notion pages measure up? We’re talking Bill Tindall and the Tindallgram on today's episode of Troubleshooting Agile with your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey. (Some editing snafus mean no intro/outro music this week, but …

How can your organisation be simultaneously fast and collaborative? Foster willingness to fail successfully and collaboratively, while applying strong leadership and accountability. Find out why and how on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile with your hosts, Squirrel and Jeffrey.Links:- Teal Organisations book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinv…

How can you do risky experiments even in the most risk-averse organisations? Find the answers on this week’s episode as Squirrel and Jeffrey discuss the value of two-way doors and reversible decisions for your tech team and your product.Links: - Jeff Bezos on Doors: https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-this-is-how-successful-peo…

You know investing in skills or tech advancements will speed you up, but how to make it happen? Convincing your boss is all kinds of wrong! On this week’s episode of Troubleshooting Agile we discuss why and what works better, with your hosts Squirrel and Jeffrey.Links: - Gene Kim, Wiring the Winning Organization: https://myresources.itrevolution.co…

Use a shared language to ensure good ideas for your product or team aren't crushed before they get a chance to live. Inspired by Elizabeth Van Nostrand’s article, Jeffrey and Squirrel discuss the concept of “Butterfly Ideas,” on this episode of Troubleshooting Agile.Links:- Butterfly Ideas: https://acesounderglass.com/2022/02/04/butterfly-ideas/- W…