Articles

Dear John: How Should We Handle Refinement and the Definition of Ready?

Scrum provides a framework that guide teams towards effective work but often leave room for interpretation. One such gray area is the Definition of Ready (DOR). While not explicitly required in Scrum, having product backlog items “ready” for Sprint Planning is stipulated and is a good practive. So, how do you go about it? Let’s…

Read More

The Costs of Collaboration

The Cost of Collaboration

Uncover the hidden costs of collaboration: autonomy, time, and trust. Learn why these trade-offs can yield invaluable returns like innovation and synergy.

Read More

Goals Aren’t Expectations: A Compass Not A Stopwatch

Goals Are Not Expectations

Goals Aren’t Expectations: The Unseen Power in the Distinction Goals and expectations. We use these terms as if they’re interchangeable, but they’re not. The nuance matters, particularly when you’re in the role of a coach, leader, or even a student of life. What Exactly Are Goals? Goals are your compass, they are the direction you…

Read More

Escaping Scrum’s Build Trap: Integrating Learning Increments

Intermittent Discovery Sprints and Scrum

Discover how to escape the Scrum ‘build trap’ by integrating Learning Increments into your Agile process. This article explores common pitfalls of focusing solely on Usable Product Increments and offers practical solutions to align your Scrum framework with discovery work for better outcomes

Read More

Agile Learning Zones – Part 2: Sprints in the Zone

Agile Learning Zones - The intersection of student collaboration and student choice

Explore Agile Learning Zones and Learning Sprint Routines: shaping dynamic learning environments for cultivating collaboration and future-ready skills.

Read More

Agile Learning Zones – Part 1: Growing Collaboration & Choice

Agile Learning Zones - The intersection of student collaboration and student choice

21st Century Classrooms: The Case for Agile Learning The 21st century is characterized by its rapid change, increased competition, and unprecedented connectedness, all of which necessitate a progressive approach to education (read Why 21st Century Skills for more details). Responding to this need, our ongoing series on Agile Classrooms has focused on nurturing future-ready skills…

Read More

Dark Scrum/Bright Scrum: From Checklists to Culture

Dark Scrum vs Bright Scrum

Explore the stark contrast between Dark Scrum and Bright Scrum in the world of Agile. This insightful piece takes you on a journey, illustrating how organizations can transition from an oppressive, coercive Scrum environment to a positive, empowering one. It provides practical insights and concrete steps to create a thriving Agile culture. Dive in to understand Scrum’s potential beyond mere checklists, and embrace the promise of team empowerment.

Read More

Frustrated With The Definition of Ready? Try a Dialogue of Ready

FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEFINITION OF READY? TRY A DIALOGUE OF READY

The Dialogue of Ready is a lightweight alternative to the Definition of Ready (DoR) that can help teams ensure sprint success. Learn more about this approach and how to use it to improve your sprint planning process.

Read More

Clearing Up Common Misconceptions of the ‘Definition of Done’

An infographic illustrating the four common misconceptions about the Definition of Done in Scrum

Unravel the truth behind the ‘Definition of Done’ in Scrum. Clarify common misconceptions and enhance your product quality today.

Read More

The 5S Strategy: Tame Your Product Backlog and Maximize Value

5S_Strategy_Infographic: Demonstrating the 5S strategy for Product Backlog Refinement - Subtract, Sort, Shrink, Slice, Substitute

Taming a Product Backlog might seem like trying to break in a wild stallion—unpredictable, headstrong, and quite the challenge. But imagine having a blueprint to rein in the craziness, strategies that harness the Product Backlog into one with focused purpose and clarity. Enter the 5S strategy—Subtract, Sort, Shrink, Slice/Split, Substitute—your saddle for this untamed horse,…

Read More

How to Craft a Tailored Definition of Done with F.I.N.I.S.H.E.D.

An infographic showing the F.I.N.I.S.H.E.D. acronym for crafting a tailored Definition of Done.

Definition of Done A well-defined Definition of Done (DoD) is crucial for delivering high-quality work for teams using Scrum. It sets the standard for what it means to consider a product backlog item “done.” But how do you create a DoD that truly fits your team’s needs? In this article, we’ll explore the F.I.N.I.S.H.E.D. acronym…

Read More

The Surprising Causes of Project Delays: The Four Delayers

Causes of Project Delays: The Four Detrimental Delayers Infographic.

Learn how to identify and address the four delayers that can cause project delays, including distractions, dependencies, decision latency, and debt.

Read More

Join the mailing list

Stay up to date with Agile in the classroom so that you can help your students flourish as 21st Century Learners!

Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.