Putting into Practice an Agile MindsetSteve Vaughn profiles a company that knows how to put into practice an agile mindset. Agile is more about how a team approaches solving problems rather than whether it uses tools like daily standups, sprints, and user stories. This agile mindset has to be the heart of a company’s culture.
Teamwork and Creativity: Making Them Work TogetherTo work effectively to meet commitments in a self-organizing, cross-functional team, you need to be creative. The relationship between teamwork and creativity is complicated, and by understanding it you can be more effective as a team.
Women in the World of Information TechnologyRajini Padmanaban looks at the current role of women in the world of information technology, and how individuals and companies are working to get more women involved in technology fields.
What the Best Software Managers for Scrum Teams DoSteve Vaughn shares his experiences as a software manager for multiple Scrum teams. In Steve's eyes, the best software managers hire the right people for the job, give them assignments where they can be most successful, and create a work environment where teams produce high quality systems.
Management Practices that Demotivate EmployeesThere’s no surefire way to guarantee a high level of employee morale, and no technique, program, or practice will motivate employees who are not inherently motivated. However, some things are likely to demotivate them, such as making them feel unvalued, unrecognized, and unappreciated.
Book Review: Pearls from SandKarl Wiegers has a wealth of experience in software engineering. He is also a wise counselor with life lessons to share. In his recent book, Pearls from Sand, Karl parlays those lessons into an entertaining series of stories, each with a useful message.
What Is a True Agile Coach?Obtaining a Scrum or agile certification typically does not require that a person learn the fundamental differences between coaching, facilitation, and mentoring. This lack of understanding is reducing the quality of coaching to our customers.
Book Review: The Human Side of AgileBeing agile is difficult. Not only are there technical and organizational challenges, but the very nature of the way agile methods work brings the assumptions, context, and fears of team members to the foreground. These people issues are explored in Gil Broza’s book, The Human Side of Agile.
