Specializing Generalist

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The ideal agile team is made up of specializing generalists – but what does that really mean? The goal isn’t to prevent functional silos of expertise, it is to allow people to cover for each other.

Agile Estimation, Prediction, and Commitment

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Your boss wants a commitment. You want to offer a prediction. Agile, you say, only allows you to estimate and predict – not to commit. “Horse-hockey!” your boss exclaims, “I want one throat to choke, and it will be yours if you don’t make a commitment and meet it.” There’s […]

Agile Maturity Model – What’s Next?

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The maturity model approach to describing organizations and processes comes and goes out of fashion. It is a repeating framework de jour. In the game of agile jargon whack-a-mole, the agile maturity model is poking its head up again.

The Impact of a Hidden Decision

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Business rules are often hidden in processes as hidden decisions. Once you discover that hidden decision, how do you communicate the impact of exposing and managing the decision?

Hidden Business Rule Example

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A business process is not just a sequence of steps. A business process is a series of decisions and actions. Some decisions are obvious and can be actively managed. Some decisions are hidden, and until you discover them, you can’t manage or improve them. Here is a real-world example of […]

Smart Enough Systems – Interview With James Taylor

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Today we recorded an interview with James Taylor, co-author of Smart (Enough) Systems, How To Deliver Competitive Advantage by Automating Hidden Decisions. This book, written by James Taylor with Neil Raden comes out on Jun 29th (2007), and is available for pre-order from Amazon today. Our interview covers many of […]

CMMI and RMM One Minute Survey

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See what CMMI levels and RMM levels other teams are using. Take a minute out of your day to tell us your CMMI level and RMM level. We all want to know, but we need your help – if you don’t answer, you won’t learn anything. Thanks for clicking through! And check back later to see the results as they come in.