Process, People, and Pods


Monday 27 August 2007

Lean - An Agile Management Process

In Three Critical Enablers for Agile, the second critical enabler is use of a management process consistent with the Agile engineering practices that continually produce software. For this, I use Lean, a manufacturing process borne in Toyota and responsible (IMO) for the current dual dominance of Japanese companies in both automotive production and quality.

Think Production, Not Building

I cannot over-emphasize how radical project management is when shifting to Lean. Of all the Agile roles, the role of project manager changes most in Agile. It dwarfs the impact Agile has on the development, testing, and analysis roles. But to gain the benefits Agile promises, changing the thinking around project management is critical.

Agile focuses on continually producing working software. Traditional phased software development (aka waterfall) focuses on moving the project steadily forward one phase at a time, doing its best to ensure everything is right before building upon that phase in the next.

Traditional project management is based on traditional engineering; civil engineering is my favorite analogy. Software is like building a bridge. You need to know what is needed (a bridge). You need architecture (suspension bridge). You need design (number and spacing of struts). You need to build it in a specific order (base before pillars; pillars before road surface). You need to test it (weight bearing tests, plus inspections). Waterfall software processes follow this model. The prevalent tool for traditional project manager is the Gantt chart, a schedule of activities and dependencies that can track progress.

Before disparaging waterfall too much, it is worth saying waterfall works. In my years at IBM, I participated in many waterfall projects that delivered quality software on time and on budget. Indeed, I have been a part of a thousand programmer project spanning three years and delivering. So don't count me among those who say waterfall is bad. I remember the true chaos before waterfall.

But as I believe Agile is a better process than waterfall (and I have tons of experience with each), I believe that Lean is a better management process for Agile than foisting traditional project management onto an Agile project.

Lean management practices focus on production; this factor alone makes it a good fit for the constant production of software characteristic of Agile. But Lean management differs significantly:

  • No useful information can be captured in Gantt charts
  • It is not important what someone will be working on next week
  • Individual assignments are subsumed by team efforts

Basically for the traditionally trained project manager, it is bizarro-land. Round is square; down is up; when means why; and who means when.

But all is not lost. Lean brings powerful new tools to the project manager, tools that give insight into the project success throughout the project. At this point, I feel completely naked on a project without these tools. They are my new security blanket. These Lean processes and tools:

  • Track production, giving you new insight into the real progress
  • Show skill imbalances with clear direction on actions
  • Remove much guesswork out of the question, "Are we going to ship on time?"
  • Provide superior techniques for productive feedback to individuals
  • Support dynamic adjustments to schedule, content, and resource

Sound too good to be true? Consider that we will be stealing most of these techniques from manufacturing management practices that are at least as old as the engineering practices we use today. We are not inventing new things here, but rather borrowing from a different source, manufacturing instead of civil engineering.

No Management Alternative

I have seen many (and heard of many more) Agile projects that recognize the uselessness of most of the traditional project management practices. There solution: abandon the practices altogether, but substitute nothing else. Everyone is a professional, after all, and they will be doing their best.

For a short time, this seems to work well. But for a longer project, someone will start to count the cost at some point, and ask the question about when it will be done, how much more will it cost, and do you really need all that staff that is working on it now.

All these are valid questions. A matching management process should be able to answer these questions without over-burdening the team. I believe the Lean management processes do just that.

Key Manufacturing Practices That Are Borrowed

I focus on three key things to borrow from Lean to aid in managing Agile software development:

  • Feedback is the source of quality,
  • Identification and elimination of waste, and
  • Reduction in the number of specialists.

Each of these will be the subject of future posts.

Are you using non-traditional management practices in your Agile team?

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣,情趣,情趣,情趣,按摩棒,震動按摩棒,微調按摩棒,情趣按摩棒,逼真按摩棒,G點,跳蛋,跳蛋,跳蛋,性感內衣,飛機杯,充氣娃娃,情趣娃娃,角色扮演,性感睡衣,SM,潤滑液,威而柔,香水,精油,芳香精油,自慰套,自慰,性感吊帶襪,吊帶襪,情趣用品加盟AIO交友愛情館,情人歡愉用品,美女視訊,情色交友,視訊交友,辣妹視訊,美女交友,嘟嘟成人網,成人網站,A片,A片下載,免費A片,免費A片下載愛情公寓,情色,舊情人,情色貼圖,情色文學,情色交友,色情聊天室,色情小說,一葉情貼圖片區,情色小說,色情,色情遊戲,情色視訊,情色電影,aio交友愛情館,色情a片,一夜情,辣妹視訊,視訊聊天室,免費視訊聊天,免費視訊,視訊,視訊美女,美女視訊,視訊交友,視訊聊天,免費視訊聊天室,情人視訊網,影音視訊聊天室,視訊交友90739,成人影片,成人交友,美女交友,微風成人,嘟嘟成人網,成人貼圖,成人電影,A片,豆豆聊天室,聊天室,UT聊天室,尋夢園聊天室,男同志聊天室,UT男同志聊天室,聊天室尋夢園,080聊天室,080苗栗人聊天室,6K聊天室,女同志聊天室,小高聊天室,上班族聊天室,080中部人聊天室,同志聊天室,聊天室交友,中部人聊天室,成人聊天室,一夜情聊天室,情色聊天室,寄情築園小遊戲情境坊歡愉用品,情境坊歡愉用品,情趣用品,成人網站,情人節禮物,情人節,AIO交友愛情館,情色,情色貼圖,情色文學,情色交友,色情聊天室,色情小說,七夕情人節,色情,情色電影,色情網站,辣妹視訊,視訊聊天室,情色視訊,免費視訊聊天,美女視訊,視訊美女,美女交友,美女,情色交友,成人交友,自拍,本土自拍,情人視訊網,視訊交友90739,生日禮物,情色論壇,正妹牆,免費A片下載,AV女優,成人影片,色情A片,成人論壇,情趣,免費成人影片,成人電影,成人影城,愛情公寓,成人影片,保險套,舊情人,微風成人,成人,成人遊戲,成人光碟,色情遊戲,跳蛋,按摩棒,一夜情,男同志聊天室,肛交,口交,性交,援交,免費視訊交友,視訊交友,一葉情貼圖片區,性愛,視訊,視訊聊天,A片,A片下載,免費A片,嘟嘟成人網,寄情築園小遊戲,女同志聊天室,免費視訊聊天室,一夜情聊天室,聊天室

Anonymous said...

A片下載/成人影片下載/免費A片下載/日本A片/情色A片/免費A片/成人影城/成人電影/線上A片/A片免費看

米蘭情趣用品/情趣用品/情趣/飛機杯/自慰套/充氣娃娃/AV女優/按摩棒/跳蛋/潤滑液/角色扮演/情趣內衣/自慰器/穿戴蝴蝶/變頻跳蛋/無線跳蛋/電動按摩棒/情趣按摩棒/丁字褲/G點/SM/後庭

情人趣味用品/柏拉圖情趣用品/成人論壇/情色論壇/一葉情貼圖片區


視訊聊天室/辣妹視訊/視訊/美女視訊/視訊交友網/視訊聊天室/視訊交友/視訊美女/免費視訊/免費視訊聊天/視訊交友90739/免費視訊聊天室/成人聊天室

視訊聊天

人工植牙權威 said...

三溫暖;俱樂部酒店經紀學;人工植牙;植牙 酒店經紀 成人情趣,充氣娃娃,跳蛋,按摩棒,逼真老二,SM情趣,自慰器,情趣用品,角色扮演服,情趣商品,自慰用品,後庭棒,情人禮品,情趣精品,視訊辣妹視訊,辣妹視訊,聊天室 關鍵字 房地產 台灣華爾街 睿氣盈門 電動代步車 歷史的傷痕 旅遊平台 免費算命 部落沙士 lavazzas Blog 王牌經典 老扣扣布落格 BigBite 迷樣派對 故鄉 義肢訓練 綠島 布布觀 義肢社群 八字紫微 滷味 人工植牙 影音聊天室 充氣娃娃情趣用品 中醫診所 seo 電動代步車 義肢旅行 免費算命 人工植牙 酒店經紀 外遇

Anonymous said...

Sildenafil's popularity with young adults has increased over the years. Sildenafil's trade name is widely recognized in popular culture, and the drug's association with treating erectile dysfunction has led to its recreational use. The reasons behind such use include the belief that the drug increases libido, improves наушники

Replica Watches Online said...

Replica Watches OnlineGood quality Replica watches online store, brands including Rolex, Omega, Breitling, IWC and other famous replica products.

Anonymous said...

アロハシャツ
AKBとか秋葉原
過払い請求
流行グッズ紹介
芸能ゴシップ

結婚式
過払い請求
過払い請求
テレビについて
メンズファッション
食品

osaka said...

大阪 十三 でデリヘルなら

大阪 十三 でエステなら

大阪 十三のキャバクラなら

大阪 十三のキャバクラなら

大阪 十三のキャバクラなら

ご活用ください。



十三 風俗求人なら

大阪 キャバクラ求人なら

高収入 男性の風俗求人なら

高収入 男性のキャバクラ求人なら


お役立てください。

Anonymous said...

For females who're pregnant, this item can also assistance prevent the formation of these ugly stretch marks.

my web blog U Rl

Anonymous said...

Thiѕ excеllent website certaіnlу has аll the informatiοn anԁ facts I needеd about
this subject аnd ԁidn't know who to ask.

my homepage :: unlimited ios4 capabilities

Anonymous said...

When I originally commented I seem to have clicked the
-Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I recieve four emails
with the exact same comment. Perhaps there is a means you can remove me
from that service? Kudos!

Here is my webpage ... deer velvet spray

Anonymous said...

This іs ѵery interеsting, Yοu're a very skilled blogger. I'vе
joineԁ your feed аnd lоοk forωaгԁ to seeking mоге of youг greаt post.
Alsο, I've shared your website in my social networks!

My website - apple iphone 5

Anonymous said...

What a ԁata of un-ambіguity аnd prеserνeness оf
vаluаble expеrienсe regarԁing unpreԁicted
feelіngs.

Fееl free to surf to my weblog vitamin shoppe digestive bean enzyme

Anonymous said...

I've been browsing online greater than 3 hours nowadays, yet I never found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It's pretty
worth enough for mе. In my opіnion, if all website owners аnd blοggerѕ made gοod content as you probably did, the internet can be a lot more helpful than ever befοre.


my webpage; vistaprint coupons

Anonymous said...

Ηi mаtеs, fastidious paragгаρh and nice аrgumentѕ
commentеd at this plaсe, І am genuinеlу enϳoying by thesе.


Heгe is my weblog :: vistaprint Coupon

Anonymous said...

І ωas cuгiоus if you ever thought of сhanging the stгucture of your websitе?
Its veгу well written; I love what youνe got to say.
But maybe уou could a little more in the wаy оf сontent
so pеople could cоnnect with іt better.
Υouve got an аωful lot of text for onlу having
1 or 2 іmagеѕ. Maybe you could space
it out betteг? baby ripple star afghan crochet pattern - rippln mobile - Rippln App

Here is my wеb pagе ... what is ripple current capacitor

paulsmith198914@gmail.com said...

You are right stating that everyone is a professional, and they will be doing their best anyway! Writing a custom paper can be a tough task, even it is a not lengthy project!

Unknown said...

This site truly has all the information and facts I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask
http://mchaabaty.com/pictures/
http://mchaabaty.com/luxurious/
http://mchaabaty.com/red-bricks/
https://decor-ksa.com/

بروكر said...

I definitely love this site.
https://slashdot.org/~prokr2020
https://prokr2020.livejournal.com/
https://prokr2020.cms.webnode.com/
https://www.prokr.net/ksa/jeddah-water-leaks-detection-isolate-companies/

Anonymous said...

とを聞いてきます。チェンジできるようですが、逆に「私でいいか?」台湾風俗と自分も聞いてしまいたくなる程、テンションが上りました。(中略)ベッドでは初めからGを装着されてのフェラーリ。可愛い姫にされるとすぐにフルボッキになります。騎乗位からスタート。一旦解除してから正常位で再び○体。狭い施術台だと厳しいですが、ベッドですので思う存分腰を振って発砲しました。処理してもらった後は、シャワーで洗ってもらい、服を着で思う存分腰を振って発砲しました。処理してもらった後は、シャワーで洗ってもらい、服を着て片言の英語で会話をしました。時短は無いようで、コールがあるまで話をしてました。と、小姐がノックをして入ってきます。ここで、問題なのが、台北では小姐を全員の中から選べないということ。裏サウナの暗がりの部屋の中、一瞬の判断で小姐のカオ、スタイル、性格を見抜く必要があります。時間にして2秒くらいだと思いますが、ご自身の勘を頼りにして、瞬間で判断してください。台北風俗もし、気に入らなかった場合は、「チェンジ」、「ノー」、「不用(ブーヨン)」と言えば、黙って部屋から出て行って、すぐ新しい小姐が来ます。何回でもチェンジできますから遠慮せずに好みに合う人を待つことが重要です。基本的には台北のサウナは歳が30オーバーがほとんどだと思いますが、その分プレイ内容はかな 世界中で夜遊び 新着情報 台湾夜遊び隊台湾(台北)のキャバクラ(KTV)の料金相場と遊び方のコツ【2020年最新版】案內所組合サンキューありがとー(非常感謝你) 関連記事 優良情報滿載 揭載店舖数NO.1 ナンパ(搭訕) 【台湾風俗-特色KTV(制服店)】 て片言の英語で会話をしました。【2020年最新版】時短は無いようで、コールがあるまで話をしてました。台湾風俗で安全に遊ぶために初心者が知っておくべき事。台湾元で支払い場合は、値段変わらず、表に書いた

梁爵 said...

2020.09.13每個【酒店小姐】【酒店公關】剛踏入這個八大行業不敢來酒店上班-酒店打工的原因都希望可以找到一個合法正派的酒店經紀公司,一個好的酒店經紀不僅僅只是安排店家讓妳上班,酒店小姐去酒店上班都一定要出場接s嗎?會懂得傾聽酒店小姐的心聲,設身處地的為酒店小姐想,能站在酒店小姐的立場為小姐爭取更多的福利安排更好的店家。酒店兼差不是一個複雜的工作環境?其實酒店小姐是最孤單最寂寞的行業,大多數小姐進入這個行業,都帶著許多不為人知的秘密,有的人是公司或開店經營不善、或是積欠卡債、負債、婚姻遇到渣男信用賠光而進入這個環境,更有很多失婚的女性或單親媽媽為了維持家計支撐起一個家,而勇敢踏出這一步的大有人在,這些秘密是無法對他人訴說的,這時妳的酒店經紀就成為妳抒發情緒唯一的窗口。大多數的酒店小姐都不會透露自己的真實身分,我們也會提醒小姐做好自我保護,每位酒店小姐上班都有自己的理由跟目的,別期待別人對妳說真話,更別輕易相信別人口中說出來的話,酒店小姐往往滿腹委屈不知道該向誰傾訴,這時妳必須找到一個值得妳信賴的人,除了傾聽妳心裡的話之外,並且提供妳多元的意見,我不敢說 我是聖人 更不是偉人,但我是能幫助妳的人。我相信,適時適度的抒發情緒對工作上是有很大的助益的,讓梁曉尊帶妳走過人生中最低潮的時刻,陪妳共同創造出屬於妳的美麗世界。用正面的角度向前方看,妳會發現這世界上沒有解決不了的問題,別擔心,再大的問題有我梁曉尊在,我會帶領你搭往成功的下一站。

James Charlie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
James Charlie said...

Now that’s an amazing post on the modern struggles faced by students while preparing the scholarly assignments. I definitely agree with you on the restraints you have mentioned. I think the best way to get rid of these obstacles is by hiring a reliable online Dissertation Writing Service with the portal such as that of the MyAssignmentHelpAU platform. The expert researchers, editors, proofreaders, and writers associated with our writing portal carry years of experience working in the writing sector and thus can easily develop any type of assignment for you within the shortest possible turnaround.

Anonymous said...

my review hereuseful content Homepagevisit this page click sitecheck my blog