A Kaizen blitz, also known as a Kaizen event, is an intensive, short-term project focused on making significant improvements in a specific area. This approach can yield quick wins and significant results when implemented correctly. Here are the practical steps to execute a Kaizen blitz effectively within a Scrum team: 1. Planning the Kaizen Blitz…
In the Scrum world, measuring team performance is a heated and ongoing debate. How do you determine whether your team is performing at its best? Velocity, sprint completion rates, and individual contributions are all potential metrics, but they often miss key elements of team dynamics. Taking a page from industries where teamwork has matured over…
Look, let’s be real—Agile can be exhausting. The constant pressure to deliver, sprint after sprint, while simultaneously improving processes, communicating with stakeholders, and staying focused on the team’s goals is a lot. Add in the psychological strain of “always being on” in the name of continuous improvement, and burnout isn’t just a risk—it’s a reality.…
Let’s cut to the chase—telling leadership you’re planning your sprint capacity at 50% might sound like you’re committing career suicide. In organizations that have grown accustomed to squeezing every last drop of productivity out of their teams, suggesting less than 100% can be met with blank stares, raised eyebrows, or outright pushback. But here’s the…
In the fast-paced world of agile development, setting clear and achievable objectives is crucial for driving continuous improvement. This is especially true during a Kaizen Blitz, where teams work intensively to solve specific problems and implement improvements rapidly. To ensure success, it’s essential to set SMART objectives—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. In this blog…
When it comes to solving problems in IT, it’s not enough to just fix the symptoms. To truly improve processes and prevent issues from recurring, you need to get to the root cause of the problem. One of the most effective tools for this is the 5 Whys technique. This simple yet powerful method helps…
As a Scrum Master, your role extends beyond facilitating meetings and removing impediments; it’s about nurturing a team that can adapt and thrive in complex environments. One powerful way to achieve this is by integrating the principles of complex adaptive systems (CAS), team effectiveness studies, and team learning into your daily practices. This approach will…
As a Scrum Master, one of your key responsibilities is to help your team identify and overcome obstacles to their performance. While there are many tools and techniques available, one powerful approach you might not have considered is Kegan’s Immunity-to-Change (ITC) process. This method helps uncover the hidden, often subconscious, reasons why individuals and teams…
In the world of Scrum, creativity is not just an added bonus—it’s a necessity. Scrum teams are often tasked with solving complex problems, innovating new solutions, and adapting quickly to changing circumstances. To foster this level of creativity, the environment in which the team works plays a crucial role. Whether it’s a physical space or…
At the 2024 Olympic Games in France, one theme popped up frequently. The theme was about athletes coming from nowhere (or from being written off) to take a medal. Their stories all highlighted how important a growth mindset is. In the fast-paced world of agile development, the mindset of each team member plays a crucial…