Scrum-But, Scrummerfall, other fizzled Agile transitions…

Goldratt describes these things (not directly), and similar phenomenon (like failure of companies to get the real benefits from ERP, SAP, 6Sig, Lean, etc.) nicely:

Organizations make rules to deal with/operate in the presence of limitations.  By rules, I mean rules, processes, structures, and other arrangements and things (see the dictionary definition).

Technology (see the dictionary definition) improvements remove limitations.

For a change to truly take hold and succeed, the rules that were made to operate in the presence of the old limitations must be eliminated or changed, and new rules created to deal with new limitations

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I often hear different opinions on what coaches should and shouldn’t do.  One example is whether or not coaches should lead.  One common opinion is that coaches are not leaders.

My opinion may be a bit controversial.

I believe that a coach is whatever she/he needs to be to help their teams get to the next level.  I believe that great coaches are also great leaders, though they are not formally in leadership roles with those they are coaching.

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Courage can’t be taught, I’m told.  It can be learned though.

I wasn’t taught it…but I did learn it.

One day long ago my professional career seemed torn asunder by an organizational change.  At that time, I believed that all I had worked for was no longer firm ground on which to base my next successes (that is the way it seemed, anyway).

“It is only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything” – Tyler Durden

I use that quote way too often.  My perception at the time was that I had lost everything.  There was a new regime moving in.  My colleagues resigned themselves to stagnation while the new leaders arrived and established their top-down plans.  This seemed really familiar to me… more »

Coaching has some really important benefits in helping organizations adopt Agile methods, Lean, <insert process improvement of your choice here>.  This is especially true in large, complex organizations with deeply-traditional cultures that seem resistant to change.

Are you considering a coach?

If you aren’t, are your organization and projects at risk? more »

Yes…coaching has some really important benefits in helping organizations adopt Agile methods, Lean, <insert process improvement of your choice here>.  This is especially true in large, complex organizations with deeply-traditional cultures that seem resistant to change.

Are you considering a coach?

If you aren’t, are you putting your organization and projects at risk?

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“The trouble with organizing a thing is that pretty soon folks get to paying more attention to the organization than to what they’re organized for.”
-Laura Ingalls Wilder

Nearly every large organization does it.  Just when we think we’ve learned…made an impact…demonstrated that success is possible on large projects in massive organizations riddled with problems…the need to control takes over, and lessons are lost.  Outdated management theory that has stifled innovation in our businesses for decades is reapplied.

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