Managing the evolution of a single product working with a small number of teams is somewhat straightforward. Working from a single backlog, once the teams have established a predictable velocity, the product roadmap becomes relatively easy to visualize, whether by timeframe or feature set. As we increase the complexity of the product, things become harder. Different teams require different backlogs. Different products require work from different teams. Before you know it, there are lots of independent moving parts, with the risk that the coordination cost becomes higher and efficiency falls. In this talk, we consider some ground rules for visualizing work across multiple teams and discuss how dependencies are coordinated across different teams and product lines.

1. Cat Herding,
or the art of agile
portfolio
management
Dave Sharrock
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2. Characteristics of High Performing Teams
Attributes of a highperforming team
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Killers of a highperforming team
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3. agile teams and small organizations
get things done
by creating an environment where good
practices are easy to do
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4. small, dedicated
cross-functional teams
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communication
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5. small, dedicated
cross-functional teams
communication
product owner,
ordered backlog
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focus
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6. http://www.scrumalliance.org/why-scrum/state-of-scrum-report
22% of teams have
no product owner
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7. small, dedicated
cross-functional teams
communication
Product Owner,
ordered backlog
simple, big visible
charts show progress
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focus
transparency
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8. From scattering like cats...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dragonize/11166439273
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9. ...to flocking like birds
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10. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlevin/4488369118
Size and complexity
breakdown these constraints
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11. communication
departmental silos
single-points-of-failure
death by committee
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12. communication
focus
distractions
informal networks
project inertia
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13. communication
focus
transparency
mixed language
local success optimization
illusions of progress
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14. Flocking birds follow simple rules
that create coherent, synchronized
behavior in a mass of individuals
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15. 3 simple principles
to encourage
flocking without
herding
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16. 1. FOCUS ON THE WHOLE
Have a shared understanding of success
shared KPIs, metrics,
goals
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17. ?
12 + a +vii + β = 12
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18. 1. FOCUS ON THE WHOLE
Have a shared understanding of success
shared KPIs, metrics,
goals
get out of the way doers talk with doers
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19. 1. FOCUS ON THE WHOLE
Have a shared understanding of success
shared KPIs, metrics,
goals
get out of the way doers talk with doers
cascade priorities down
from the top
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20. the customer
experience #1
Priority #2
experience #2
Priority #1
component #3
component #1
component #2
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21. 2. DELIVER AS FAST AS POSSIBLE
Shorten feedback cycles
automation
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22. 2. DELIVER AS FAST AS POSSIBLE
Shorten feedback cycles
automation
integrate much more
often
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23. 2. DELIVER AS FAST AS POSSIBLE
Shorten feedback cycles
automation
integrate much more
often
make many more small
changes
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24. 3. MAKE PROGRESS VISIBLE
Compare apples to apples
normalize what you look
at
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25. Requirements hierarchy
release = ∑ features
feature = ∑ epics
epic = ∑ stories
story = ∑ tasks
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26. Terminology, really?
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27. 3. MAKE PROGRESS VISIBLE
Compare apples to apples
normalize what you look
at
set a relevant cadence
to review changes
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28. TO DO
DOING
DONE
cts
ifa
art
Swim lanes
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set an
appropriate
cadence
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29. 3. MAKE PROGRESS VISIBLE
Compare apples to apples
normalize what you look
at
set a relevant cadence
to review changes
get the right people in
the room
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30. From uncontrollable
cats to flocking birds...
focus on the whole
deliver as fast as possible
make progress visible
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31. Portfolio Management?
getting the right thing done at the right price
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32. 5 levels of
planning
Vision
Roadmap
agile/lean
Release
Sprint
Daily
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scrum
xp
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33. agile42 | The Agile Coaching Company
Component
Teams
Component #8
Component #7
E
Component #6
Team #6
D
Component #5
Team #5
C
Component #4
Team #4
Team #3
Team #2
B
Component #3
Component #2
Component #1
Team #1
A
F
Experience
Teams
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PMO
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34. Pilots not project managers
but leave it on
autopilot 90% of
the time
trained to get you
tracking a lot of
out of trouble
dials and data
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35. 3 simple principles to encourage
flocking without herding
focus on the
whole
deliver as fast as
possible
+ Pilots
make progress
visible
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36. compliance
international
B2B
MBA English IPO
agile husband start-up technology
newly-minted Canadian
executive leanstartup outsourcing father
enterprise transitions
B2C data analysis kanban
seismology PhD
scrum
organizational excellence
Dave Sharrock
dave.sharrock@agile42.com
twitter: @davesharrock
Certified Scrum Coach (CSC)
Certified Scrum Trainer™ (CST)
agile42 | We advise, train and coach companies building software
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37. thank you
dave.sharrock@agile42.com
@davesharrock
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