This document discusses agile practices and how to apply them to talent innovation. It introduces agile frameworks and mindsets, then covers specific tools like kanban, journey mapping, and product canvassing. These practices emphasize iterative development, visualization, and maintaining a user-centered focus to continuously improve processes and outcomes. Examples are provided of how these tools were used to evaluate applications, improving metrics like efficiency, quality, and reviewer experience. References for further resources on agile methods are also included.

1. Move Over, Product:
Driving True Talent Innovation,
Lean- and Agile-Style
Bill Rooney
Innovation Operations Manager - 18F

2. Goals
1. Plant the seed of agile
2. Equip you with a few simple practices
AGENDA

3. The agile mindset

4. Agile is a framework which refers to a group
of iterative development methodologies,
where solutions and requirements grow
together, through self-organizing
cross-functional teams.

5. Agile is a framework which refers to a group
of iterative development methodologies,
where solutions and requirements grow
together, through self-organizing
cross-functional teams.

6. Iterative vs incremental

7. Incremental development

8. Iterative development

10. Agile is a framework which refers to a group
of iterative development methodologies,
where solutions and requirements grow
together, through self-organizing
cross-functional teams.

11. The agile mindset

12. A mindset is an established set of
attitudes or beliefs held by someone.

13. A mindset is an established set of
attitudes or beliefs held by an
individual or team about agile.

14. The agile mindset

15. Think like a designer.
Measurable and data-driven.
Agile practices.
Open by default.
Be the change.

16. Work visualization
Journey mapping
Product canvas

17. Work visualization

18. Kanban
Key principles
● Visualize work
● Limit work in process
● Focus on flow
● Continuous Improvement

20. The board

21. Ready In-Progress Done
The lanes

22. Use the template provided by
Lever to create the slides for the
presentation during the summit
5/16/2016 Bill R.
Talent Innovation
Summit presentation
Activity
Name
Description
Target
Date
Activity
Owner
The card

23. Ready In-Progress Done
Kanban basics

24. Ready In-Progress Done
Kanban basics

25. Ready In-Progress Done
Kanban basics

26. Ready In-Progress Done
Kanban basics

27. Ready In-Progress Done
Kanban basics

28. Work in Process (WIP)

29. Ready In-Progress (2) Done
WIP

30. Ready In-Progress (2) Done
WIP

31. Customization

32. Ready In-Progress Done
Blockers

33. Ready In-Progress Done
Project 1
Project 2
Swimlanes

34. Ready In-Progress Done
= Recruiting = Onboarding = Benefits
Color

35. Ready In-Progress Done
Fast
Lane
Class of service

43. Work visualization
Journey mapping
Product canvas

44. Journey mapping

45. Journey mapping
Benefits
● Provides a holistic view of the ecosystem of user interactions
● Encourages everyone to empathize with the user
● Visual information is easily shared and understood
● Highlights opportunities for improvement or innovation

47. User persona
A persona is a fictional character that represents a specific example of a user or
set of users.
● Personas are developed using
information gained through observation,
user research, etc.
● Provides a user-centered lens and
facilitates user empathy
● Persona should have things like:
○ Picture
○ Job, lifestyle, hobbies
○ Aspirations, desires
○ Fears, problems

48. Map the journey
Document each step or action that the user takes from the beginning to the end
of the journey
Visits careers
page
Selects job
posting
Completes
application

49. Activities
Journey Map

50. Map onstage people & things
List all of people & things the user comes into direct contact with associated
with each step of the journey
Recruiters getajob.com
People Things

51. Activities
Journey Map
Onstage

52. Map backstage people & things
List the people & things that the user doesn’t directly interact with but that
supports the onstage items
Web developer Amazon Web
Services
People Things

53. Journey Map
Activities
Onstage
Backstage

54. Map emotions & thoughts
Capture what the user is thinking or feeling at each moment through the
journey
This job
posting is
confusing
I hope I get a
chance to
interview
It’s frustrating
that I haven’t
heard
anything

55. Journey Map
Activities
Onstage
Backstage
Emotions

56. I can’t wait to
interview!
I got rejected
and no one even
spoke to me
High Low
Use colored stickies to vote for the top three positive and
negative emotions, illustrating the user’s highs and lows
during the journey
Dot voting

57. Choose the moment that is most meaningful to the user
and is the greatest opportunity for your team
Select the opportunity

59. Work visualization
Journey mapping
Product canvas

60. Product canvas

61. Product Canvas
User Story MVP Metrics

62. User Story
● Acts as a placeholder for
conversation
● Presents the problem in a way
that enables creativity
● Reinforces a user-centered
focus
As a <type of user>, I want <some goal> so that <some reason>
As an 18F reviewer, I want a
policy-compliant way to effectively,
accurately and objectively evaluate
applications.

63. Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
● Experiment to validate
hypotheses
● Reduces waste and increases
efficiency
● Generates feedback from real
users
“A Minimum Viable Product is that version of a new product which allows a team to
collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least
effort.”
● A way to describe what’s important for
success in the role
● A standard way to assess against things
● A way for reviewers to effectively use those
things

64. Metrics
● Stating intent
● Validated learning
● Accountability for impact● Accuracy
● Quality
● Efficiency
● Reviewer Confidence
● Reviewer Experience

65. Product Canvas
As an 18F reviewer, I want a
policy-compliant way to effectively,
accurately and objectively evaluate
applications.
● A way to describe what’s important
for success in the role
● A standard way to assess against
things
● A way for reviewers to effectively
use those things
● Accuracy
● Quality
● Efficiency
● Reviewer Confidence
● Reviewer Experience

67. The results

68. Average time to complete one evaluation was lower by 31.21%Efficiency:
Experience: Average overall satisfaction was higher by 28.12%
Confidence: Average overall level of confidence in the evaluation was higher
by 8.37%
Quality:
The relationship of the candidate’s total score to their actual
strength was 8% stronger
Accuracy:
The relationship of total score to evaluators interest in
interviewing was 30% stronger

69. Thank you
Bill Rooney
Innovation Operations Manager - 18F
william.rooney@gsa.gov

70. References & Resources
Tools & templates
● http://leankit.com/
● https://methods.18f.gov/
● http://gamestorming.com/
● https://mural.co
Thought leaders & blogs
● http://www.romanpichler.com/
● https://www.crisp.se/konsulter/henrik-kniberg
● http://jpattonassociates.com/
● http://dragile.com/
● https://www.wickedproblems.com/
● http://www.startuplessonslearned.com/