Agile Class Assignments
M264_123 s
CSPSM_2020_Postclass_4.docxHomework Page 1 of 7
Homework Page 1 of 7
CSP-SM Post-Class Assignment 4
Assignment 4 – Mindset
During class we explored what the "Agile Mindset" was: working to deliver a stream of value to impact this world in a positive way. This mindset is held up by the four values of the agile manifesto and the twelve agile principles. Recall the exercise we did around "Round Peg / Round Hole" where we explored the embodiment of the twelve principles. The agile mindset can take root in a place where there is alignment around the expression of these principles as an individual, as a team, and as an organization.
This assignment requires no interaction with your teams, and instead focuses on times in the past that you helped to establish or grow the agile mindset, moving away from a more "command and control" culture. You should focus on examples of this more traditional way of working, instead of where Scrum was poorly implemented or there was a lack of shared understanding of the framework.
“Command and Control” examples could include (but not limited to)
· Product Owner who treated PBI / User Stories as “hard requirements” and expected the team to finish a certain number in a certain order each sprint
· Scrum Master who broke PBI / User Stories into tasks and “assigned” activities to individual members of the Development Team
· Development Team Member who assumed a “leadership” role and dominated discussions of PBI Estimation, task identification, or assignment of work
· Internal Stakeholder who forced policy or schedule constraints on a team, potentially members of a sales team, marketing group, or another Scrum Team
· External Stakeholder who participated in Sprint Reviews and insisted on being present for other Sprint Events to ensure that their work was being actioned
Provide responses to the questions below, covering two distinct examples of where you helped change the culture of your team or organization. For each of the examples you will identify which agile value / principle was not present or severely lacking. You will also explain what changes you made to help grow that agile value or principle.
Example #1
1. In 3 to 5 sentences, explain the situation that existed before you made any changes. Treat this as a way to "tell the story" as you would respond to the question "Have you ever seen an example of where the agile mindset wasn't really there?"
2. In 2 to 3 sentences, explain which agile value (responding to change over following a plan) or agile principle (The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation) was completely absent or severely lacking. Explain why this particular value / principle is applicable to the example you provided.
3. In 2 to 3 sentences, explain what action(s) you took to grow the identified agile value / principle that was lacking or absent.
4. In 2 to 3 sentences, explain how you were able to observe, measure, or identify that the agile value / principle that was lacking or absent began to take root.
5. In 2 to 3 sentences, explain how your positive changes helped to change the culture of your team or organization.
Example #2
1. In 3 to 5 sentences, explain the situation that existed before you made any changes. Treat this as a way to "tell the story" as you would respond to the question "Have you ever seen an example of where the agile mindset wasn't really there?"
2. In 2 to 3 sentences, explain which agile value (responding to change over following a plan) or agile principle (The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation) was completely absent or severely lacking. Explain why this particular value / principle is applicable to the example you provided.
3. In 2 to 3 sentences, explain what action(s) you took to grow the identified agile value / principle that was lacking or absent.
4. In 2 to 3 sentences, explain how you were able to observe, measure, or identify that the agile value / principle that was lacking or absent began to take root.
5. In 2 to 3 sentences, explain how your positive changes helped to change the culture of your team or organization.
