Distributed ScrumMasters & the art of digital facilitation
@davidjbland#Agile2010
Collocated & Distributed Teams
Tech Startups & Enterprise Organizations
financial – saas - ecommerce - counter terrorism
Introduced to Agile Software
Development in 2002
ScrumMaster & Agile Coach
Distributed Scrum is painful*
*especially for unprepared ScrumMasters
Vanilla flavored Distributed Scrum
is a myth
Training often focuses on collocation
Effective ScrumMasters in collocated teams can be…
…ineffective for distributed teams
Tips that will help you find your way with Distributed Scrum
Virtual Scrum Boards
(Free Google Drawing Template pictured above)
DistributedScrum is not
an AgileLifecycle
Management tool.
Complex tools can raise your barrier to adoption
Teams will channel their frustrations
into the tool.
You’ll steer around the
usability flaws
individuals and interactions…
http://agilemanifesto.org/
… over processes and tools
vs.
Find the right balance of tools for your team
Lightweight & low cost experience
Cross the chasm before worrying about scale
Try a lightweight
virtual scrum board
tool for 2 to 3
iterations
You’ll place the focus backonto your team
DistributedCommunication
Distribution generatesmore documentation
Planning & Preparation
Iteration Info/Goals
Daily Scrum Recaps
Documenting Impediments
Reviews & Retrospectives
“I haven’t even opened my email today”
- Anonymous Developer
Online Text Chat
(8:00am) ScrumMaster:Yt….(8:01am) ScrumMaster:You there?
(8:02am) ScrumMaster:hello?
(8:03am) ScrumMaster:HI
(8:04am) ScrumMaster:Ping me
(8:05am) ScrumMaster:yt?
(8:06am) ScrumMaster:what’s up
(8:07am) ScrumMaster:hi there…
(8:08am) ScrumMaster:YT?
Phone
Body languageis important
Video
Fight for the video conference room
Setup 10 to 15minutes early
Stand Up
What did you do yesterday?What will you do today?What is in your way?
3 Questions(maximum overlap)
What did you do today?What will you do tomorrow?What is in your way?
3 Questions(minimum overlap)
Removing impediments
while the team is asleep
Feedback loops10 minutes
vs. 10 hours
Humanize the distributed teamexperience
Being a mirror for distributed teams
is difficult
Hone yourperception skills
Cultureaffects your distributed
team
Chicken & Piglabels do not
translate wellacross cultures
Establish trust with
retrospectives
Team membersare not
resources
“Metrics are people too”- Eric Ries
Put names with faces
Organize group outings
Be thechampion for your team
To Recap
- Start with a lightweight virtual scrum board
- Use video chat whenever possible to communicate
- Humanize the distributed development experience
Questions?
You are the glue that holds distributed teams together
#Agile2010@davidjbland
Don’t give up!
(thank you)