Download - Productivity- and Self Management
Productivity & Self-management Some techniques, and when to use them
Dev.Talk August 2015
Thomas Mentzel & Marcel Körtgen
Pomodoro Technique
• http://pomodorotechnique.com/
• http://tomato-timer.com/
• Clean Coder → http://bit.ly/1PnDUiI
Pomodoro Technique
• is 25 mins of focussed work
• followed by 5 mins of recap and review
• requires to eliminate all distractions (inform,
negotiate, and call back)
Five basic steps
1.Decide on the task to be done
2.Set the pomodoro timer to n minutes (traditionally 25)
3.Work on the task until the timer rings
4.Take a short break (3–5 minutes)
• Review your task recently done
• Plan your task for the next pomodore
• Get a cup of coffee or do something else
5.After four pomodori, take a longer break (15–30 minutes)
Pomodoro Technique
• schedule your day with pomodori
• split your task into 25 mins pomodori
• is NOT 16 pomodori a day
• but it can schedule your housework as well
Distraction free working
• Turn off email, social media, mobile phone, etc
•Keep your desk clean and distraction free
•Make yourself comfortable
•In case you listen to music, choose wise
•→ http://mtcb.pwop.com/
•In case of a phone call, a question from a colleague or
any other disruption, try to postpone this to your break.
→ http://bit.ly/1MF3SRk (7 Ways To Beat Distraction)
Summary
• Frequent breaks keep your mind fresh and focused
• Help you crank through projects faster by forcing you
to adhere to strict timing
• Increases productivity and reduces context switching
• ...find more pros and cons on your own!
→ give Pomodoro a try
Try to finish eight pomodori a day -that’s hard!
Only two hard rules
1. Visualize your work
2. Limit your Work-In-Progress (WIP)
Implications
1.Beware of „shadow work“
2.Allow for frequent prioritization
3.Pull, not Push (follows from rule 2)
4.Reflect on tasks to optimize flow
• You have two hands
• You can only juggle so many things at a time
• The more you add, the more likely it is that you will drop something.
• A freeway can operate from 0 to 100 percent capacity
• But when a freeway’s capacity gets over about 65%, it starts to slow down
• When it reaches 100% capacity – it stops.
Research shows that multitasking:
• degrades short-term memory
• creates stress → invokes primitive brain parts
• increases error rate → adds cost (fixes needed)
• some brain parts are sequential processors
• adds load to prefrontal cortex → degrades cognitive ability
Why it works
• Comprehension
• Kinesthetic Feedback • Learning
• Pattern Recognition
• Existential Overhead
• Narratives & Maps
Extending to Teams
• Kanban • Optimize Flow/Throughput → Efficiency (Kaizen)
• Scrum • Envisioning / Backlog Grooming
• Sprint Planning, Retrospective
• Release Planning
• Optimizes Direction → Effectivity (Kaikaku)
• Scaling up • Scrum of Scrums (SoS)
• SAFe
• Three Horizons
Summary
• Individual • Pomodoro
• Pairing works extremely well, though
• Personal Kanban • Easy to extend to Teams, Family, …
• Teams: More layers of feedback loops • Daily Standup
• Sprint
• Release
• Three horizons
Some References
• Pomodoro & Kanban (KanbanFlow)
• Produktivität mit System (t3n Themen special)
• Rory Vaden: How to multiply your time (TEDx)
• Why & How To Limit Your WIP (@ourfounder)
• Multitasking Gets You There Later (InfoQ)
• Jim Benson: Personal Kanban 101 (SlideShare)
• Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)