MANAGING A GLOBAL TEAM USING AGILEDoes Remote AGILE Work?

By: Miriam Lottner, COO Gangly Sister LLC.

WHAT IS AGILE?

WHAT MAKES AGILE DIFFERENT?

AgileEvolutionary methodology from Unified Processing which encourages IID (Iterative and Incremental Development) method.

vs.

WaterfallSequential design process with clear beginning and end defined from outset.

WHAT IS THE GLOBAL TEAM AGILE CHALLENGE?

Made up AGILE facts that sound reasonable:

• 97.9 % of all AGILE iterations use SCRUM.

• AGILE SCRUM teams must be collocated according to SCRUM philosophy.

• Virtual /video standups are impossible and never work.

• Virtual collaboration is not feasible at such a fast pace.

• SCRUM teams must be collocated to succeed.

• Sprints are always too short to get any good documentation done.

SCRUMMING THE GLOBE?

So what is SCRUM and WHY does it matter when trying to manage globally?

DOES THE SCRUM MASTER HOLD THE KEY?

• Is there a corporate culture of collocation?

• Is the SCRUM master your friend? If not, why?

• What other tools/tricks can you use to make this possible?

• Is failure an option?

• Have you set yourself /your team up for success?

TOOLS FOR SURVIVING THE SPRINT

• What tools do you have in your documentation arsenal

• What friends/team mates have you developed a rapport with?

• What stakeholders have you invested in your process?

• What part of SPRINT success or failure does your process own?

• What ROI have you injected into the product as a result of your work?

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FAIL?

• Is failure always a bad thing?

• Will you lose your job?

• Does failure have positive advantages you haven’t considered?

• Why was AGILE designed around failure to bring success?

• Who would your failure actually affect?

WHAT NOW?

• Delegate SCRUM roles within your doc team

• Understand the AGILE process and identify your key stakeholders

• Develop the relationships you need within each scrum to get the support your process requires

• STAND UP for what you need to do your job

• Approach each SPRINT like a marathon

• Don’t be afraid to FAIL in order to achieve your ultimate goal