#rETROSPECTIVES
2025
En tan sólo unas semanas podremos escuchar por completo el nuevo disco de esta artista excepcional.
En Bandcamp ya pueden reservarlo.
https://billiedavies.bandcamp.com/album/retrospectives
#música #jazz #avantgarde #improvisación #nuevojazz #batería #percusión #WestPalmBeach
8 track album
The Challenge of Finding True Agile Experts
A long time ago, when I was a junior Scrum Master, my Chief Agile Coach posed a thought-provoking question:
“If you had a limited budget, would you hire a Scrum Master or a Software Engineer?”
At the time, I replied, “A Software Engineer, because they produce measurable output.”
Now, years later, I reflect on that conversation with a deeper understanding. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside exceptional Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, and Product Owners. Yet, let’s be honest:
The majority of Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches lack a clear understanding of the how and why behind their roles. Many find themselves stuck in these positions, not out of passion or conviction, but because they see no alternatives. Instead of pursuing what they believe is right, they focus on maintaining their roles, often to the detriment of their teams and organizations.
The market is saturated with so-called Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches. For every open position, there are often over 200 applicants. Since these roles are unregulated, anyone can claim the title. Unfortunately, this influx of underqualified individuals has created challenges for the Agile community.
The Problem with Unqualified Agile Practitioners
Agile practitioners are perceived as experts, wielding authority. However, when they lack the necessary experience or knowledge, they themselves become the biggest impediments. This issue is compounded when they fail to listen to those they aim to serve, addressing superficial concerns rather than solving real problems. Instead of driving transformation, they retreat into an “Agile kindergarten,” disconnected from reality.
Moreover, the oversupply of candidates drives salaries down, making these roles less attractive to true experts. As a result, the market loses talented professionals who could excel in these positions, creating a vicious cycle.
What Makes a Great Agile Expert?
A true Agile expert must navigate a complex and diverse set of responsibilities, including but not limited to:
This list only scratches the surface of what a skilled Agile practitioner must handle. Organizations seeking to hire an Agile Coach should ask candidates to explain these methodologies. Doing so can reveal whether they possess the expertise needed for the role.
Reflecting on the Industry Today
There was a time when companies hired almost anyone with a self-declared title of Scrum Master or Agile Coach. That window gave me the chance to enter this profession. However, times have changed, and so has my perspective.
If my Chief Agile Coach asked me the same question today, I’d answer differently:
“I would hire a qualified Scrum Master—someone with both experience and a strong theoretical foundation. This is a critical role, and you can’t entrust it to just anyone with a certification.”
Agility works. It offers practical solutions to structural challenges that companies face. While traditional waterfall project management isn’t a viable alternative, the challenge lies in finding the right people to implement Agile effectively. Companies must embrace agility to adapt and compete, but doing so successfully requires truly qualified Agile Coaches and Scrum Masters.
#AcceptanceCriteria #Agile #AgileChallenges #AgileCoach #AgileExpertise #AgileMarket #AgileMethodologies #AgilePractices #AgileTransformation #AzureDevOps #Coaching #ConflictResolution #Confluence #CostOfDelay #DefinitionOfDone #DefinitionOfReady #DevOps #EffortEstimation #Jira #Kanban #Mediation #Mission #Nexus #OKRs #Prioritization #ProductOwner #Retrospectives #SAFe #ScaledAgile #Scrum #ScrumMaster #SpotifyModel #Strategy #TeamTopologies #ValueEstimation #Vision #WaterfallVsAgile
I find that the best #retrospectives we have in the company are those that start from the script and, as soon as an interesting topic is found, turn into a sort of #brainstorming session.
I’m considering ditching the script entirely and using a collaborative #mindmap tool instead, to further push towards brainstorming and linking ideas.
Does anybody have experience with this approach?
Architectural Retrospectives vs. Architectural Reviews: Wondering about the difference?
Architectural Retrospectives - help teams to improve their way of working
Architectural Reviews - help teams to improve the product on which they are working
Read the #InfoQ article by Pierre Pureur & Kurt Bittner to gain more insights: https://bit.ly/3LYe7Di
#SoftwareArchitecture #ArchitecturalReviews #Retrospectives #ContinuousImprovement #MinimumViableArchitecture
Struggling with ineffective #retrospectives?
Listen to the #InfoQ #podcast for tips on creating engaging, safe & actionable sessions.
🎧 Listen now: https://bit.ly/3WQPwqK
🙄 Aren't #retrospectives just a fluffy, fuzzy event in #Scrum?
😩 And *everyone* needs to attend, of course!
No, of course not!
I was trying to be funny 😜 AND get your attention. 😁
Now that I am having it, here's one thing I am totally serious about:
✨ your inner #stance as a #retrospective #facilitator matters ✨
The 5 stances in a nutshell are:
⛺ Be a host
👁️🗨️ Be clear with others
🧠 Be clear with yourself
🗺 Be prepared (to be surprised)
💗 Be-lieve
➡️ Read more here: https://www.respectandadapt.rocks/blog/facilitation/retrospective-basics-stances
In Part One we looked at the my very basics for helpful, effective retrospectives and Part Two was dedicated to variety. In this last part helpful stances for a retrospective facilitator are in the spotlight. I'll also share the my secret fuel for Inspect & Adapt.
Does #Variety have a place in #Retrospectives?
Yes, of course!
But: what is THE RIGHT amount of variety? 🤔
Well, it depends!😁
(sorry, I had to add this consultant's joke here)
🤓 Now, let's get serious again:
We can look at variety in the #timeframe 🔮, with #people 🤼
and when it comes to choosing #activities.
Read more here: https://www.respectandadapt.rocks/blog/facilitation/retrospective-basics-variety
#TeamWork #Facilitation #Moderation #SoftSkills #ProfessionalSkills #LeadershipSkills
In Part One we looked at the my very basics for helpful, effective retrospectives. Today we put variety [0] in the spotlight. Listening to Gitte Klitgaard on the TIRF podcast reminded me of things I struggled with in my earlier Scrum Master's and Agile Coach's days. Things that I wish I would've
#Design #Retrospectives
Why Adobe is frustrating web designers · Adobe’s complicated relationship with the web https://ilo.im/15xrer
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#Adobe #CreativeCloud #Flash #Muse #Photoshop #DesignTool #ProductDesign #UxDesign #UiDesign #WebDesign
the MockingOwls
Federico Antin
Kevin
Federico Fissore
InfoQ
Cosima (she/her)
Casper Weiss Bang
), less so on the _things_ - It's been great! I've written about our process on 
Inautilo