We have the best software development tools in history. Why are our developers so afraid to refactor? Our Agile Architect explores how powerful code management tools can lead to powerful problems that inhibit agility -- and what you can do about them.
This is the completely true and not at all exaggerated story of how I, the Agile Architect, saved the Earth from complete and utter destruction. I'm sure there's an agile lesson in there somewhere.
Tasktop Technologies Inc. combined several of its software development and delivery products into a new suite that it says takes a different approach to integrating enterprise agile and DevOps initiatives.
Agile software development can be stressful. Recognize it, admit to it, deal with it, fix it.
Agile proponents promote self-organization. But what does this really look like? It turns out that achieving real self-organization takes...organization.
Who needs respect? It's more important to be right! And to be right, you have to be heard. So go ahead and talk over your colleagues. It's for the betterment of the project. Am I right?
A standup meeting is supposed to be an effective way to have a quick, meaningful team meeting, yet it is routinely despised as being too long and a waste of time. And it can indeed be a waste of time. Our Agile Architect explains why you might just not need a standup.
A standup meeting is supposed to be an effective way to have a quick, meaningful team meeting. Yet it is routinely despised as being too long and a waste of time. Our Agile Architect investigates ways to turn that around.
Agile rules can sometimes become a barrier to progress and even be perceived as impenetrable. Our Agile Architect spins a story about recognizing these artificial barriers and how to break through them.
If you've seen any trailers for movies lately, you know that superheroes are the new hotness. In a blatant rip-off of the genre, our Agile Architect describes how to have your own secret origin as a super software developer.
Our Agile Architect, for whom Spock was his primary emotional role model, brings in a ringer to talk about the soft skills required to be successful in the agile world.
Agile doesn't just apply to software. Cities around the country are experimenting with agile practices to change how they govern. This is the story of one such unbelievable town.
Software development is a creative process that requires a safe environment where people feel comfortable sharing their bizarre ideas that lead to that next great breakthrough. Our Agile Architect discusses the importance of a safe environment for a successful and creative agile culture.
A team charter is a common tool of an agile team to create consensus on how the team will do its work. Unfortunately, the act of creating a team charter can be lengthy and dull. Our Agile Architect describes an alternative approach to team chartering that embraces the agile concept of delivering real value rather than talking about it.
In agile retrospectives, teams will often focus on just their weaknesses, assuming any strength is good. But what happens if the team is spending too much time honing the wrong strengths? Our Agile Architect introduces a fun game to explore the possibility.
Knowledge and experience have an expiration date, especially in the IT world. As our Agile Architect hits 50, he ruminates on the idea that more experience doesn't necessarily equate to better results.
Our Agile Architect analyzes a letter from a reader and answers the question that wasn't asked.
Our Agile Architect ponders the applicability of agile thinking and methodologies outside traditional software development.
Our Agile Architect talks about how to get things "done done."
A spike is the agile terminology for a short period of research unfettered by the constraints of test-driven development and the other disciplines necessary to produce production-quality software. In this article, our Agile Architect gives the low-down on how to use spikes and, more importantly, how not to use spikes.