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How to Increase Capacity by Reducing Rework
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When organizations adopt an Agile framework or attempt to work in a more agile way, there’s often an expectation that they’ll be able to “do more with less.” While that phrase sounds appealing, it’s important to acknowledge that it often conflicts with the laws of physics—except in two notable cases:…
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Item Aging
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Performance measurements help us to monitor system performance and make improvements. An automobile engine has many measurements, many hidden from the driver. Some of these measures are engine temperature, rotations per minute (RPM), oil levels, transmission fluid levels, oxygen levels, timing, and pressure. Without sensors detecting these measures, the onboard…
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Scrum Master Level Up
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Most people serving as Scrum Masters were introduced to the role by way of a couple of days of certification training and some work on the job in a company that values only some of Scrum’s elements. Some people serving in this capacity are not aware of how many concepts,…
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Scrum Or Kanban
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One of my favorite questions to ask a group of agilists is: “Scrum or Kanban—Which should you use and why?” I often get answers like this: These answers are nonsense. Scrum and Kanban are not alternatives to one another. Let’s examine how this thinking developed—and then let’s blow it all…
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Continuous Improvement
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Continuous improvement is a cornerstone of lean thinking. It involves continually evaluating what we do and making adjustments to improve. Rather than treating change as a temporary disruption to endure until reaching a specific goal, continuous improvement embraces change as an ongoing, positive force. Those who adopt a mindset of…
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How to Pass the PMP Exam
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When I took my PMP course, the instructor shared a foolproof method to pass the exam. I’m sharing that same advice with you, which has worked for me and many others I’ve coached over the years. Best of luck on your journey to becoming a PMP! First Things First Be…
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Do Nothing Which is of No Use
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In his book Go Rin No Shō (A Book of Five Rings), medieval Japanese sword master Musashi Miyamoto wrote a textbook of his approach to sword fighting to those who might wish to understand his philosophy of never losing in battle. His 400 year old book, written before anyone ever…
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Expanding IT Capacity Death Spiral
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In a large project-led enterprise, leaders are usually not empowered to say “no” to work requests. To say “no” is career suicide. Instead, IT is asked for estimates of what it will take to complete the project requests they receive. These estimates are used to justify funding work. The funding…
KANBAN
Kanban Fundamentals
Four Dimensions of Status in Kanban
The Power of Cycle Time
How to Improve Cycle Time
Scrum or Kanban
How to take over any Organization with Kanban
Item Aging
Flow, Lead, and Cycle Time
Kanban Your Backlog
LEAN
Limits on WIP Limits
Small Batch Size
Do Nothing Which is of No Use
Continuous Improvement
Increase Capacity by Reducing Rework
Fast, Cheap, or Good – Pick One
PROJECT MANAGEMENT