Food for Agile Thought #348: Ditching Spotify for Scrum, New Product Strategy Framework, Coaching Ain’t a Panacea

Welcome to the 348th edition of the ‘Food for Agile Thought’ newsletter, shared with 35,438 peers. My name is Stefan Wolpers.

This week, we share lessons learned from ditching Spotify (the “model”) for autonomous Scrum teams while pointing to an inherent problem when a technique like coaching is treated like a panacea: There are notable side effects. Also, we notice patterns accompanying change and point at leverage points to intervene in a system, and we delve into the benefits of remote work.

Then, Ely Lerner believes that ‘product leaders need a framework to ensure they’re spending the right amount of time and effort on the right priorities.’ Learn more about his framework. Also, we suggest Karin Dames’ ‘recipe for an integrated development process.’ Moreover, we outline an approach to how product teams can create a product a customer will consider unique, and we recommend augmenting merely ‘predictable’ roadmaps for the senior leadership.

Finally, Tim Harford compares today’s change aversion in many corporations with a disaster from 1346, and Mark Graban and Rich Sheridan discuss various lessons learned on improving the conditions for creating outstanding products in a complex environment.

PS: 🗞 Did you miss past issues? No worries, here we go: 347, 346.

🏆 Tip of the Week

📖 Agile Alliance: Martin Lohmann and Jorgen Krabbe share lessons learned from ditching the “Spotify model” for autonomous Scrum teams: "What we learned from descaling 25 Scrum teams."

➿ Agile & Scrum

• InfoQ: Leigh Griffin and Arjay Hinek point to an inherent problem when a technique like coaching is treated like a panacea: There are notable side effects: "What Kind of Coach Does Your Team Need?"
  
  

• Scrum.org: Addressing recent demands to return to the office from prominent business leaders, Dave West delves into the benefits of remote work: "Remote Work and Scrum."

• John Cutler noticed patterns accompanying change and points at leverage points to intervene in a system: "When Is Change More Likely?"

🎓 🖥 💯 🇩🇪 Hands-on Agile #43: Outcome-Based Product Planning with Jeff Gothelf — July 14, 2022

Roadmapping is a flawed concept in the age of Agile. Maps, by their definition, are linear and we don't build linear products and services any more. We build continuous systems. Nevertheless, we have to be able to create and provide some plans for our teams, leaders and customers to set expectations about the ongoing improvements and future of the services we build. How do we communicate that effectively in a continuous world? How do we ensure the voice of the customer is included in these plans?

In this talk, Jeff Gothelf will discuss the concept of outcome-based product planning. Using specific examples and detailed tools, Jeff will show how taking a customer-centric look at product strategy and creating continuously improving plans ensures the teams maintain their agility, customer-focus and ultimately, the success of their product.

Learn more: 🖥 💯 🇩🇪 Hands-on Agile #43: Outcome-Based Product Planning with Jeff Gothelf — July 14, 2022.

👉 From time to time, we can offer last-minute seats for Professional Scrum training classes at cost to individuals who do not have access to a corporate training budget. If you like to be notified about these opportunities, please apply here.

🎯 Product

• Reforge: Ely Lerner believes that ‘product leaders need a framework to ensure they’re spending the right amount of time and effort on the right priorities.’ Learn more about his framework: "Product Strategy Framework: Offense vs. Defense."
  
  

• Medium: Karin Dames suggests a ‘recipe for an integrated development process:’ "Where does design fit into the development life cycle?"

• Scott Sehlhorst outlines an approach to how product teams can create a product a customer will regard as unique: "How To Make Your Product Special."

🛠 Concepts, Tools & Measuring

• Johanna Rothman recommends augmenting merely ‘predictable’ roadmaps for the senior leadership: "What Senior Managers Want & Need from Roadmaps: Predictability and Options."

✂️ Cutting Room Floor

• 🎙 Tim Harford compares today’s change aversion in many corporations with a disaster from 1346: "Cautionary Tales – The French Knight’s Guide to Corporate Culture."

• 🎙 In this podcast, Mark Graban and Rich Sheridan discuss various lessons learned on improving the conditions for creating outstanding products in a complex environment: "Rich Sheridan, CEO of Menlo Innovations, on Eliminating Fear and Increasing Joy in Work."

📅 Training Classes, Meetups & Events

Upcoming classes and events:

• 🖥 💯 🇩🇪 Jun 28 - Jul 1 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Scrum Product Owner Training (PSPO I; German)
• 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 July 14 — Live Virtual Meetup: Hands-on Agile #43: Outcome-Based Product Planning w/ Jeff Gothelf (English)
• 🖥 🇩🇪 Aug 29-30 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Scrum Master Training (PSM I; German)
• 🖥 🇬🇧 Sep 6-9 — Live Virtual Class: Advanced Professional Scrum Master Training (PSM II; English)
• 🖥 🇩🇪 Sep 26-27 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Agile Leadership Essentials Training (PAL-E; German)

See all upcoming classes here.

📺 Youtube Channel

• Janna Bastow: Hands-on Agile #42: Lean Roadmapping and OKRs.

Your Opinion Matters

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Best,