Food for Agile Thought #355: Novelty Uncertainty, Data & Storytelling for Alignment, Adoption of Innovation

Welcome to the 355th edition of the ‘Food for Agile Thought’ newsletter, shared with 35,721 peers. My name is Stefan Wolpers.

This week, we delve into dealing with novelty uncertainty by acquiring knowledge as we move forward in a process at the heart of all agile practices. Moreover, we analyze the mechanics of how innovation moves from the fringes to the core of an organization, and we explain Richard Feynman’s seven “tricks for evaluating information.” Also, we lay out the challenges and opportunities of distributed teams, from ‘management by talk around’ to tools and practices.

Then, we explore ways of “how to go from charts and numbers to a story that will move your stakeholders” and share the principles of how engineering and product collaborate at Intercom for the benefit of customers, for example, by involving the engineers from the start. Additionally, we explore the general relationship between engineering and product management and share lessons learned, for instance, earn respect first as a product manager before you become technical.

Finally, we thank IT Revolution Press for attempting to explain the practice of creating Wardley Maps. Noorisingh Saini leads us through calculating, interpreting, and improving the lifetime value of your SaaS customers, while Natalie Rothfels, Ely Lerner, and Behzod Sirjani bust customer churn myths, from its supposed unavoidability to wrong assumptions. Lastly, Greg Satell points to a typical disadvantage of large organizations regarding innovation: “it’s often just easier to fall in line than to engage in vigorous debate.”

PS: 🗞 Did you miss past issues? No worries, here we go: 353, 354.

📈 🔬 Join 470-plus peers and contribute to the anonymous poll for the upcoming free ‘Product Owner and Product Manager Salary Report 2022!’

🏆 Tip of the Week

Jerry Neumann delves into dealing with novelty uncertainty by acquiring knowledge as you move forward in a process at the heart of all agile practices: "Trial and Error, Part 1."

➿ Agile & Scrum

• Stanford Social Innovation: Benjamin Kumpf and Emma Proud analyze the mechanics of how innovation moves from the fringes to the core of an organization: "The Adoption of Innovation."

• Farnam Street: Shane Parrish explains Richard Feynman’s seven “tricks for evaluating information:” "Evaluating Information: Find the Signal in the Noise."

• Management 3.0: Stefan Mintert and Jens Thiemann lay out the challenges and opportunities of distributed teams, from ‘management by talk around’ to tools and practices: "Leading Distributed Agile Teams."
  
  

🎓 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Hands-on Agile #44: Honey, I Shrunk the Backlog with Allan Kelly — September 5, 2022

The backlog was a great idea until it wasn't. Many successful teams deliver backlog items daily, but their backlogs aren't getting any smaller. The never-ending backlog overshadows delivery success. Product discovery, dual-track agile, OKRs, etc., make it worse by accelerating backlog growth without taking any of the rotting items away.

Worst of all, doing the backlog distracts from delivering benefits to the customers and responding to change. So what are we to do?

In this presentation, Allan "Nuke the backlog" Kelly suggests you rethink the very idea of the backlog and rebuild your agile process around outcomes. You have nothing to lose by your burn-down charts.

RSVP now: 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Hands-on Agile #44: Honey, I Shrunk the Backlog with Allan Kelly — September 5, 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

• IDEO U: Justin Massa explores ways of “how to go from charts and numbers to a story that will move your stakeholders:” "Data and Storytelling for Strategic Alignment."
  
  

• Intercom: Levent Ali shares the principles of how engineering and product collaborate at Intercom for the benefit of customers, for example, by involving the engineers from the start: "Intercom’s product principles: Shaping the solution to maximize customer value."

• Medium: Joca Torres explores the relationship between the two parties and shares lessons learned, for example, earn respect first as a product manager before you become technical: "Engineering and product management."

🛠 Concepts, Tools & Measuring

• IT Revolution Press attempts to explain the practice of creating Wardley Maps: "How to Wardley Map."

• Amplitude: Noorisingh Saini leads you through calculating, interpreting, and improving the lifetime value of your SaaS customers: "How to Calculate & Interpret SaaS LTV."

• Reforge: Natalie Rothfels, Ely Lerner, and Behzod Sirjani bust customer churn myths, from its supposed unavoidability to wrong assumptions: "Trying To Reduce Churn Rate? Avoid These 3 Common Myths."

✂️ Cutting Room Floor

• Greg Satell Greg Satell points to a typical disadvantage of large organizations: “it’s often just easier to fall in line than to engage in vigorous debate.” "How Consensus Kills Innovation."
  
  

📅 Training Classes, Meetups & Events

Upcoming classes and events:

• 🖥 💯 🇩🇪 Aug 29-30 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Scrum Master Training (PSM I; German)
• 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Sep 5 — Live Virtual Meetup: Hands-on Agile #44: Honey, I Shrunk the Backlog w/ Allan Kelly (English)
• 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 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)
• 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Sep 27 — Live Virtual Meetup: Hands-on Agile #45: FAST: An Innovative Way to Scale w/ James Shore (English)
• 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Oct 4-5 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Scrum Master Training (PSM I; English)
• 🖥 🇩🇪 Oct 18-21 — Live Virtual Class: Advanced Professional Scrum Product Owner Training (PSPO-A; German)
• 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Oct 31-Nov 3 — Live Virtual Class: Professional Scrum Product Owner Training (PSPO I; English)

See all upcoming classes here.

📺 Youtube Channel

• Jeff Gothelf: Outcome-Based Product Planning — Hands-on Agile 43.

Your Opinion Matters

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Best,