Table Of Content

Collaboration Explained: Facilitation Skills for Software Project Leaders By Jean Tabaka ............................................... Publisher:A ddison Wesley Professional Pub Date: January 06, 2006 Print ISBN-10: 0-321-26877-6 Print ISBN-13: 978-0-321-26877-8 Pages: 456 Table of Contents | Index "Collaboration Explained is a deeply pragmatic book that helps agile practitioners understand and manage complex organizational and team dynamics. As an agile coach, I've found the combination of straightforward advice and colorful anecdotes to be invaluable in guiding and focusing interactions with my teams. Jean's wealth of experience is conveyed in a carefully struck balance of reference guides and prose, facilitating just-in-time learning in the agile spirit. All in all, a superb resource for building stronger teams that's fit for agile veterans and neophytes alike." Arlen Bankston, Lean Agile Practice Manager, CC Pace "If Agile is the new 'what,' then surely Collaboration is the new 'how.' There are many things I really like about Jean's new book. Right at the top of the list is that I don't have to make lists of ideas for collaboration and facilitation anymore. Jean has it all. Not only does she have those great ideas for meetings, retrospectives, and team decision-making that I need to remember, but the startling new and thought-provoking ideas are there too. And the stories, the stories, the stories! The best way to transfer wisdom. Thanks, Jean!" Linda Rising, Independent Consultant The Hands-On Guide to Effective Collaboration in Agile Projects To succeed, an agile project demands outstanding collaboration among all its stakeholders. But great collaboration doesn't happen by itself; it must be carefully planned and facilitated throughout the entire project lifecycle. Collaboration Explained is the first book to bring together proven, start-to-finish techniques for ensuring effective collaboration in any agile software project. Since the early days of the agile movement, Jean Tabaka has been studying and promoting collaboration in agile environments. Drawing on her unsurpassed experience, she offers clear guidelines and easy-to-use collaboration templates for every significant project event: from iteration and release planning, through project chartering, all the way through post- project retrospectives. Tabaka's hands-on techniques are applicable to every leading agile methodology, from Extreme Programming and Scrum to Crystal Clear. Above all, they are practical: grounded in a powerful understanding of the technical, business, and human challenges you face as a project manager or development team member. · Build collaborative software development cultures, leaders, and teams · Prepare yourself to collaborateand prepare your team · Define clear roles for each participant in promoting collaboration · Set your collaborative agenda · Master tools for organizing collaboration more efficiently · Run effective collaborative meetingsincluding brainstorming sessions · Promote better small-group and pair-programming collaboration · Get better information, and use it to make better decisions · Use non-abusive conflict to drive positive outcomes · Collaborate to estimate projects and schedules more accurately · Strengthen collaboration across distributed, virtual teams · Extend collaboration from individual projects to the entire development organization © Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Collaboration Explained: Facilitation Skills for Software Project Leaders By Jean Tabaka ............................................... Publisher:A ddison Wesley Professional Pub Date: January 06, 2006 Print ISBN-10: 0-321-26877-6 Print ISBN-13: 978-0-321-26877-8 Pages: 456 Table of Contents | Index "Collaboration Explained is a deeply pragmatic book that helps agile practitioners understand and manage complex organizational and team dynamics. As an agile coach, I've found the combination of straightforward advice and colorful anecdotes to be invaluable in guiding and focusing interactions with my teams. Jean's wealth of experience is conveyed in a carefully struck balance of reference guides and prose, facilitating just-in-time learning in the agile spirit. All in all, a superb resource for building stronger teams that's fit for agile veterans and neophytes alike." Arlen Bankston, Lean Agile Practice Manager, CC Pace "If Agile is the new 'what,' then surely Collaboration is the new 'how.' There are many things I really like about Jean's new book. Right at the top of the list is that I don't have to make lists of ideas for collaboration and facilitation anymore. Jean has it all. Not only does she have those great ideas for meetings, retrospectives, and team decision-making that I need to remember, but the startling new and thought-provoking ideas are there too. And the stories, the stories, the stories! The best way to transfer wisdom. Thanks, Jean!" Linda Rising, Independent Consultant The Hands-On Guide to Effective Collaboration in Agile Projects To succeed, an agile project demands outstanding collaboration among all its stakeholders. But great collaboration doesn't happen by itself; it must be carefully planned and facilitated throughout the entire project lifecycle. Collaboration Explained is the first book to bring together proven, start-to-finish techniques for ensuring effective collaboration in any agile software project. Since the early days of the agile movement, Jean Tabaka has been studying and promoting collaboration in agile environments. Drawing on her unsurpassed experience, she offers clear guidelines and easy-to-use collaboration templates for every significant project event: from iteration and release planning, through project chartering, all the way through post- project retrospectives. Tabaka's hands-on techniques are applicable to every leading agile methodology, from Extreme Programming and Scrum to Crystal Clear. Above all, they are practical: grounded in a powerful understanding of the technical, business, and human challenges you face as a project manager or development team member. · Build collaborative software development cultures, leaders, and teams · Prepare yourself to collaborateand prepare your team · Define clear roles for each participant in promoting collaboration · Set your collaborative agenda · Master tools for organizing collaboration more efficiently · Run effective collaborative meetingsincluding brainstorming sessions · Promote better small-group and pair-programming collaboration · Get better information, and use it to make better decisions · Use non-abusive conflict to drive positive outcomes · Collaborate to estimate projects and schedules more accurately · Strengthen collaboration across distributed, virtual teams · Extend collaboration from individual projects to the entire development organization © Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Copyright Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and Addison-Wesley was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters or in all capitals. The author and publisher have taken care in the preparation of this book, but make no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the use of the information or programs contained herein. The publisher offers discounts on this book when ordered in quantity for special sales. For more information, please contact: U.S. Corporate and Government Sales (800) 382-3419 [email protected] For sales outside of the United States, please contact: International Sales (317 581-3793) [email protected] Visit Addison-Wesley on the Web: www.awprofessional.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Tabaka, Jean Collaboration explained: facilitation skills for software project leaders / Jean Tabaka p. cm. ISBN 0-321-28677-6 (pbk. : alk. Paper) 1. Computer softwareDevelopmentManagement. I. Title. QA76.76.D47T32 2006 005.3dc22 2005027650 Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Complete the brief registration form Enter the coupon code A8DZ-HKYD-3B4F-QDEK-E68B If you have difficulty registering on Safari Bookshelf or accessing the online edition, please e- mail [email protected]. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by copyright, and permission must be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. For information regarding permissions, write to: Pearson Education, Inc. Rights and Contracts Department One Lake Street Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 Text printed in the United States on recycled paper R.R. Donnelley, Crawfordsville, IN. First printing, January, 2006 Dedication To Jim and Norma Tabaka, my mentors in humor and love Praise for Jean Tabaka's: Collaboration Explained "Collaboration Explained is a deeply pragmatic book that helps agile practitioners understand and manage complex organizational and team dynamics. As an agile coach, I've found the combination of straight-forward advice and colorful anecdotes to be invaluable in guiding and focusing interactions with my teams. Jean's wealth of experience is conveyed in a carefully struck balance of reference guides and prose, facilitating just-in-time learning in the agile spirit. All in all, a superb resource for building stronger teams that's fit for agile veterans and neophytes alike." Arlen Bankston, Lean Agile Practice Manager, CC Pace "If Agile is the new 'what,' then surely Collaboration is the new 'how.' There are many things I really like about Jean's new book. Right at the top of the list is that I don't have to make lists of ideas for collaboration and facilitation anymore. Jean has it all. Not only does she have those great ideas for meetings, retrospectives, and team decision-making that I need to remember, but the startling new and thought-provoking ideas are there too. And the stories, the stories, the stories! The best way to transfer wisdom. Thanks, Jean!" Linda Rising, Independent Consultant The Agile Software Development Series Alistair Cockburn and Jim Highsmith, Series Editors Agile software development centers on four values identified in the Agile Alliance's Manifesto: Individuals and interactions over processes and tools Working software over comprehensive documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Responding to change over following a plan The development of Agile software requires innovation and responsiveness, based on generating and sharing knowledge within a development team and with the customer. Agile software developers draw on the strengths of customers, users, and developers, finding just enough process to balance quality and agility. The books in The Agile Software Development Series focus on sharing the experiences of such Agile developers. Individual books address individual techniques (such as Use Cases), group techniques (such as collaborative decision making), and proven solutions to different problems from a variety of organizational cultures. The result is a core of Agile best practices that will enrich your experience and improve your work. Titles in the Series: Steve Adolph, Paul Bramble, Alistair Cockburn, and Andy Pols; Patterns for Effective Use Cases; 0201721848 Alistair Cockburn; Agile Software Development ; 0201699699 Alistair Cockburn; Crystal Clear; 0201699478 Alistair Cockburn; Surviving Object-Oriented Projects ; 0201498340 Alistair Cockburn; Writing Effective Use Cases ; 0201702258 Anne Mette Jonassen Hass; Configuration Management Principles and Practice ; 0321117662 Jim Highsmith; Agile Software Development Ecosystems ; 0201760436 Jim Highsmith; Agile Project Management ; 0321219775 Craig Larman; Agile and Iterative Development ; 0131111558 Lars Mathiassen, Jan Pries-Heje, and Ojelanki Ngwenyama; Improving Software Organizations ; 0201758202 Mary Poppendieck and Tom Poppendieck; Lean Software Development ; 0321150783 Jean Tabaka; Collaboration Explained ; 0321268776 Kevin Tate; Sustainable Software Development ; 0321286081 For more information visit www.awprofessional.com/series/agile Acknowledgments "Who knows, today from yesterday may learn to count no thing too strange." Edwin Arlington Robinson In moving from my yesterday, of no book, to the today of having this book, I realize that I harvested guidance from a number of people. With bottomless gratitude, I wish to acknowledge those who helped ferry me across that unknown land. I couldn't have imagined how my life was about to change when I met Paul Petralia of Addison-Wesley at the Agile Development Conference in Salt Lake City, 2003. Relentless in his annoyance and support, Paul remained ever firm in his conviction that this was the right book, at the right time, and that I should be its author. I gratefully acknowledge his vision and fortitude. In addition, I am thankful to Michelle Housley, Chris Guzikowski, Jesssica D'Amico, Kristy Hart, and Rose Sweazy of Addison-Wesley for their patience and support in guiding me through the many editing cycles, schedule changes, and even the loss of a laptop. Your polish and aplomb continually guided me to safe harbors. Paul was crafty enough to bring sure-footed sherpas to guide me on my authorship trek. I am so very grateful for the consistent, clear-voiced, and masterful guidance I received from my reviewers Mike Cohn, Alistair Cockburn, Linda Rising, Tom Poppendieck, Jim Highsmith, and Kent Beck. Each managed to nudge and poke me through some treacherous spots and potential pitfalls while making sure I lived to tell about it. I am so honored to have been invited to contribute to Jim Highsmith and Alistair Cockburn in their Agile Software Development Series. Walking in the path of giants, I am grateful for their having cleared the way for me and for their conviction around this topic. I am remarkably blessed to have met Janet Danforth, Lori Barnes, Bob Moir, Ellen Gottesdiener, and David Spann in my salad days as a novice facilitator. Each of them has provided a unique blend of experience and passion in this field that has served to inspire and motivate me to follow humbly in their footsteps. Similarly, I've been lucky enough to be a recipient of enthusiastic guidance from the wonderful participants in the Retrospectives Gathering and Yahoo! group. In particular: Tim Bacon, Rachel Davies, Esther Derby, Diana Larsen, and Linda Rising. All of these people are the true guardians of collaboration through facilitation, and I am honored to be counted in their ranks. For day-to-day, on the field of play support, I wish to express my thanks to the staff and patrons of Caffe Sole coffee shop in Boulder, Colorado. Just as the bench by the front window has a permanent indentation from my many early-morning and late-night visits there, so do each of you in me for being so genuinely interested in how the book was coming along. It's done! Brilliant and supportive colleagues are never to be squandered, and so I gratefully acknowledge my wonderful colleagues at Rally Software Development. Tim Miller and Ryan Martens in quiet wisdom and with sincere support created a wide swath in which I was able to navigate my life as a consultant, mentor, trainer, and writer. They have opened amazing doors for me, and I am forever indebted to their great faith in my abilities. Michele Sliger gets the award as my most exuberant and vocal cheerleader. She would not let me stop writing! I am grateful for her persistence and cheer in moving me to complete these materials and to make the book something she truly sought to own. My deep and heartfelt gratitude goes to my colleague Hubert Smits. In addition to being an encouraging colleague, Hubert, through his detailed and insightful reviews and suggestions, managed to carefully provide that last push of support and energy my weary brain needed to finally see the book through. Finally, Jami Yannett, Brad Norris, Cindy Hagg, Richard Leavitt, and Dru Jacobs at Rally have all been