Das agile ManifestLeading Distributed Scrum Teamsor How to Inspect & Adapt by using Cultural Models

Stephanie Gasche -

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Das agile Manifest

About me:

— Lived, studied and worked in Austria, France, Germany, UK and USA

— English & History (BA), International Business Management (MA)

— Management Consultant at bor!sgloger consulting GmbH

— Assists Scrum Teams and Management in Agile Transitions

— Blogs at http://borisgloger.com/blog

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Das agile ManifestOne Scrum Team spread across the globe ... ... how can I make that work?!

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Das agile Manifest“Culture is a dead resource until its value and utility are recognized as knowledge.“

- John Holden

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Das agile Manifest

Once upon a time, there was my Scrum-Team...

5 different cultures

— 4 developers in Vietnam

— 3 developers in India

— 3 developers in Germany

— 1 English Product Owner (located in Germany)

— 1 Austrian ScrumMaster (located in Germany)

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Das agile Manifest

Dr. Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions

5 Dimensions

— Power Distance (PD)

— Individualism / Collectivism (IDV)

— Masculinity / Femininity (MAS)

— Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)

— Long Term Orientation (LTO)

© http://geert-hofstede.com/dimensions.html

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Das agile Manifest

© http://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html

Vietnam vs. Germany India vs. Germany

How can I apply the Cultural Dimensions to my Team?!

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Das agile Manifest

Edward T. HallContexting Model

Low-context cultures— verbal communication

— logic- and fact-driven

— direct speech and precise language

High-context cultures— non-verbal communication

— context more important than content

— relationship-oriented, collectivistic

— group harmony and consensus

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Das agile ManifestHow can these Cultural Models help

and what can they teach me?!

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Das agile ManifestWhat to watch out for...

— Make sure everyone is aware of the differences

— Team staffing (persons, roles & hierarchies)

— Technical equipment

— Bridge the distance

— Corporate culture vs. national culture vs. Team culture

— WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY

Cultural Models meet Scrum

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Das agile ManifestYes.

— Principle of Inspect & Adapt

— Sprint Retrospective every 2 weeks

— Role of Scrum Master

— Daily “face-to-face“ communication

— Shared identity - one code, one product, one team

— Agile Values as the common denominator

Does Scrum generally help with internationally distributed Teams?

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Das agile Manifest

The Scrum-MeetingsTips & Tricks

— Preparation time

— Value everyday chit chat

— Move the webcam for interactive communication

— Visualisation

— Don‘t digitalise what needn‘t be digitalised

— ScrumMaster as meeting facilitator

— Time-box (sore necks & backs)

— Checklist - did everyone (every location) participate?

— Losing face: ScrumMaster asks the silly questions

— Use the sub-team whenever possible

— Proxy roles in every location

— Go drinking together

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ESTIMATION MEETING - Magic Estimation

Examples

© Corkboard

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ESTIMATION MEETING - Magic Estimation

© Google Docs

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ESTIMATION MEETING - Planning Poker

© www.planningpoker.com

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SPRINT RETROSPECTIVE - Online Spreadsheet

© www.editgrid.com

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Key Ideas

— The role of the ScrumMaster becomes non-disputable.

— Cultural Models can give a better understanding. Be sensible

in how to apply them. Continue treating people as individuals.

— If possible, co-locate. If not possible, use this impediment as

an opportunity for turning creative.

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Thank you for your attention!Any questions?!

E-Mail: stephanie.gasche@borisgloger.com Blog: http://borisgloger.com/blog/

Twitter: @StephyGascheLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/stephanie-gasche/53/460/929

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