Comments for OlafLewitz

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Olaf

Olaf — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:55:27 +0000

Helge,
Thanks for your comment. Totally agree on the concept of small steps, feedback-driven change… This is the only way it works, and my point is, that we need to challenge the mindset as well, step by step. Creating value incrementally in ways that people didn’t believe would “work here” is in fact the most effective way to challenge a mindset and inspire sustainable change…
- Olaf

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Helge Nowak

Helge Nowak — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:21:15 +0000

Challenging the mindset, or the culture, is one way to create change. Yet it is a way with not as much chances to be successful as we might want to believe. Challenging appeals to the rational part of our minds. Yet the bigger resistance to change is rooted in the non-rational, sub-conscious parts. More promising approaches are evolutionary: small steps and instant feedback. It takes time yet is sustainable.

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Dan Creswell

Dan Creswell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:25:11 +0000

Olaf said: ” Whom do you mean by “these folks”? I was referring to discussions within the agile/lean community. Our clients do not often ask this question… Yet we always start with a question: Why do you want to be Agile? And unless we know their purpose, we can’t start working with them.”

I wonder if your clients are self-selecting? That is, they want to be better and are putting it in your hands to guide them on ways to do that? They’re looking for something more than a flavour or a process or they’re at least prepared to say “we don’t know what we need”.

Such a dialogue would be in contrast to the more general discussion I see in respect of “doing agile” which often-times is more about the process and which practices matter (e.g. you’re not agile unless you pair-program). I’m not sure who would fall into the “agile/lean community” hence my use of the term “these folks”, which given my experience, include coaches, managers, developers, testers and operational staff.

Perhaps it is necessary to have the flavour discussion before realising that it’s the wrong discussion. That, for me, would be quite a commentary on the state of things!

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Andrea Provaglio

Andrea Provaglio — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:29:55 +0000

Hello Olaf, here’s my two cents about the “Challenge Mindset, Not Culture” bit.

I’d be careful with challenging people beliefs, since those are quite frequently connected with the sense of identity and therefore with the culture, which you wisely suggest not to challenge.

Rather than challenging beliefs you might respectfully (and the respect is fundamental) suggest additional ones.

In other words, enriching the belief set might be more effective than challenging it.

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Jason Little

Jason Little — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:34:32 +0000

Hi Olaf, I agree it’s worthwhile to try and help these people change their mindset. I’ve worked in companies where I’ve done just that. The challenge comes from when that person ends up being the scapegoat because they understand the need for change however the people above don’t.

I’m all for helping with positive change, culture really matters here. You put somebody into a situation by helping their mindset evolve into a mindset that’s couter to the organizations culture and you can be in for a whole heap of problems.

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Michael Sahota

Michael Sahota — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:11:27 +0000

Olaf,

I have experienced the same thing you have – people who get Agile. In the short run there is success.

What happens in the long run? My experience has been that these people usually get dragged down by the hostile organizational culture and eventually leave the company. I see help people with Agile under these circumstances as a violation of the “do no harm” principle.

I would love to hear how your story of mindset shift in individuals has played out for your clients.

- Michael

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Olaf

Olaf — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:08:05 +0000

Jason, as I have already explained in my reply to Michael’s comment, I have seen managers in a control structure change their mindset. How else should we inspire them to improve?
Surely change is easier when people are open minded. So many things in life could be easier, yet that would make them much less interesting, don’t you think?
Thank you for your comment!
- Olaf

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Olaf

Olaf — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:05:11 +0000

Dan, I fully agree! Whom do you mean by “these folks”?
I was referring to discussions within the agile/lean community. Our clients do not often ask this question… Yet we always start with a question: Why do you want to be Agile? And unless we know their purpose, we can’t start working with them.
Thank you for your comment!
- Olaf

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Olaf

Olaf — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:02:46 +0000

Hi Michael, thanks for your comment!
You are right, these statements were contradictory. Changed them to make my point more clear (which you understood correctly anyway).
I do think that mindset can be challenged, and I have seen many people changing their mindset—especially managers, who feel that their way to command and control doesn’t work anymore. (Simplified:) Once they understand that predictability and feedback is much more valuable for them than control, their mindset starts to change. Change in the way of work is subsequent, aligned with a change in how people are respected and emancipated, which then results in a change in culture.
Maybe we have a different understanding of “agile alone”. I do not see the need for anything “more”, yet maybe I have a quite generic definition of “agile”. It’s definitely much more than a few new roles, ceremonies and artifacts.
Thanks for the improvement!
- Olaf

Comment on Which Agile Fits Your Culture? by Jason Little

Jason Little — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:43:06 +0000

I agree challenging culture is not something you want to do. Understanding culture is important when considering what approach to take with Agile adoption.

IMO challenging a mindset is one in the same and isn’t likely to work. In a control culture, challenging someones mindset is less likely to be effective than challenging the mindset of people in a cultivation culture. The latter will have open minds, the former will want metrics and process and the likelyhood they’ll change their mindset is slim.