TL; DR: PM-PO Delta, Lead-Squad Protocol — Food for Agile Thought #264
Welcome to the 264th edition of the Food for Agile Thought newsletter, shared with 27,603 peers. This week, we delve into the PM-PO delta, the difference between product managers and Product Owners. We also revisit the Agile Manifesto’s notion that working software is the primary measure of progress, and we learn how to avoid becoming a lonesome servant leader.
We then come back to critical issues of the practical use of user stories; we create an evidence-based Product Backlog, and we consider quitting saying ’no‘ but asking a question instead when it comes to prioritizing the Product Backlog.
Lastly, we applaud Crisp for sharing the Lead-Squad Protocol, a lightweight attempt to align several teams collaborating on joint projects, products, or initiatives.
Did you miss last week’s Food for Agile Thought’s issue #263?
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🏆 The Tip of the Week: PM-PO Delta
: 📺 Product Managers and Product Owners: What’s the Difference?
Teresa Torres delves into the difference between product managers and Product Owners and how all of this relates to product discovery.
Agile & Scrum
(via Crisp): The Lead-Squad Protocol
Christophe Achouiantz introduces the Lead-Squad Protocol, a lightweight attempt to align several teams collaborating on joint projects, products, or initiatives.
: Working Software
Ron Jeffries revisits the Agile Manifesto’s notion that working software is the primary measure of progress.
(via InfoQ): The Lonely Servant Leader
Nick Loe tells his story of how he avoided becoming “The Lonely Servant Leader.”
📅 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Professional Scrum Master Online Training: November 10-13, 2020
This guaranteed Professional Scrum Master training is an official Scrum.org class that leads to and includes the industry-recognized PSM I certification. The training is designed as a live virtual class of 4 hours per day from 9 to 13 o’clock CEST and will be offered in English.
Learn more: 📅 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Professional Scrum Master Online Training: November 10-13, 2020.
Product & Lean
(via Lithespeed): 📺 20 Questions: User Stories
Lisa Mabli addresses critical issues of the practical use of user stories.
(via Mind The Product): Evidence-Based Product Backlogs
In this video, John Pagonis shares his experience of creating an evidence-based Product Backlog.
(via Brainmates): Prioritise your Product Backlog with one simple question
Marco Tebaldi advocates quitting saying ’no‘ but asking a question instead.
📯 Why Agile Turns into Micromanagement
You guessed right: it is time for a rant and short “checklist” to get the discussion going in your organization.
Agile turns into micromanagement as a result of the middle management’s resistance to change. Despite better knowledge, changing an organization into a learning one that embraces experimentation and failure is not in everybody’s best interest. Self-organizing, empowered teams often conflict with the middle management’s drive to execute personal agendas, self-preservation being one of them.
Learn more: Why Agile Turns into Micromanagement.
📅 Scrum Training & Event Schedule
You can secure your seat for Scrum training classes, workshops, and meetups directly by following the corresponding link in the table below:
See all upcoming classes here.
You can book your seat for the training directly by following the corresponding links to the ticket shop. If the procurement process of your organization requires a different purchasing process, please contact Berlin Product People GmbH directly.
📺 Join 2,450-plus Agile Peers on Youtube
Now available on the Age-of-Product Youtube channel:
- 🆕 Remote Agile (1) Replay: Practices and Tools for Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and Product Owners.
- Scrum Sprint Retrospective Anti-Patterns.
- Scrum Master Anti-Patterns.
✋ Do Not Miss Out and Learn about the PM-PO Delta: Join the 8,400-plus Strong ‘Hands-on Agile’ Slack Community
I invite you to join the “Hands-on Agile” Slack Community and enjoy the benefits of a fast-growing, vibrant community of agile practitioners from around the world.
If you like to join all you have to do now is provide your credentials via this Google form, and I will sign you up. By the way, it’s free.