TL; DR: Tech Trends 2022, Product Success Factors — Food for Agile Thought #322
Welcome to the 322nd edition of the Food for Agile Thought newsletter, shared with 33,755 peers. This week, we explore macro and strategic tech trends in 2022, from Web3 to Crypto to the Metaverse. Also, we point at a conceptual tool to help leaders understand that they need to change course; we suggest hands-on, practical solutions to an age-old software development problem, and we point at the downside of the growing popularity regarding “Agile,” Sociocracy, or Holacracy.
We then analyze four factors that significantly contribute to sustained product success and suggest applying those best. Next, we join Netflix’s co-founder when he elaborates on a recipe for aspiring disrupters: ‘Just focus on the market that nobody is paying attention to.’ Moreover, we point at a challenging topic for agile teams working remotely: ‘Does your manager trust that you are really working?’
Lastly, we appreciate that Venkatesh Rao shares the main slides—including notes—from his observe–orient–decide–act loop workshop, and we walk through applying a fantastic tool developed by Sakichi Toyoda in the 1930s.
Did you miss the previous Food for Agile Thought’s issue #321?
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🏆 The Tip of the Week
: Why I Keep Coming Back to Cynefin
Ian Miell points at his preferred conceptual tool to help leaders understand that they need to change course.
➿ Agile & Scrum
(via Industrial Logic): Faster and More Predictable
Tim Ottinger suggests hands-on, practical solutions to an age-old software development problem.
(via Management 3.0): Managing "Up": How to Manage Your Manager
Andrea Darabos addresses a challenging topic for agile teams working remotely: ‘Does your manager trust that you are really working?’
(via Corporate Rebels): When Agile, Self-Management, and Holacracy Fail
Pim de Morree points at the downside of the growing popularity regarding “Agile,” Sociocracy, or Holacracy: The hype induces a sharp increase in failure.
🎓 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Advanced Professional Scrum Master Online Training w/ PSM II Certificate — January 25-28, 2022
Discover Scrum’s four success principles in this guaranteed official Scrum.org Professional Scrum Master training class, leading to and including the industry-recognized PSM II certification. The training is designed as a live virtual class and will be offered in English.
Enjoy the benefits of an immersive class of four sessions with like-minded agile peers from 09:00 – 13:00 o’clock CET. I also host pre- and post-class sessions to maximize your learning experience and prepare for the PSM II certification.
Learn more: 🖥 💯 🇬🇧 Advanced Professional Scrum Master Online Training w/ PSM II Certificate — January 25-28, 2022.
Customer voice: “Fantastic course with Stefan – I specifically chose to join the class that he was facilitating as I was familiar with him from the Age of Product and have enjoyed and learned from lots of his articles. He didn’t disappoint. Hugely knowledgeable and the delivery of the various elements of learning via Mural & Liberating Structures was inspiring and shall be plagiarised! A thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking learning experience for which I must thank him and the other attendees.” Link.)
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🎯 Product
: Three Steps into the Future
Benedict Evans explores macro and strategic trends in the tech industry, from Web3 to Crypto to the Metaverse.
: Four Product Success Factors
Roman Pichler analyzes four factors that significantly contribute to sustained product success and suggests how to apply them best.
: Want to be a Disruptor?
Netflix’s co-founder elaborates on a recipe for aspiring disrupters: ‘Just focus on the market that nobody is paying attention to.'
📯 How to Sabotage A Scrum Master — 44 Anti-Patterns from the Trenches
One of my favorite exercises from my Professional Scrum Master classes is how to best sabotage a Scrum Master as a member of the middle management. The exercise rules are simple: You’re not allowed to use any form of illegal activity. So, outsourcing the task to a bunch of outlaws is out of the question. Instead, you are only allowed to use practices that are culturally acceptable within your organization.
Read on and learn more on how to best sabotage a Scrum Master from the exercise results of more than ten PSM I and PSM II classes. (I slightly edited the suggestions for better readability.)
Learn more: How to Sabotage A Scrum Master — 44 Anti-Patterns from the Trenches.
🛠 Tools & Measuring
: Thinking in OODA Loops
Kudos to Venkatesh Rao! He shares the main slides—including notes—from his observe–orient–decide–act loop workshop.
(via Superhuman): The 5 Whys: Get to the Root of Your Productivity Problems
Karine Bengualid walks us through applying a fantastic tool developed by Sakichi Toyoda in the 1930s.
📅 Scrum Training Classes, Workshops, and Events
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📺 Join 3,000-plus Agile Peers on Youtube
Now available on the Age-of-Product Youtube channel:
- 🆕 Hands-on Agile #35: Designing Powerful Questions to help you Coach & Create with Daniel Stillman.
- 🆕 Hands-on Agile #34: Core Protocols for Psychological Safety with Richard Kasperowski.
- Agile Camp Berlin 2021: Adapt How You Lead for Agile Success with Johanna Rothman.
- Agile Camp Berlin 2021: Linking Strategy to Everyday Work with John Cutler.
- Agile Camp Berlin 2021: Sustainable Agility at the Enterprise Level with Jorgen Hesselberg.
- Agile Camp Berlin 2021: How to Win with Agile Resistant Teams - A Case Study with Scott Weiner.
- Agile Camp Berlin 2021: Increasing the Velocity of Value with Dave West.
- Agile Camp Berlin 2021: Evidence-based Interventions with Viktor Cessan.
- Agile Camp Berlin 2021: Real Cross-functional Teams for Creating real and better Products with Jutta Eckstein and Maryse Meinen.
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