team productivity Archives - Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast

BONUS: The Power of TWI in Transforming Supervisory Skills and Software Leadership With Hugh Alley

In this BONUS episode, we delve into how Training Within Industry (TWI) principles can revolutionize leadership and supervision, and those principles can be adapted to the software industry. Hugh Alley, industrial engineer, author of The TWI Memory Jogger, and seasoned consultant, brings invaluable insights on how adapting these timeless methods can enhance team cohesion, productivity, and job satisfaction.

From Toxic Workplaces to Transformative Solutions

“When I first saw supervisors shouting in the workplace, I knew there had to be a better way.”
Hugh’s journey began in the high-stress world of manufacturing where ineffective leadership was the norm. His turning point came when he discovered TWI, which shifted a company from zero employee suggestions to implementing 2-3 improvements per week. He shares the importance of recognizing poor patterns and seeking practical solutions that lead to lasting change.

“A key insight? The power of TWI isn’t just in theory; it creates immediate, real-world results.”

The Historic Power of TWI: Lessons from World-War II

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BONUS: AI-Driven Agile, Speeding Up Feedback Cycles for Better Product Iteration, And More AI Transformations with Jurgen Appelo

In this BONUS episode, leadership expert and entrepreneur Jurgen Appelo joins us to dive into the transformative power of AI in today’s workplaces. Creator of the unFIX model and author of Management 3.0, Jurgen shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing team collaboration, creativity, and innovation. This engaging conversation covers practical examples, personal stories, and thought-provoking ideas for anyone interested in leveraging AI to thrive in their career and business.

AI and the Future of Collaboration

“AI gives me more time to focus on the things I really enjoy.”

Jurgen kicks off by discussing the major changes AI is bringing to how teams collaborate and get work done. He highlights how AI tools like ChatGPT are enhancing feedback loops in product development, allowing teams to gain insights faster and more efficiently. Jurgen shares how he’s used AI to improve his own writing, helping his editor focus more on storytelling rather than grammar corrections. For teams, AI is already making client interactions smoother and boosting productivity.

“AI gives teams more time to focus on creativity and innovation by automating repetitive tasks and improving workflow efficiency.”

AI as an Assistant or Creative Partner?

Continue reading BONUS: AI-Driven Agile, Speeding Up Feedback Cycles for Better Product Iteration, And More AI Transformations with Jurgen Appelo

Developing Teams the Scrum (and Lean) way! by Lean.Org’s The Lean Post

I’ve been working on a collection of great blog posts about the Scrum Master role. If you have a favorite article on the Scrum Master role, or it’s goals and responsibilities, let me know by submitting it here: https://bit.ly/TheBestScrumMasterBlogPosts2020

Scrum Masters are key participants in the teams, and key contributors to the improvement of productivity in the organizations they work in. Even if the Scrum approach and Agile, in general, are very new (from late1990’s, early 2000s), there are other approaches that have been with us for nearly more than a century now.

One such approach is “Taylorism”. In that approach, the main premise is that “some people” know “what needs to be done and how” (the planner/thinker), and other people “do it” (the doers).

“Take it to the team”: a Scrum Master Mantra

Unfortunately, that Tayloristic approach has become prevalent thanks to the work of some early consultancies.

In Scrum, one of the most important changes to the world of work is that the “doers” are also the “thinkers”. This is one of the reasons why here on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast, we often say: “take it to the team”. In other words, anyone can raise an idea of improvement, but only the team knows what can/should be done to achieve the goal. Sometimes that team is the development team, sometimes it is the development team + stakeholders, but it’s “the team” that owns and develops the process of work.

This perspective is revolutionary for many, including many consultancies that still push “process improvement” à lá Taylor (you know which ones).

What’s better than Taylorism for developing our teams and organizations?

That’s why I want to highlight this post in Lean.Org’s Lean Post blog: “Develop Your People Patiently Rather Than Rely on Super Taylorism”

As the article puts it: while the “west” was focused on separating the thinking from the doing, and using “Super Taylorism”, “in Japan, Toyota was developing a different approach to strategy, one based on technical learning on the gemba through trial and error–a process that aimed to serve all customers with a broad product line of high quality and at the right price.”

Does that sound familiar? Scrum is exactly that kind of approach: “based on technical learning on the Gemba through trial and error”

Check out the post, and learn about the roots of Scrum and Agile. Don’t get stuck in a Tayloristic approach that leads to frustration, dis-enfranchising the team, and long term problems.

Help us grow as a Scrum Master community, share your best 2020 articles below.

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Luis Gonçalves on how threats destroy teams

Threats are sometimes used by Theory X managers that believe they are helping them succeed with those threats. However, that was not the case in this particular case, where threats led to a very low level of trust and self-confidence that ultimately destroyed the team.

In this episode we mention a team assessment checklist by Luis Goncalves based on the book the book: The five Dysfunctions of a Team that can be used by Scrum Masters or by the team for self-assessment. This checklist was based on the book by Patrick Lencioni, The five dysfunctions of a team.

About Luis Gonçalves

Luis Gonçalves is a Co-Founder of Oikosofy, the Co-Author of the book “Getting Value out Agile Retrospectives”, a book which I use regularly to get inspired to organize innovative retrospectives. Luis is also an International Speaker and prolific Blogger. I don’t know where he gets the time to do all of this 🙂
Luis’ passion lies on the Management side of software development where he tries to apply what he has learned from the Management 3.0 books.
He is also a co-founder of a MeetUp group in Munich, Germany called High Performing Teams. A meetup he created to “Define the future of Management and Leadership”.
You can link up with Luis Gonçalves on LinkedIn, and connect with Luis Gonçalves on Twitter.

In case you are interested in Agile Retrospectives we are at the moment preparing a 10 DAYS FREE AGILE RETROSPECTIVES PROGRAM. This is a complete self-study program where you will learn anything that you need to become a great Agile Retrospectives facilitator.