Agile Kata, explained

Agile Kata, explained

One night, while going down a reading-rabbit hole, I came across an unfamiliar term: ‘Agile Kata’. My thoughts strayed, and I found myself transported back to 2002, to the film “Equilibrium.” Equilibrium (directed by Kurt Wimmer) is a dystopian action film, starring Christian Bale. The film contains some fantastic action moments, but it was sadly … Read more

The Spotify model, explained

The Spotify model, explained

As someone who uses Spotify on a regular basis to listen to music and podcasts, I like the platform’s user-friendly design and vast library. Although I’ve just recently became aware of the ‘Spotify model’ as a framework for scaling agile development processes, I’m not familiar with its distinguishing features or how it compares to other … Read more

The Scrum schism: a house divided

A house divided: the Scrum schism

During a recent Scrum training I enquired about the different Scrum certificates. I have attained a lot of certificates through Scrum.org, but I know that the Scrum Alliance also gives out their own certificates. The response of my (Scrum.org licenced) trainer was a little more dramatic than I initially expected. They shared their insights on … Read more

The shadow and the mask

The shadow and the mask

In my quest for personal growth, I have found that true growth comes from embracing my imperfections. Nowadays, self-discovery has a starring role in my adult life. The older I become, the closer I feel to becoming a complete person. Life experiences have coloured what used to feel like a blank slate. Embracing my complete … Read more

Scylla and Charybdis

Scylla and Charybdis

“Know thyself”, the age-old saying reminds us. It beckons us to explore our desires, motives, strengths, and even our deepest vulnerabilities. I recently took a short break, during which I penned a few articles. One titled “The State of Discomfort” examines how discomfort can catalyze positive personal and professional transformation. These writings flow from me … Read more

Shades of identity

Shades of identity

I have often heard the term ‘white-passing’ used to describe me. People look at my build and complexion, and they see a European, perhaps with a touch of Mediterranean. Yet, I have always identified as someone of mixed heritage. Upon closer inspection, there’s a hint of something else. A round face that tans a bit … Read more

My personal takeaways from the Professional Agile Leadership™ – Evidence-Based Management™ (PAL-EBM) course and assessment

My personal takeaways from the Professional Agile Leadership™ - Evidence-Based Management™ (PAL-EBM) course and assessment

In December 2022, I took part in the Professional Agile Leadership™ (PAL-E) training. After this, I completed the PAL I assessment. However, I still had questions about applying empiricism to gain business value. To find answers, I decided to enroll in the “Evidence-Based Management ™” course. This article will share my key takeaways from the … Read more

Even a Kingmaker needs a holiday!

Scheveningen

Last year was a whirlwind of new experiences for me – a new job, three courses and writing a lot for this blog. Despite the challenges, I persevered and made significant progress in my personal and professional life. As summer approaches, I am excited to take a step back, unwind, and focus on my personal … Read more

“Thanks for the Feedback” by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen: a review

"Thanks for the Feedback" by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen: a review

This article is a review of “Thanks for the Feedback” by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen. Consider the following scenario: a manager is providing performance feedback to an employee. The employee is doing their best, but they are feeling defensive and dejected as the boss cites all of their areas for improvement. The manager, on … Read more

Do It Yourself, Dammit: impediments and self-management

Do It Yourself, Dammit: impediments and self-management

The Scrum Master has two important roles: to remove impediments that are blocking the team’s progress, and to coach the team in becoming self-managing. While these roles may seem contradictory, they are actually complementary and interconnected. As a Scrum Master, you’re kind of like a parent to your Scrum Team. Your primary job is to … Read more

My personal takeaways from the Scaled Professional Scrum™ (SPS) course and assessment

Scaled Professional Scrum™ (SPS)

This month I finished the Scaled Professional Scrum™ (SPS) course and assessment, another great milestone in my professional journey! Just a few months ago, in December 2022, I had pursued the Professional Agile Leadership™ (PAL-E) training and the subsequent PAL I assessment. Despite the valuable insights gained, I found myself grappling with some unresolved questions … Read more

Scaling Scrum: choosing a framework

Scaling Scrum – choosing a framework

Now that we have explored four different scaling frameworks, each with their own characteristics and merits, how does one choose a framework? What are the similarities? What are the key distinctions? Is it feasible to mix frameworks? This is the final installment in my series of articles about Scrum scaling. Similarities and differences The Scrum … Read more

No Man is an Island

Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau

No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; – John Donne I want to open up about a topic that means a lot to me. For over a year now, I’ve been reflecting on the phrase “no man is an island”. This … Read more