Themed Sprints

Scrummy /

Scrum is getting old.  Two-week sprint after two-week sprint.  Ticket after ticket.  There’s always another ticket! We need to put some fun back into our sprints.   I hereby propose “Themed Sprints”.  Each sprint will be assigned a theme – to be followed for the duration of the sprint. Let me propose some suggested themes. Scottish

Themed Sprints Read More »

The Man in the Arena

Quotes /

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who

The Man in the Arena Read More »

Folk Data

Folk Data /

In the 1930s, a new form of Folk Music became popular. Lead by musicians such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, Folk Music helped to change our culture and society. It was used to promote unions, fight racial inequality and protest against wars. Folk Music changed the world. For the better. It is with a

Folk Data Read More »

Why Not a Sit-Down?

Scrummy /

One of the main tenets of the Scrum project management methodology is the daily “stand-up.” It’s meant to be a short daily meeting to “huddle the team”. You stand up to keep the meeting short. It usually doesn’t happen that way. Especially when everyone is remote. Today, it will be 526 days since I’ve seen

Why Not a Sit-Down? Read More »

Stand-Up Bingo

Scrummy /

You know the stand-up drill. Same time. Same people. Same brain-numbing updates. Something had to change. I couldn’t do another week of daily stand-up meetings. I decided it was time to play Stand-Up Bingo. This HAS TO BE SECRET. DO NOT let your scrum master or management know. This only really works when the entire

Stand-Up Bingo Read More »

Project Velocity Knob

Scrummy /

Once upon a time, I was on a Scrum team with a business user that couldn’t quite understand the software development process. This business user would drop little passive-aggressive bombs like “we need more process improvements to increase our project velocity.” It was about as useful as telling people to “work smarter, not harder.” Wow

Project Velocity Knob Read More »

Frick You

Frick You?

General Blathering /

I found it while out for my morning walk. It made me laugh, then it made me sad. You see, I live in suburbia. Not just regular suburbia, but it’s an our-shit-don’t-stink, entitled, don’t-look-at-other-Target-shoppers-in-the-eye kind of suburbia. Maybe it comes from too many “professionals” and not enough people who get their hands dirty at work.

Frick You? Read More »