Planning for Value and Visibility
When implementing a process for value and visibility, it’s essential to plan in detail for the next increment of value and estimate the remaining project in larger chunks. Each story pursued should meet the INVEST criteria, which includes a “definition of Ready” and “a definition of Done.” This ensures that the story is ready to be worked on and completed. Scrum allows for quick visibility into a company’s success, making it clear whether or not it’s profitable.
Start by creating a Backlog. Determine which items will have the most significant business impact, are most important to the customer, can make the most money, and are the easiest to do. As the Product Owner, create a roadmap of where you want to be in the next quarter and year. Remember, this is just a snapshot in time, so don’t over-plan. The key is to estimate and remain open throughout the process. A Leader is not a boss but a Product Owner who sets out what needs to be done and why. It’s up to the team to determine how and who will accomplish the tasks. The first step in any company is to empower employees and encourage them to take responsibility.
Art has value, but it should not be conflated with commercial productivity. As programmers, we can be distracted by pointless gamification, and maintaining autonomy is essential. A lousy software development team can be even more expensive than a good one.
Determining the most impactful business items, which are highly important to customers, generate the most revenue, and are easy to accomplish, varies based on the particular business and its target market. However, some key factors that drive these outcomes include providing top-notch customer service, offering high-quality products or services, maintaining a user-friendly and efficient website, having a robust online presence, and consistently exceeding customer expectations. The fundamental principle is transparency, so plan with enough detail to deliver the next increment of value and calculate the remainder of the project in larger chunks.
To achieve success and build strong teams in software development, it is crucial to prioritize ownership, responsibility, and a value-driven agile process. Teams should align with customer insights and foster collaboration through regular meetings and communication. This approach helps to improve the development process and work towards goals continuously. Building relationships and reflecting on progress through team retros is critical to ensuring the group remains dynamic and effective.
[¹]: Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time
