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Scrum

102

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There Is No Such Thing as a “Junior” Scrum Master

The concept of a 'junior' Scrum Master is considered a fallacy, as the role requires mastery in various domains and is not entry-level.
Scrum Masters should be experienced practitioners, born fully formed from high-performing Scrum Teams.
Real-world experience within Scrum Teams is crucial for effective Scrum Masters, going beyond mere certification courses.
Technical, business, and organizational mastery are essential for competent Scrum Masters.
Scrum Masters should be chosen by the team based on demonstrated competence, not imposed by management.
They must lead through influence, mastering technical, business, and organizational aspects for successful agility.
The idea of a 'junior' Scrum Master negatively impacts team effectiveness, leading to a lack of genuine leadership.
Hiring a Scrum Master should involve a rigorous process focusing on real-world experience and demonstrated effectiveness.
Scrum Masters should be able to fulfill their accountability from day one, without learning on the job.
The role of a Scrum Master is significant, requiring deep experience and natural emergence within the team.

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Medium

16h

216

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An Approach to Product Backlog Management Using Product Risk

This paper introduces a risk-driven approach in product backlog management using 'Product Risks' defined as chances of failure not meeting user expectations during product development.
By identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing product risks, teams can enhance product quality and avoid defects, merging FMECA and QFD for better traceability and risk-aware development.
The framework includes stakeholder identification, roadmap definition, risk collection, analysis, and mapping to functional/design characteristics using QFD.
The proposed methodology ensures all stakeholders are involved, risks are aligned with product features, and traceability between risks and design attributes is maintained.
Utilizing QFD aids in translating user needs into design considerations to address product risks effectively.
The approach prioritizes application traits, uncovers gaps, and guides development efforts based on identified risks and design attributes.
It also benefits testing teams by focusing on critical areas, providing a comprehensive test plan based on FMECA and QFD analysis.
The methodology enhances user satisfaction by ensuring product features are prioritized objectively and defects are actively managed.
The structured process enables teams to tackle potential product failures through proactive risk identification and mitigation.
Overall, the framework offers traceability, prioritization through deep analysis, and heightened customer satisfaction in product development.
The article presents a valuable approach in managing product backlogs using risk-driven methodology, improving quality, and ensuring user needs are effectively translated into design features.

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Scrum

20h

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Trust but Verify at the Sprint Review

Trust but verify is an important concept in maintaining transparency and trust.
Scrum's Sprint Review provides a way to consistently practice transparency.
A company spent over six months gathering requirements in a Waterfall approach without any working product.
Scrum's feedback loop and transparency avoid such delays in discovering lack of progress or misalignment.
Sprint Reviews happen at the end of each Sprint, allowing stakeholders to inspect delivered work.
Scrum promotes incremental delivery of usable products, reducing risk and delivering value sooner.
Scrum Teams collaborate, gather requirements, and deliver something usable every Sprint.
The Sprint Review helps discover problems immediately rather than after months of work.
Scrum builds trust through transparency, accountability, and incremental progress.
Scrum Day Madison conference hosted by Rebel Scrum offers a chance for engagement and learning.

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Scrum

21h

141

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Why Using a Gantt Chart in Scrum Is a Terrible Idea

Scrum and Gantt charts were never meant to be compatible due to their different natures.
Gantt charts assume certainty, while Scrum thrives in uncertainty and complexity.
Gantt charts promote control, but Scrum empowers self-management and creativity.
Gantt charts prioritize visibility, while Scrum prioritizes adaptability and agility.
Gantt charts encourage premature precision, while Scrum focuses on progress and value delivery.
Using Kanban boards, tracking throughput, and staying empirical are recommended alternatives.
Gantt charts are based on predictability, while Scrum focuses on adaptation and customer value.
For software and products requiring flexibility and feedback, abandoning Gantt charts is advised.

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Scrum

267

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Ethical AI for Product Owners & Product Managers

Product Owners and Product Managers (PO/PMs) face challenges in balancing the potential and risks of AI in product development.
Implementing ethical guardrails like data privacy, human value preservation, output validation, and transparent attribution is crucial.
Unchecked AI can lead to biased user stories, compromised data privacy, empathy erosion, and loss of stakeholder trust.
PO/PMs must navigate the dilemma of AI's immense potential versus critical risks, requiring structured approaches to ensure ethical AI use.
AI tools should be used responsibly with human oversight to validate outputs and maintain stakeholder trust.
Championing data privacy, preserving human value, validating AI outputs, and transparently attributing AI's role are key guardrails for ethical AI implementation.
PO/PMs navigate risks like bias in user stories, compromising data privacy, empathy erosion, and losing stakeholder trust when using AI unchecked.
Implementing guardrails like data privacy, human value preservation, output validation, and transparent attribution is essential for ethical AI practices.
AI output should be rigorously validated by PO/PMs to ensure alignment with the product vision and strategy.
Adopting ethical AI practices enhances effectiveness, future-proofs roles, and transitions PO/PMs into ethical AI leaders blending AI with human judgment.

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Medium

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The Feature Factory Strikes Back: How Output Masquerades as Progress

The article discusses how many teams unintentionally fall back into a 'Feature Factory' mindset, focusing on output rather than meaningful impact.
Teams may track deliverables with deadlines but struggle to measure real outcomes that drive value for customers and the business.
The 'Feature Factory' phenomenon is described as a return to old habits driven by wrong incentives, fuzzy success definitions, and a culture valuing activity over achievement.
The article emphasizes the importance of shifting focus towards actual impact, meaningful metrics, and continuously learning from product releases.
It suggests reframing success metrics around customer value, testing ideas, and interpreting insights rather than just focusing on shipping features.
The author advocates for a shift from simply measuring output to prioritizing learning velocity as a true sign of team progress and effectiveness.
It warns about the dangers of falling into the trap of being busy with activity but lacking real impact, which can lead to disengagement and a decrease in team morale.
The article concludes by emphasizing the continuous practice of avoiding the 'Feature Factory' mentality by focusing on delivering meaningful value and not just shipping for the sake of it.
The author, Paul, highlights the importance of staying curious, learning continuously, and prioritizing impact and value creation in product development.

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4 Likes

Medium

168

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The Forecast Isn’t Broken, Your Illusion of Control Is

Comparison between Flow and Scrum in terms of forecasting and control.
Flow shows what's actually happening versus a possible illusion of control provided by Scrum.
Scrum may offer a sense of knowing what will happen through planned sprints and backlogs.
However, in reality, work often deviates from the plan due to re-scoping, dependencies, and changing priorities.
Flow focuses on providing clarity about the system, risks, and delivery capability, rather than false certainty.
Flow's Monte Carlo simulations offer a probability model based on system throughput, not specific story commitments.
It doesn't make deterministic promises without clear prioritization.
The discussion about Flow vs Scrum is often about comfort and the desire for certainty without making real decisions.
Flow challenges the notion of control through deterministic commitments and emphasizes honesty in forecasting.
Instead of seeking false certainty, build trust through clarity, adaptability, and real delivery data.
The focus should be on honesty in decision-making rather than creating a tidy appearance on the board.

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Scrum

265

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Dig for Insights with Persona GPTs

Personas are crucial for gaining insights to serve users better in product development.
Understanding the scenarios, pains, and gains of users guides product decisions.
Creating GPTs helps in learning about users when direct communication is challenging.
An Airport Persona Interviewer GPT has been created based on the book 'Solving for Value'.
It aids in asking better questions, connecting information faster, and improving user understanding.
The Airport Persona Interviewer is a tool for generating realistic user personas through 'interviews'.
The conversations with the GPT allow for insights into user behaviors, motivations, and pain points.
Practicing with the Airport Persona Interviewer enhances questioning skills for persona development.
The process involves giving context, uploading personas and data, and engaging in dialogue with the GPT.
Engaging in conversations helps in creating personas that feel more alive compared to traditional static personas.
Using GPTs complements traditional persona sheets by providing more vivid and memorable insights.
The accuracy of GPT-generated personas complements real research for early-stage projects or ideation.
Specific prompts, deep questions, and role-playing enhance the effectiveness of engaging with the GPT.
GPTs like the Airport Persona Interviewer can facilitate collaborative persona building within teams.
While GPTs are useful, real-life user interaction and validation remain crucial in product development.

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Medium

253

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The Strategic Role of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) in Modern Organizations

Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are essential frameworks for aligning strategic goals with measurable outcomes in organizations, initially developed by Intel and popularized by Google.
OKRs promote transparency, focus, and alignment across all levels of an organization, intersecting with Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), Service-Level Agreements (SLAs), Experience-Level Agreements (XLAs), and individual performance goals like those of a Product Owner.
An OKR consists of a qualitative objective and quantitative key results, aiming to be ambitious yet achievable, transparent, and limited in number to maintain focus, with a typical quarterly cadence.
OKRs and QBRs work together to support organizational agility and accountability by reviewing performance metrics and adjusting efforts based on progress towards objectives.
Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) and Experience-Level Agreements (XLAs) set operational performance and user satisfaction standards, connected to broader business goals through OKRs.
OKRs play a significant role for individual roles like Product Owners (POs) in demonstrating alignment with company goals, prioritizing initiatives effectively, and measuring contributions objectively.
To maximize the value of OKRs, organizations should follow best practices by integrating them with high-level strategy, reinforcing business agility with QBRs, ensuring operational excellence with SLAs and XLAs, and empowering individuals like Product Owners to deliver strategic value.

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Dev

174

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What is an MVP in Agile development?

In 2025, the term MVP in Agile development has become popular among founders.
An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) in Agile is the simplest version of a product that solves a core user problem and can be delivered quickly for idea validation.
The concept aligns with Agile's principle of rapid development to learn quickly.
Key reasons why MVP matters in Agile include delivering working software early and collecting real feedback from users.
An MVP helps reduce the cost of failure and prevents over-engineering features no one wants.
MVP integration into Agile involves backlog grooming, sprint planning, execution, user testing, and iteration based on feedback.
Real-world examples of MVP success include Dropbox, Zappos, and Airbnb.
MVP is distinct from a prototype, focusing on delivering value and testing user problems.
Tools like no-code platforms and design systems aid in fast MVP development.
MVP in Agile is not just a development tactic but a mindset revolving around hypothesis testing of user problems.
Startup founders are advised to utilize MVP development services to accelerate their product launch.

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Scrum

13h

287

Image Credit: Scrum

What Is Agile Transformation—And Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

Agility is crucial for success in today's uncertain business environment.
Agile Transformation goes beyond changing how teams work to transforming how businesses think and respond to change.
It empowers teams, removes bottlenecks, and focuses on delivering value incrementally.
Agile differs from traditional project management by embracing change and collaboration.
Agile Transformation is distinct from Digital Transformation, focusing on adaptability rather than just technology integration.
Adoption of Agile practices is different from a complete Agile Transformation, which involves changes across the entire organization.
Companies pursue Agile Transformation to improve speed, focus, and customer-centricity.
Agile organizations are structured with smaller, cross-functional teams and decentralized decision-making.
Successful Agile Transformation requires committed leadership, change management, continuous learning, and adaptability.
Agile Transformation success is measured by the organization's ability to respond to change, deliver value continuously, and learn faster.
Across various industries, Agile Transformation is reshaping how businesses operate, leading to improved customer service and collaboration.

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Dev

Image Credit: Dev

From Gantt Charts to Agile Sprints: Adapting Maritime Project Rigor to Software Delivery

The article discusses lessons learned from maritime project management and their application to Agile software delivery.
Lessons include adapting plans, integrating risk management, prioritizing testing, and balancing velocity with vision.
The importance of clear accountability, aligning decisions with core values, and blending project rigors with Agile flexibility is highlighted.
The author emphasizes the need for responsiveness, accountability, and continuous improvement in project management.

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Scrum-Master-Toolbox

302

BONUS: Never Stop Experimenting—Building a Culture of Continuous Discovery with Stavros Stavru

Stavros Stavru shares insights on continuous experimentation and his book 'Never Stop Experimenting.'
Teams face the exploration-exploitation dilemma in modern times.
Stavru emphasizes the importance of maintaining an experimental approach amidst delivery pressures.
The book 'Never Stop Experimenting' is based on a decade of practical experience.
Viewing software development as incremental experiments is crucial for innovation.
The 'Fatware Matrix' helps Product Managers reduce software bloat by removing unnecessary features.
The NSE Ratio guides teams in optimizing their experimentation rhythm.
Building a safe-to-fail culture involves leaders sharing their failures openly.
Stavru is a Ph.D. in Organizational Transformations and author of 'Never Stop Experimenting.'
He is a leading voice in Agile coaching, leadership, and soft skills.

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18 Likes

Medium

257

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Breaking the Two-Week Sprint Habit: Why Shorter Iterations Drive Better Results

Many technology organizations operate on two-week sprint cycles, which have become standard but may not be optimal for productivity, customer feedback, and competitive advantage.
Comfort and predictability in software development can lead to complacency and inefficiency.
The real question is whether two-week sprints are optimal for a team's goals.
Evidence suggests that shorter sprint iterations could lead to better outcomes.
IT leaders need to challenge assumptions about sprint length and consider if shorter iterations could be more effective.
The Scrum framework allows sprints of one month or less, yet many organizations stick to two-week cycles without questioning their efficiency.
The prevalence of two-week sprints is more due to convenience rather than rigorous analysis.
Early Agile adopters found two-week sprints balanced planning overhead and project needs.
Reevaluating sprint length can lead to improved results.
Shorter iterations could enhance productivity, feedback loops, and competitiveness for teams.
It's essential for organizations to analyze whether two-week sprints are the best fit for their objectives.
Challenging the status quo on sprint length can help drive better outcomes in software development.
The article emphasizes the importance of examining and potentially changing the frequency of sprint cycles.
Adopting shorter sprint iterations may offer advantages in efficiency and results.
IT leaders should consider whether adjusting sprint length could lead to enhanced performance and success.
Breaking away from the comfort of two-week sprints could potentially drive improved results and innovation.

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Alvinashcraft

160

Dew Drop – June 20, 2025 (#4444)

16 billion passwords exposed in record-breaking data breach, opening access to Facebook, Google, Apple, and any other service imaginable (Vilius Petkauskas & Jurgita Lapienytė)
Announcing Warp Preview (Hong Yi Chen)
GIF export in Snipping Tool begins rolling out to Windows Insiders (Dave Grochocki)
Copilot Compared: Advanced AI Features in Visual Studio 2022 vs. VS Code (David Ramel)
Fine-Tuning LLMs with C#: A Practical Guide to Customizing Models with ML.NET and Introduction to Semantic Kernel: The .NET Developer’s Guide to Building Powerful AI Agents (Sudhir Mangla)
Best practices for administering GitHub Copilot with Luis Pujols | Beyond the Commit (GitHub Team)
Mastering iOS Development: Your Essential Resource List (Coder)
Strengthen mobile device security with Edge for Business, the secure enterprise browser (Patrick Brosset)
SQL Server 2025: Secure by Default | Data Exposed (Anna Hoffman, Pratim Dasgupta & Pieter Vanhove)
freeCodeCamp Podcast #176 – From Therapist to six figure freelance dev (Beau Carnes)

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