Discovery Session for Agile 2006
Title
Humans: Designed for Interaction (Applying Principles of Dynamic Intelligence to Agile Communication)
Presenters
Jeff Grover, Oakley Networks, jeff.grover@oakleynetworks.com
Zhon Johansen, Oakley Networks, zhon@xputah.org
Topic
Customer meetings, planning meetings, design meetings, pair programming... You've reduced a lot of that written electronic and paper correspondence with the intent of providing more "face time" with each other... but is the project team up to the challenge? Unfortunately, difficult personalities, hidden agendas, lack of participation and just plain poor manners and social skills are getting in the way. Sound familiar? Software development is rife with opportunity for miscommunication. All too often, misunderstood intentions lead to misdirected solutions, wasted time and fruitless effort.
In this session you will explore the new, revolutionary methods being used by psychologists and educators to peer inside the minds of those with social deficits, autism, and asperger's syndrome (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html). With consistent application of six principles of Dynamic Intelligence, latent abilities can be drawn out of even the most reticent (or overly enthusiastic) communicators.
The six areas of Dynamic Intelligence (from http://www.rdiconnect.com/RDI/DynamicIntelligence.asp)
- Emotional Referencing:
- The ability to use an emotional feedback system to learn from the subjective experiences of others.
- Social Coordination:
- The ability to observe and continually regulate one's behavior in order to participate in spontaneous relationships involving collaboration and exchange of emotions.
- Declarative Language:
- Using language and non-verbal communication to express curiosity, invite others to interact, share perceptions and feelings and coordinate your actions with others.
- Flexible thinking:
- The ability to rapidly adapt, change strategies and alter plans based upon changing circumstances.
- Relational Information Processing:
- The ability to obtain meaning based upon the larger context. Solving problems that have no "right-and-wrong" solutions.
- Foresight and Hindsight:
- The ability to reflect on past experiences and anticipate potential future scenarios in a productive manner.
Together we will discover how to best employ these principles in the many face-to-face communication opportunities afforded by all agile methodologies, with a nod toward the XP values of "Communication", "Simplicity, "Feedback", "Courage", and most recently (and importantly), "Respect".
Length
90 minutes
Audience
This session will interest all of you (programmers, testers, customers, product managers, etc.) for whom increased meetings and informal communication are creating challenges with interpersonal relationships and teamwork.
Goal
You will take part in multiple group activities to illustrate principles of Dynamic Learning and Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). By modeling and reflecting on these interactions, you will learn and gain confidence with using these techniques,thereby improving interpersonal communications, a tenet of all agile methodologies... and the fist principle of the Agile Manifesto.
Additionally, we will share our thoughts, feelings and unanticipated discoveries with the agile community via the conference wiki.
Process
The format for this session is highly interactive and collaborative following the Simulation and Games format.
1. Introduction, outlining activities in three general categories:
- Verbal and Non-verbal Communication
- Taking the Lead
- Establishing a Rhythm with Variations
2. Participate in three to five of the following activities:
- Establishing a "Zone of Connection"
- Referencing Behavior
- Using Declarative Language
- Providing Scaffolding for Challenging Activities
- The RCR (Regulate, Challenge, Re-regulate) Cycle
3. For each activity we will do the following:
- Explain the activity
- Split into groups
- Perform the simulation
- Debrief and brainstorm applicability to Agile Methodologies
4. Finally, we will perform an "Agile Round Up"
- Everyone, in 30 seconds or less, will share the concepts or insights most important to you.
Session leader qualifications
Zhon and Jeff have taught, led, and moderated successful agile communication and interaction at a grass-roots level for companies ranging from small start-ups to large enterprise software vendors. They have presented agile material to college classes, executive summits, user groups, and a few companies.
Zhon Johansen holds degrees in Psychology and Computer Science and is a Senior Software Engineer at Oakley Networks. He has studied, practiced, and taught Extreme Programming since early 1999. He is a key contributor to Salt Lake Agile. He co-founded XPUtah (http://www.xputah.org) in December of 2001. He helped coach 'XP for a Day' at the first XP/Agile Universe.
Jeff Grover earned a degree in Computer Engineering and has worked in the software industry for 15 years. He is currently employed as a Senior Software Engineer at Oakley Networks. He sat on the “Agile Experiences” panel of XP/Agile Universe 2002.
Zhon & Jeff have been very active participants in the agile community, presenting 'Extreme Fishbowl' at the XP/Agile Universe 2002, "Making money with (or without) software" at the 2004 Agile Development Conference. At Agile2005, their 'Stop Interacting with the Customer!' Discovery Session was a smash hit.