build a culture of continuous improvement using agile and wow
TRANSCRIPT
continuous
improvements Using Agile and WoW
BY PRABHAKAR KARVE
Individuals – Change of mindset
Teams – Peer support
Take responsibility & self-organize
Critical mass to keep the wheel turning
Organization – Management support
We need a cultural change
Importance of right mindset
We value Agile mindset Over Fixed mindset
Opinions
Flexible
Emotions
Liberating
Opinion
Rigid
Emotions
Restraining
Ability Grows, like
muscle
In control Static, like height No control
Goal To learn Being in control To look good Others control
Failure Provides information
Opportunity Defines identity Defend / Blame
Effort Path to mastery Mastery Only if no talent Superiority
Challenge Embrace Excitement Avoid Discomfort
Reaction Resilience Welcome Helplessness Anxiety
To be on top of our problems and risks
To realize possibilities based on our current
capabilities
To enhance our current capabilities
Improve? But why
Solution identification
Inspect – Current reality authentically
Adapt – Way of working systematically
Solution implementation
Inspect – Try before buy
Adapt – If it works, else try something else
Improve with Inspect & Adapt
Patterns of repetitive behavior
How we - act
How we - interact
How we - decide
How our mind works
Opinions (Values/Beliefs/Assumptions)/[Goals]
Emotions (Liberating/Restraining)
Way of Working (WoW for short)
Goals and gaps
Qualitative observations
Quantitative measurements
Way of working (Visible)
Emotions
Actions
Interactions
Inspect – Current reality
WoW approach supports agile mindset
& enables cultural change
Essential
Universal
Neutral
Natural
Balanced
Nature of WoW (Like air & water)
Universal & all-encompassing
Old habits die hard
Need a permanent change
Get out of restraining emotions
Way of Working –Why?
Our own ways of working
We can do something about it
Others’ ways of working
Impact us
Can educate us
System’s way of working
We are a prisoner of the system we don’t understand
Who’s Way of Working?
For every success, however small
Ask why, and what if to reveal potential risks
For every failure, however small
Ask why, and how does it matter to reveal real problems
Obvious solutions – Implement immediately
For the rest use WoW
So many opportunities to improve
All our life, at work or outside, we pass through
a series of situations; some pleasant some
unpleasant.
How do we deal with them?
Practical examples
(Situation-1)
Competitive comparison
One of your sibling is more handsome/pretty,
got better grades, and earns more than you.
Emotions – Failure / Hatred / Depression
Opinions – Bad luck / Past life Karma
Actions – Find ways to cause harm to the
sibling
Interactions – Avoid parents / relatives
Underlying decision – Do whatever needed to get out
Underlying opinion – Important to look good to others
Why we do what we do
Goals: Be loved / Feel self-worth / At peace
Changed opinion – Balance our needs with
those of others
Changed decision – Concentrate on own
strengths
New action – Use strengths and showcase to others
New interaction – Confident & open with sibling/parents
What can be a better way
(Situation-2)
Support from other subsystems
You are practicing agile, and know the
benefits of getting the work done fast.
But a support department want to strictly
follow their defined processes which hinders
your progress.
Emotions – Irritation / Anger / Helplessness
Opinions – Others don’t understand agile or care for us
Actions – Complain to superiors
Interactions – Force them to do our way
Underlying decision – Use client urgency
Underlying opinion – We are more important
Why we do what we do
Goals: Better performance / Make client happy
Changed opinion – We are part of the system
Changed decision – Focus on importance to
Impetus
New action – Understand impact of delays
New interaction – Show understanding of their needs
What can be a better way
(Situation-3)
Are we prepared
For an offshore team working from India, a
point of contact in U.S. who was very
supportive has changed his job.
Emotions – Worried / Afraid / Letdown
Opinions – Supportive person will always be there
Actions – Did not consider why we are
successful
Interactions – Did not cultivate other people
Underlying decision – Continue being comfortable
Underlying opinion – Others responsible to care for us
Why we do what we do
Goals: Maintain and improve our performance
Changed opinion – We are responsible to care for us
Changed decision – Anticipate risks
New action – Understand impact and be prepared
New interaction – Build alternate channels
What can be a better way
Typical patterns, may reappear in different
avatars
Shift focus from immediate problem
To permanent long term solution
Start thinking about better
Emotions / Actions / Interactions / Decisions / Opinions
Use WoW principles
All 3 situations
Know and care for real needs
Let work & information keep flowing
Maintain the heartbeat
Keep it simple
Balance automation with innovation
Encourage self-organization & governance
Grasp complex systems principles
WoW principles - Balanced
WrapupNow time for Action
Be in the present and just watch
Actions / Interactions / Emotions
See the connection - Why we do what we do
Decisions shape actions & interactions
Opinions shape emotions & decisions
Are we sure of our facts? Or are they just
opinions?
Practice, practice, and more
practice
Are my restraining emotions now transient?
Am I able to identify the real problems
correctly?
Am I able to map them to my or others’ WoW?
Do I focus on a permanent change?
Am I and others better off as a result?
Keep checking periodically
Agility – Quick response with smooth flow
Be a river, not a pond
Have interesting goals. Make plans to meet
them.
But also prepare for things not going as planned
Take life as it comes, and enjoy it
Be Agile – Remain Agile
Our WoW manifesto
We will keep uncovering better ways to
Improve our ways of working
By doing it and helping others do it