Styles

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Wanting to move to Agile? Certifications are useless.

A couple of days ago, I read an interesting article about how Agile certificates are actively destructive to the Agile community. One of the most important points he made was this: because Agile certifications aren't sufficient to prove whether you are an expert or not, companies that hire certified "experts" to launch their Agile efforts will fail, and therefore believe that Agile is not a valid approach. While I agree with most of what the author said, he missed an important point. There is a significant difference between being able to lead an Agile project and helping a company with an Agile transformation. To see why, we need first to look at what a certification does and doesn't cover.

What certifications show

Good certifications generally show an individual's skill with a particular subject, i.e. whether they understand the terminology and theory about that particular approach or technology. Even the best technology certifications, though, typically do a poor job showing an individual's knowledge of a particular subject, i.e. whether they can make the necessary adaptions to the approach or technology to solve the problem at hand. (A further discussion about skills vs. knowledge can be found in an earlier blog post about age discrimination in IT.)

Why skills aren't enough

If you are in an organization that already is using Agile to great success, plugging in someone with the skills to get started but without the knowledge to lead may not do that much damage. Existing processes and co-workers will often be enough to overcome knowledge deficiencies. But Agile, at its best, is a cultural change, not a procedural one. The minute you start trying to make Agile a procedural change within your organization you've failed. Instead, Agile is more about increasing collaboration and maximizing flexibility than following a process. (For an explanation why, please read my post about the subject from earlier this year.)

Why this can be a difficult cultural change

A manager's job is to ensure that his or her people have what they need in order to succeed. Most managers I know achieve this by doing two things: making sure that their people have the processes and procedures in place to do their job predictably well, and creating and monitoring metrics that demonstrate their team's effectiveness. Adopting an Agile culture makes these two goals extremely difficult. How can you create processes when you're trying to increase collaboration with outside teams? How can you measure success when maximizing flexibility makes monitoring time and scope, the two most common IT project metrics, obsolete?

The other significant challenge that teams face when moving from Waterfall to Agile is that Agile projects have immeasurably more uncertainty. With Agile, scope is always changing, responsibility is shared, and there is no "definition of done". Selling this to a group of people who have a (false) sense of security with a fixed-scope, fixed-budget project can be overwhelming to say the least.

All these sound like Agile skills. What's missing?

If you try to implement Agile in these environments, you're going to run into significant challenges from other people who, either intentionally or unintentionally, sabotage the change effort due to their own discomfort. To get through this, you need a change management expert who can create the sense of urgency necessary to get people behind the change effort. You will have much better luck achieving a transformation with a change management expert who is not up on the latest Agile frameworks than an Agile expert who is not familiar with managing people through a change.

Conclusion

If you are starting, or planning to start, a transformation within your company to a more Agile mindset, don't worry too much about Agile certifications. You want someone leading the project who has done it successfully before. If, in the case of the original article, you're in HR and don't have the skills to evaluate candidates, then get references and hire the people who have already achieved what you're looking to do. Then let the certification be a tie-breaker in case you really need one.

31 comments:

  1. Nice Post! I appreciate to you for this post. Really you are the best. Cisco Business Architecture Analyst Exam Dumps

    ReplyDelete
  2. In this article we will talk about what to look for when researching daycare software so that you choose a program that's the right fit for your daycare center. There are a number of different software programs available to help you with managing your center - here are some tips on how to pick the right one. website software

    ReplyDelete
  3. In this article we will talk about what to look for when researching daycare software so that you choose a program that's the right fit for your daycare center. There are a number of different software programs available to help you with managing your center - here are some tips on how to pick the right one. official

    ReplyDelete
  4. Any Internet user is aware of pop-ups and worms, but an Internet user can fall into a much bigger trap - the trap of SPYWARE. Spyware is malicious software, which enters into a computer, gives away information of the host computer to a remote user, all of which happens without any knowledge of the host computer user. So it is important that one understands the working and knows how to use spyware removers or spyware blockers to block or remove the malicious intruder from his computer. Legitimate Hire a Hacker in Singapore

    ReplyDelete
  5. I always hear the same question asked in several ways. "Can I actually learn how to produce apps for Android?" Today you are lucky, because I have already been down this road, and I have one resounding response: "Positively! It is really feasible to become able to write Android applications, no matter your background, and the tools to study and develop with are free and simple to use!" Check This Out

    ReplyDelete
  6. As a commercial web application development framework, Adobe ColdFusion comes with features to simplify and speed up web application development and maintenance. It allows programmers to write websites in a tag-based web scripting language - ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML), and accomplish common web development tasks with simple HTML style tags. The users can further curtail development time significantly by using the integrated development environment (IDE) and debugging, testing and troubleshooting tools provided by ColdFusion. Anger Management South Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
  7. When developing software it is the most modern common practice to do so as a collaborative team effort. Software is now quite large in terms of code content and does so much more than it used to. Customers however have this knack of changing what they want the end product actually do. If you wait until the product is damn near complete before you are aware of any changes this can result in you making a loss instead of a profit. website scanning

    ReplyDelete
  8. Technology is the leader of the enterprising world. And it leads using a constitution. Unlike the traditional political structure, this constitution is Algorithms written by engineers, scientists, etc and not congressmen and politicians. mobile tracker free

    ReplyDelete
  9. Technology is the leader of the enterprising world. And it leads using a constitution. Unlike the traditional political structure, this constitution is Algorithms written by engineers, scientists, etc and not congressmen and politicians. best app to spy the camera

    ReplyDelete
  10. In this article we will talk about what to look for when researching daycare software so that you choose a program that's the right fit for your daycare center. There are a number of different software programs available to help you with managing your center - here are some tips on how to pick the right one. cad4sale.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. You could definitely see your skills in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart 먹튀커뮤니티

    ReplyDelete
  12. In this article we will talk about what to look for when researching daycare software so that you choose a program that's the right fit for your daycare center. There are a number of different software programs available to help you with managing your center - here are some tips on how to pick the right one. delivery route planner

    ReplyDelete
  13. You could definitely see your skills in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart 먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for this wonderful post! It has long been very helpful. I wish that you’ll carry on posting your wisdom with us. 토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  15. Piracy of a computer software is unauthorized of illegal copying of the software. Software piracy is not only illegal but also unethical and should be avoided at all costs. This article provides details about software piracy and mentions some of the reasons why you must avoid using such illegal copies. route plan software

    ReplyDelete
  16. Some people call them faux fireplaces or decorative fireplaces or just plain or fake fireplaces, but no matter the name, the idea remains the same. Fake fireplaces bring all the charm and beauty of a traditional wood burning fireplace without all the smoke, soot and mess ashes. Not to mention that a fake fireplace can go in just about any type of house, apartment or condominium with major structural remodeling and construction hassles. fake id

    ReplyDelete
  17. If there is any word that defines the fast paced world we live in today, its "technology". With the passage of time, technology has become an immensely powerful and rapidly growing arena. As such it is important to grow along with it, to be updated with the latest trends. fake ids

    ReplyDelete
  18. Also known as dummy cameras, false security cameras are these days common in fooling the potential burglars. The key to use such cameras is to know how to buy a fake security camera for your home, as else the burglar will get to know that the camera is false and he will rob your home of your essential things best fake id

    ReplyDelete
  19. Purchasing software online has become very easy and affordable. However, it is important to find safe software that won't harm your computer as well as your pocket, considering the possible frauds and scams online. Discover the top tips when shopping for discount software. Clash of Clans For PC

    ReplyDelete
  20. Do you want to be anonymous when surfing the Internet? Do you want a secure online service that will guarantee that your data will not get stolen by hackers? Do you want more privacy when online? download vpn free

    ReplyDelete
  21. There are so many internet users interested in virtual private networks these days, so it's not surprising that all of the leading security companies are trying to introduce VPN services. Not all of them are worth the money. If you are looking for a good service, you might want to consider Kaspersky Secure Connection, as it allows you to choose from a high number of servers from around the world, and offers connections for up to 5 devices. All of the data sent and received from those devices will be encrypted and kept safe. free vpn protection

    ReplyDelete
  22. Software Development in India is not only cheap but also delivers good quality software. Indian Software Engineers are intelligent, dedicated and work for perfect ness. In India numbers of companies provide Offshore Outsourcing Software Development Services. These companies also provide web design, complete ecommerce Solution Services, CAD services, SEO services and Cheap Logo Design in India. windows 10 activation key

    ReplyDelete
  23. Do you want to be anonymous when surfing the Internet? Do you want a secure online service that will guarantee that your data will not get stolen by hackers? Do you want more privacy when online? zenmate vpn free

    ReplyDelete
  24. Software management sometimes is thought to be management software, although they actually are two very different programs. Don't get confused yourself, learn the difference now. Software

    ReplyDelete
  25. Software management sometimes is thought to be management software, although they actually are two very different programs. Don't get confused yourself, learn the difference now. pay for programming homework

    ReplyDelete
  26. Licensing issues for open source software still persists. In addition to proliferation of licenses, certain licenses are incompatible. There is a dangerous flirtation with the commercial world. Could it be that the open source movement is losing sight of its ideals and philosophy. If they don't know where they are heading, they should remember where they have come from. programming homework help

    ReplyDelete
  27. Do you want to grow your hair faster? It's a known fact of life: Girls are always changing their hair. They grow it out for years, just to realize that they want their hair to be short. After a week of short hair, they realize that they miss their long hair and start the cycle all over again. Actually, in today's world of the "Justin Bieber Hairstyle," a lot of guys are even trying to grow their hair faster. 美妆

    ReplyDelete
  28. Do you want to be anonymous when surfing the Internet? Do you want a secure online service that will guarantee that your data will not get stolen by hackers? Do you want more privacy when online? telenicosia.it

    ReplyDelete
  29. A VPN or Virtual Private Network ensures the security and privacy of a private or public network. This is done by using a system or protocol whereby the user's computer is assigned a new IP address which is owned by the VPN. All of the Internet traffic of the user is channelled to the VPN server. Once there, it is decrypted and allowed to travel to the new IP address. The user's Internet service Provider will only see a single stream of encrypted data stream between the user and the VPN server. The ISP will not be able to log and monitor or control the user's internet usage. pianetastrega.com vpn

    ReplyDelete
  30. Feeling peckish and can't be bothered with the regular meal preparation that is time-consuming and asks for a whole lot of steps? Then you are in luck with putting together a healthy and fast meal with basic cooking tips using the Chinese Cooking Method, ideal for those unannounced hunger-pangs that can quickly be appeased without compromising on granting taste-buds their due and simple to follow. cho số lô đề

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have express a few of the articles on your website바카라사이트
    now, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorite’s blog site list and will be checking back soon…

    ReplyDelete