Author: Peter

Spreadsheet Sprints: Fastest Way to Test-Drive Agile

Spreadsheet sprinting is an easy and cost-effective way to get started with Agile. Too often, Agile adoption involves learning new terminology, tools and methods. Spreadsheet sprinting bypasses the learning curve and enables immediate focus on priorities, goals and tasks. In

River Thames Annual Draw Off

Every November the weirs are lifted between Richmond and Teddington Lock for the Thames Annual Draw Off. This allows the Port of London Authority to drain the water to its natural level at low tide so that essential maintenance work

Ditch the slides and use placemats instead

When you present slides in meetings, you know it’s difficult to keep audiences engaged and happy. Not surprising because slide presentations are structured, sequential and always stretch at least 30 minutes. Stakeholders are overbooked, rushed and stressed. People want immediate

To Ski

Around this time last year, I offered myself to join all ski trips. “If you’re going, I’m in.” The result was really good. I skied in France and Austria. I started at Courchevel Le Praz with Caroline who forced me to ski

Leveraging Swimlanes to reach the Next Key Stage

Swimlanes provide a good model for focusing efforts in groups trying to reach the Next Key Stage. In my work with startup ventures, I encourage management teams to develop a list of swimlanes. Each swimlane encapsulates effort for driving to

At Home in Twickenham, London, UK

I returned to Twickenham on Saturday. It’s really good to be back. I missed Alice, my children and the insanely stupid dogs. We’re now all in the UK. The children are all at school. New York Finale In New York,

At Home in Flushing, Queens, New York City

I’m at my desk in Flushing Queens New York. In the States for the first time in 6 months. Been gone long enough that everything’s different. It’s my original home, so I reacquaint quickly and now it all looks the

MVP Spreadsheet: Easy Tool for Gliding into Agile

Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a key ingredient of Agile. MVP is a product with just enough features to satisfy early customers, and to provide feedback for future product development. Teams can easily sprint with an MVP Spreadsheet using familiar tools

Adopting Agile as a Second Language

With my clients the first job is always adopting or improving Agile. My methodology is named, “Agile Agile: The Agile adoption of Agile methodologies”. This piece is about the first steps, winning support and starting to sprint with minimum disruption.

Origins of Agile Agile

I first experienced Agile methodology at Flip (acquired by Cisco) in 2008. I was a follower. We hired a new engineering director who insisted on Agile. I was skeptical but soon converted. With Agile, our organization of 200 people immediately

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