Outpace '25, Ensemble Working: The ultimate in collaboration

Ensemble working The ultimate in collaboration @ClareSudbery

@ClareSudbery ALL LINKS FROM TODAY (including a link to these
slides)

@ClareSudbery What is ensemble working? (aka mob programming)

@ClareSudbery Software Teaming All the brilliant minds working together on
the same thing, at the same time, in the same space, and at the same computer. Woody Zuill

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@ClareSudbery But won’t it slow us down?

@ClareSudbery Software development is a team-based activity…

@ClareSudbery … and teams are not just individuals working in
parallel

@ClareSudbery Wrong assumptions about software development Daniel Terhorst-North

@ClareSudbery Wrong assumptions about software development • Software development is
a reducible activity • Software development is primarily about coding Daniel Terhorst-North

@ClareSudbery Software development is not a reducible activity Daniel Terhorst-North
“It is a fallacy that software development is reducible, like building a wall, where you can measure who lays the most bricks, or whose work is the neatest or needs the fewest corrections.”

@ClareSudbery The worst programmer I know “The reason that Tim
[Mackinnon]’s productivity score was zero, was that he never signed up for any stories. Instead he would spend his day pairing with different teammates.” Daniel Terhorst-North

@ClareSudbery Making developers productive “Your highest-value developers are 10x by
enabling other developers! Often the least useful thing they can be doing is producing code themselves.” Daniel Terhorst-North

@ClareSudbery Wrong assumptions about software development • Software development is
a reducible activity • Software development is primarily about coding Daniel Terhorst-North

@ClareSudbery Most of programming is… • learning the business domain
• understanding the problem • assessing possible solutions • validating assumptions through feedback and experimentation • ensuring consistency at scale Daniel Terhorst-North

@ClareSudbery Can you even measure individual developer activity?

@ClareSudbery Measures become targets “Measuring leads to behavior change –
behaviour change including coming up with creative ways to improve those measurement scores even at the expense of results that everyone agrees matter.” Kent Beck and Gergely Orosz

@ClareSudbery Goodhart’s Law “When a measure becomes a target, it
ceases to be a good measure.” Kent Beck and Gergely Orosz

@ClareSudbery So are ensembles more productive?

@ClareSudbery Your situation is unique to you

@ClareSudbery Remember that quality is a long-term thing

@ClareSudbery But what if I don’t want to do it?

@ClareSudbery Positive experiences make all the difference

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@ClareSudbery Ensemble benefits

@ClareSudbery Ensemble work maximises learning • Onboarding new team members
• Starting a new project • Learning together as a team • Engagement and job satisfaction

@ClareSudbery Ensemble work maximises collaboration • Good collaboration => increased
quality • Obliterates context switching • Minimises bottlenecks • Getting the best out of everyone...

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@ClareSudbery It’s a skill to be learnt

@ClareSudbery We treat everyone with kindness, consideration and respect

• We treat everyone with kindness, consideration and respect All
roles are enhanced by a working agreement "Creative Commons Share-alike license with attribution Emily Bache, ProAgile" @ClareSudbery

Ensemble Roles • Facilitator • Typist • Navigator • Supporter
• Rotate all except facilitator often Typist Navigator Facilitator Supporters "Creative Commons Share-alike license with attribution Emily Bache, ProAgile" @ClareSudbery

Typist role • Enters code into the computer • Expert
use of IDE, shortcuts, code navigation, searching • Listens to the team Typist Navigator Facilitator Supporters "Creative Commons Share-alike license with attribution Emily Bache, ProAgile" @ClareSudbery

Navigator role • Leads the work • Makes decisions •
Communicates clearly about direction and intent • Explains details if needed Typist Navigator Facilitator Supporters "Creative Commons Share-alike license with attribution Emily Bache, ProAgile" @ClareSudbery

Supporter role • Help the navigator (when they ask) •
Raise concerns (at the right time) • Ask questions so you understand what’s going on Typist Navigator Facilitator Supporters "Creative Commons Share-alike license with attribution Emily Bache, ProAgile" @ClareSudbery

Facilitator role • Provides meta-guidance • Moderates dysfunction • Highlights
excellence • Can be part time • Aims to become redundant Typist Navigator Facilitator Supporters "Creative Commons Share-alike license with attribution Emily Bache, ProAgile" @ClareSudbery

@ClareSudbery Strong-style pairing

@ClareSudbery Rhythm and clarity

@ClareSudbery Keep people engaged

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@ClareSudbery Pay attention to blockers, and the enablers that address
them

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@ClareSudbery Ensemble Enablers

@ClareSudbery Experiment with rotations

@ClareSudbery Slower Typist Rotations

@ClareSudbery • DEFINE YOUR OWN RULES • REGULAR RETROS •
KEEP ADJUSTING

@ClareSudbery You don’t have to do it all the time…
but some do.

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@ClareSudbery Maybe we only use it in emergencies?

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@ClareSudbery Summary – Part 1 • Start small – try
it out! • You don’t need permission if you’re getting results • Focus on team metrics • Pay attention to long term quality – bugs and tech debt • Use the opportunity to remove unnecessary ceremonies • Regular retros

@ClareSudbery Summary – Part 2 • Make your own rules
– change as you go • Start with a strong structure • Keep people engaged • Agree on rules of engagement and keep reviewing • Let people opt out • Pay attention to enablers and blockers • Get help!

@ClareSudbery “In order to be successful in modern development organizations,
software developers need new skills. These skills are not easily learnt on a short training course or at a university. Practices like Continuous Integration and Test-Driven Development require developers to change their minute-by- minute habits and ways of working.” Emily Bache Samman Technical Coaching Society

@ClareSudbery ALL LINKS FROM TODAY (including a link to these
slides)

@ClareSudbery Questions / discussion

Outpace '25, Ensemble Working: The ultimate in ...

Outpace '25, Ensemble Working: The ultimate in collaboration

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