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Chaotic Agility
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Matthew Bass
August 07, 2007
Technology
1
56
Chaotic Agility
How understanding the science behind agility can increase our effectiveness and productivity.
Matthew Bass
August 07, 2007
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Transcript
Chaotic Agility
Good things happen
The Book “Managing Software for Growth” by Roy Miller
Manufacturing Software • 1880, Frederick Taylor – Every job has
“one best way” – Workers are dumb – Managers need more control
The Manufacturing Mindset • Determine what we want • Design
it • Build it • Make sure it works • Repeat Assumption: The result will be the same every time the process is repeated.
What does this remind you of?
None
Manufacturing assumes linearity • Whole equals sum of parts •
Effects proportional to causes • Result is predictable
Complexity science models reality • Whole greater than sum of
parts • Small changes have big effects • Patterns appear, but predictability remains elusive
When will it rain?
Weather • weather = function(sun, wind, humidity, CO2…) • 1960,
Edward Lorenz • Toy weather – Small variations eventually disappeared – Until the program was started in the middle
Attractors • Emergent patterns • Only show up during change
• Can’t be created in advance • Can’t be predicted
CAS • John Holland • Networks of agents… • Acting
in parallel… • Without central control • Constant change == life • Stability == death
The Edge of Chaos • A CAS must be stable…
• But not too stable… • And not too chaotic • Balance is key • Where is the edge?
Self Organization • Minimize the number of choices, then make
an educated guess • It’s the economy… • Agents influence each other • BarCamp, anyone?
Growing Software • Emergence • Interaction • Adjustment • “Just
Enough” / YAGNI • What is “done?”
Waterfall is Manufacturing • Prediction is possible • Software is
an efficiency optimization problem • Process over people
Agility is a CAS • Continuous change • Good design
• Simplicity • People working together • What else?
Take Aways • For managers: – Stop trying to control
and predict – Setup minimal structure – Make minor adjustments • For developers: – Don’t stress over perceived chaos – Be willing to experiment • What else?
Okay, who’s the jerk? Matthew Bass Software consultant Speaker Ruby
addict Agile evangelist Not Fred Medlin! :blog => matthewbass.com :email =>
[email protected]