SAFe Is Like…

Apr
26
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Tip: On Refinement — Be Aware of Anchoring Bias

Tip: On Refinement — Be Aware of Anchoring Bias

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
Sales people use Anchoring Bias … causing irrational buying decision During refinement, specifically during the ‘Divergent Thinking’ of the ‘Success Pattern’, people bring in their own points of view vis-vis what is currently being refined. What they bring could become an ‘Anchor’ wherein other participants’ contributions to the refinement are based off on that anchor. As a result, nothing ‘new’ comes off that ‘Divergent Thinking’. ‘Divergent Thinking’ is a brainstorming exercise wherein lots of divergent ideas from participants of various backgrounds are offered and gathered. To counter this, during the ‘Divergent Thinking’, participants should stop having conversations at all. These…
Read More
Apr
25
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Tip: On Refinement — Use ‘Yes and …’ Improv Rule

Tip: On Refinement — Use ‘Yes and …’ Improv Rule

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
Emergent Thinking: This is when people extend the brainstorming session (Divergent Thinking) to allow ideas to emerge … ideas that are constructive, creative, and additive. A great technique to use in this Emergent Thinking zone is a rule from Improv Comedy: ‘Yes and… ‘. Try this: next time someone presents / prompts an idea during the ‘Emergent Thinking’ zone conversations, be attentive to what is being presented / prompted… then at an appropriate time, say, ‘Yes and…’ and then add something constructive, additive or creative to build on or expand the essence of the presented / prompted idea… that, in…
Read More
Apr
23
2023
By Clarence Galapon
‘Leaders’: Get Out Of The Way!

‘Leaders’: Get Out Of The Way!

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
I know, even with positive intent, leaders, sometimes, are the problem. What are some of these problems? The following are my pet peeves: 1) They are — without even knowing it — choking creativity. They thought that their idea is the only idea out there. Not utilizing the talents of the their teammates: their creativity, their skills, and their passion. As a result, better potential outcomes were not explored. Leaders, get out of the way. As General George S. Patton said: Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their…
Read More
Apr
22
2023
By Clarence Galapon
SAFe Is Like A Broadway Show

SAFe Is Like A Broadway Show

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
Phantom of the opera — the long-running Broadway Show — has closed, brought down its curtain after 35 years. My wife and I saw the ‘Phantom ….’ … long time ago… and it was amazing! It gets great reviews after each performance… … as a result, it continued on for 35 years! The decline was written on the wall, however. It was losing money even before the pandemic. The Producers — I thought, back a year ago — will do the necessary: continue? pivot? stop? Stop. SAFe is like a Broadway Show … wherein a great product gets created… adding…
Read More
Apr
20
2023
By Clarence Galapon
The Anatomy Of Peace

The Anatomy Of Peace

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
A leader should spend far more time helping things go right than dealing with things that are going wrong — The Anatomy Of Peace Avoid ideological / personal conflict! How? One of the many ways is to master proven conflict resolution techniques. One of these is by having a form of a ‘Working Agreement’ that everyone is expected to abide by. Do you have a ‘Working Agreement’ by and for your team? If none, then create one with your team! Can you imagine a gun range without a ‘Working Agreement’ with its members?
Read More
Apr
19
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Misplaced Rule Decelerates Flow… And Creates Waste

Misplaced Rule Decelerates Flow… And Creates Waste

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
Every time I am at this intersection, about to turn right, I find myself waiting for nothing… no cars incoming from the other direction. My car is just idling for nothing. This sign — NO TURN ON RED — decelerates flow on my side… and ‘Waiting’ for nothing is a waste. No Turn On Red   This sign is not needed here… from my practical and experiential point of view. SAFe puts ‘Lean Thinking’ on Center Stage so we may start seeing wastes (in this case, 'waiting' is waste) … and start remediating antiquated policies, practices, and rules to accelerate…
Read More
Apr
18
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Capacity Allocation Like Pizza Pie…

Capacity Allocation Like Pizza Pie…

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
We always have our pizza pie double sliced… that is our historical and proven apportionment for my family. Small slices yield least waste: you pull the next slice according to need. We employ the buffet rule: ‘Take but eat all you take’. April 15, 2023: Garden Vegetable 17-inch Pizza apportioned in sixteen slices!   In SAFe … apportionment of the Agile Teams’ and ART capacity is also happening… we call this ‘happening’, ‘Capacity Allocation’. Allocate and pull according to need. Prioritized need — doing the right thing at the right time. If you do not need a big slice now,…
Read More
Apr
17
2023
By Clarence Galapon
We Could All Use The Parable Of The Sower

We Could All Use The Parable Of The Sower

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
As coaches, teachers, and trainers, we could all use the parable of the Sower. We are like the Sower... we have good seeds to scatter... these seeds will fall on various types of soil. Where: Seed is the Training we provide (i.e., SAFe PO/PM) Scatter is when we provide the Training Types of soil are the various types of mindsets (the set) and environments (the setting) our students have. Some will be receptive to the Lean and Agile Way of Working -- these are the students who will grow to give; the rest will not be as receptive -- they…
Read More
Apr
15
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Be The Constant Gardener Of Your Own Mind

Be The Constant Gardener Of Your Own Mind

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
Learning is not compulsory . . . neither is survival. —W. Edwards Deming My family and I were at the Home Depot today, April 12, 2023. Bought some vegetable seedlings.... perennial flowers... annuals flowers... garden soil and mulch. That should do it for tomorrow's gardening. Whilst at the Home Depot, the idea of this Blog post came to mind. Our mind is like a garden that needs constant and life-long care (lifelong learning)... and we are our own mind's gardener... a constant gardener. Otherwise, the weeds will take over the garden (the sea of constant technological and business changes will…
Read More
Apr
14
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Creativity

Creativity

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
Biltmore Estate’s grandeur inspires and prompts creativity in people. I saw the following arts… impressionism arts of Biltmore House.     What prompts your team’s creativity? What prompts your creativity? What inspires you to create? Utilize thy talent (yours and your teams') -- not utilizing talent is a waste.
Read More
Apr
13
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Food and Water

Food and Water

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
Sheep are content on having food and water… they do not even notice the changing landscape… SAFe’s landscape has changed. Be mindful of these changes, today… we can have better future by improving today. Do not just be content with today’s food and water. We are not like sheep whose days are "same old same old". Right?   Continuous Improvement is everybody's job. Jump into the SAFe 6.0 Bandwagon today, where Lean takes center stage... at last!
Read More
Apr
12
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Kanban Way Of Working Provides Clarity

Kanban Way Of Working Provides Clarity

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
Can you tell what I am looking at? Hint: not the columns. Biltmore Estate at Asheville, North Carolina — America’s Largest Home. Easter Sunday, 2023, my family and I went to Biltmore Estate… and took these pictures… intentionally for this blog post. The Big Picture — Biltmore Estate   The Kanban Way of Working provides clarity to otherwise seemingly chaotic situations. It also provides The Big Picture vis-a-vis what to do next, what work is in process, what has been done. And details… And up close… And preparation for next work…
Read More
Apr
11
2023
By Clarence Galapon
What’s New In SAFe 6.0

What’s New In SAFe 6.0

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
What are those new shiny things in SAFe 6.0 that are meaningful -- useful and interesting -- to me? Major meaningful changes are: 1) the 'Program' word is gone! Now we can truly focus on products... from Programs to Products Examples: PI (Program Increment) Planning Event ... is now called Planning Interval Planning Event. The 'PI' acronym stays... which is cool! Agile Program Management Office (APMO) is now called Value Management Office (VMO) SAFe Program Consultant is now called SAFe Practice Consultant. The 'SPC' acronym stays... which is cool! 2) Four Flows. These four flows are now explicitly called out…
Read More
Apr
10
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Accelerate Flow — Establish Kanban Systems And Kanban Thinking

Accelerate Flow — Establish Kanban Systems And Kanban Thinking

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
The Kanban System --if you look at it closely, beyond its common use as a Work Flow Visualization Tool -- is a mindset. The Kanban System is a descendant of Lean. Lean Thinking... and Kanban Thinking... why not? Shared heritage between Lean and Kanban are the following: Focusing on Delivering Value with the least sustainable Lead Time Respect for People Minimizing waste Being Transparent Adapting to change Continuous Improvement Kanban system is the original "Start-where-you-are" approach... and from there onwards: continuously improve, mature thy Kanban System to its fullest potential, and evolve (i.e., evolve policies to improve outcomes). Accelerate Flow…
Read More
Apr
09
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Accelerate Flow — Reduce Queue Length

Accelerate Flow — Reduce Queue Length

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
Suppose you are in line to order a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Suppose someone ahead of you placed an order for 10 cups of Cafe' Mocha. Suppose there is only one barista, and can only do one cup of Cafe' Mocha per minute. What do you think will happen overtime? Two things will happen. A long wait time will happen for the in-line customers.  10 cups divided by 1 cup per minute = 10 minutes wait time for the next immediate customer! This is Little's Law. A long queue could also ensue if one customer per minute enters the…
Read More
Apr
08
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Accelerate Flow — Work In Small Batches

Accelerate Flow — Work In Small Batches

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
Did you know that the smallest batch in an Industrial Factory is one? One order. I remember back when Dell Computers first came out. They manufactured one order at a time. They do not have to maintain a large inventory of computers and associated parts and materials. They know that over-production is the number one source of waste. The same is true with McDonalds... one order at a time... one order of a Big Mac, for example. Both scenarios go through a similar flow: an order is pushed; the order is pulled to completion then released to the customer. These…
Read More
Apr
07
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Accelerate Flow — Put Yourself In a State of Flow

Accelerate Flow — Put Yourself In a State of Flow

Announcement, SAFe 5.0, SAFe Is Like…
During an important tournament, Chess Players put themselves in a state of flow — a hyper-focused state of mind… where time, noise, and distractions seem to disappear… a state of hyper-creativity — necessary to achieve a certain objective. They are ‘In The Zone’! Likewise, we, The Knowledge Workers of ‘The Factory’, could use such state of flow… in-the-zone moment… to multiply our productivity… and achieve and deliver Value in the least sustainable Lead Time. Accelerate Flow with multiple and sustained states of flow. This concept in action… in ‘The Factory’ setting: 1) Developer hours: Some Agile Teams I know have…
Read More
Apr
03
2023
By Clarence Galapon
SAFe Is Like… A Broadway Show

SAFe Is Like… A Broadway Show

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…
Yesterday, my wife and I watched ‘Beetlejuice, the Musical’… a Broadway Show. The cast and crew’s performance was impressive. One can tell immediately that the cast and crew had prepared and rehearsed long enough… for this spectacular and impressive performance. No one was winging it… no one was flying by the seat of their pants. We, the audience, were clapping with gusto when the cast bowed out. It was a really well-delivered performance! I keep saying to people I train, teach and coach, this: ‘SAFe is like a Broadway Show’. I even wrote a book with that quote in it.…
Read More
X

Forgot Password?

Join Us