Jurgen, how did you get into the field of business you are in right now?

I have always wanted to write a book. And after two failed attempts of starting to write one, I sat down and thought how to approach such a project. Then I decided to first start blogging and speaking at conferences. Because that would allow me to a) get valuable feedback from people; b) become better known in the business; c) improve my chances of finding a publisher. So I’ve been blogging since January 2008 and I was able to find a publisher and start writing my book 1,5 year later, in August 2009.

What, in your opinion,  are the biggest problems to address regarding software development of today?

I believe that changing management culture is the biggest problem. Again and again research shows that (middle) management is the biggest obstacle in agile adoption. Cultural change, education, contracts, etc. are all management responsibilities. It is the management system that needs to change, or else agile adoption will fail.

What should the audience expect from your talk on self organization at the conference?

To understand what self-organization is, and what it can do for us. There is often talk about “self-organization of teams” in agile literature, but only very few people actually know what it really is, from a scientific viewpoint. And what needs to be done to make it really work for you (because it can also work against you).

When you are not working, writing, blogging, tweeting or speaking at conferences, what do you enjoy doing?

I love researching books, buying books, reading books, shelving books. And I like looking at my huge book case.

Lyssa, in short, what is an Agile Coach?

An agile coach is someone who takes teams beyond getting agile practices up and running and into their deliberate and joyful pursuit of high performance.

What would you think is the greatest value the participants will get from your workshop on Coaching Agile Teams?

Each person leaves the workshop with a personal improvement backlog filled with promises they make to themselves about what they want to improve about their agile coaching ability. For some, it’s taking the time to really listen at all the levels we practice in the class so that they can detect what is really happening with the team – on the surface and under the surface. For others, it’s practicing how to deliver powerful questions to help teams get unstuck. Still, for others, it’s paying attention to the value they deliver to their teams so that they can leave work each day knowing if they have truly made a difference or not. What will it be for you? Who knows, but I see that agile coaches leave the workshop with a long list of potential improvement opportunities (prioritized by highest value, of course).

Who would benefit from attending your workshop?

This workshop is meant for ScrumMasters, Agile Coaches and Project Managers in transition – people who are ready to take the next step beyond practices and principles and move into activating teams to achieve the full promise of Agile.

Consider coming to this workshop if:

• You’ve had a few experiences as a ScrumMaster/Coach and it just doesn’t seem to be working for you.
• Your job as Scrum Master/Coach has become routine and you notice the teams seem to be going through the motions, too.
• Your teams get the practices and are doing well, but not getting the fabulous results you were supposed to get.
• Your are an awesome agile coach and you want the skills that will help you earn the Certified Scrum Coach designation.
• You are spread across many Agile teams because your managers think Agile Coaching is not a full-time job.
• You are not sure if the Agile Coach role is really right for you.

What does it take to become an Agile Coach?

There’s no roadmap to becoming an agile coach. For me, it was bringing skills and mindsets from several allied disciplines to my teams so that they could get better and better. Some of these allied disciplines are facilitation, conflict navigation, teaching, problem solving, coaching-mentoring and collaboration. I knew I was an agile coach when I could help teams get “more agile” all the time and I could also help each person take their next step to becoming a great agilist.

It’s Softhouse‘s main publication, and Scandinavia‘s leading magazine on Lean- and Agile Development. Each issue is filled with up-to-date information about Lean- and Agile methodologies, including interviews with the leading international experts in the Agile field.

Click here to order your own free copy from Softhouse!

The latest issue includes the following articles:

• Lean & Agile and the matter of Architecture – Jim Coplien on the foundations and latest constructs of Lean software
• Replacing Architects with architects – Staffan Persson from Scania on new roles at the Rolls Royce of the European truck industry
• Thorough preparation creates an effective Team – Report from the Scrum frontline by Tina Lenshof
• Untangling Lean & Agile – Krister Kauppi straightens out a twisted pair
• Through my gaming glasses – Lean and Agile with a gamer’s perspective by Ola Sundin