Amber Hunt - Sprint 5 Paper 2 - Making team decisions

Introduction

Making team decisions can be frustrating. Especially if there are a lot of ideas floating around. Not every idea can be chosen. Which will probably cause some tension between team members. With making these decisions, this one simple step can help it go along effectively and efficiently; creating clear action items. This should help everything to fall into place. Action items name speaks for itself, it means it about the action, not the talking.

Create clear action items

Creating action items can be very simple if the entire team is on board. But it can also lead to a lot of confusion. A common challenge teams go through is, when they talk to much and don’t have enough action. Another is, when it is too much action items and not enough talking. They both must be at an equal amount. Another challenge is when the team relies on the scrum master a bit too much. This is when the facilitator steps in and ensures the team creates action items that better the process. When the scrum master is taking on responsibility, it is a good idea to get them to skip a few retrospectives to send the right message. (Lynda.com – from LinkedIn, 2017)

Closing out the retrospective: Follow up on action items

Of course a retrospective need clear action items. To make the follow up process go quicker, it is best to get each team members to work on at least one item. The ones that are abandoned are usually left on purpose because the team does not understand it and don’t know how to close the action item. Then tweak walls are created. These are simple charts, a whiteboard with post-its. Action items are about self-improvisation. The hurdles are about enhancing product distribution.

Conclusion

All-in-all, making team decisions and closing out the retrospective aren’t as bad when there are guidelines to follow. In agile, because everything moves so fast, you don’t want to be left behind. Creating clear action items is a good way in helping with team decisions and following up on action items is a good way to close out the retrospective.

References

Google.com. (2017). making team decisions - Google Search. [online] Available at: https://www.google.com/search?q=making+team+decisions&rlz=1C1CHWA_enUS628US628&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwidy66wlezXAhXD5SYKHem1DcUQ_AUICygC&biw=756&bih=713#imgrc=K6ruoLaPmW_r6M: [Accessed 2 Dec. 2017].

Lynda.com - from LinkedIn. (2017). Create clear action items. [online] Available at: https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Create-clear-action-items/175961/468254-4.html [Accessed 2 Dec. 2017].

Lynda.com - from LinkedIn. (2017). Follow up on actions items. [online] Available at: https://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Follow-up-actions-items/175961/468256-4.html [Accessed 2 Dec. 2017].