One Vision for Pandemic

During this pandemic, we find we are all vulnerable.  Every place on earth is affected.  No one is completely safe.  Many people find this unnerving due to massive change and uncertainty.  Sometimes having a possible vision of the future may settle the nerves for some people.  It is my intent to share one such possible vision based on personal observations and knowledge.  Please note, this is only my educated opinion, not a professional road-map for action.  Therefore, please read this with that perspective in mind, and attach to it no more value than that of settling your nerves.  And as always, please share you comments.

What will this pandemic bring - one vision of the near future.

1. As individuals:

   a. We should follow the rules, conscientiously and responsively,

       to minimize the risk to us and others

   b. We need to stay at home, unless an emergency necessitates otherwise

   c. In public - wear masks & gloves, maintaining social-distance...

   d. We may consider everything worn among people as potentially contaminated

   e. Upon returning home - we may strip, wash everything, take a shower...

   f. In general - we wash hands and face often, disinfect common spaces daily,

       keep hands down (away from face)...

   g. We should notify others when we see risk

       - i.e. see something, say something

2. At work:

   a. We need to re-envision business models to maximize work from home,

   b. We need to convert work into these new work from home business models

       - some things may seem impossible, but we will solve those eventually

   c. We need to convert shopping models to maximize online, minimize physical stores

   d. We need to convert shopping experiences into these online models

3. As a country/state:

   a. We should follow best practices found in the global community (#4 below)

   b. We should find new leaders to best lead us through this crises

   c. We may need to impose severe restrictions in areas where outbreaks are severe,

       but people don't follow the rules

   d. We need to expand internet infrastructure to accept all the new online traffic

       - e.g. fiber-optic lines, satellite internet, faster/compressed signaling...

4. The world at large:

   a. We may need to become a more coordinated and responsive global-village

   b. We should collect best practices from the countries that are beating the odds

       - e.g. South Korea; BTW - our daughter lives there and shares her insights

   c. We need to develop a vaccine - under way, but may take another 3 to 12 months

   d. We need to find/develop an effective anti-viral inhibitor

       - there are candidates that need testing, approval, production, distribution...

   e. We need to re-define boarder protocols to inhibit the spread of the virus

       - see 1.b South Korea

   f. We need to assist poor countries where the infection/death rates are the worse,

       both to help them and ourselves

What - What is published?

I published an ultra short free book on LeanPub - Agile Quest 
Please take a look and share your constructive comments.

You may also be interested to join me in co-publishing: Agile Journey Guide
A free open-source Wikibook.

What – What is Chunking

Chunking is a simplification strategy.   We can chunk down or chunk up.

Chunking down decomposes complex things into simpler things; big into small; whole into parts; components into sub-components; assemblies into sub-assemblies; systems into sub-systems; etc.

Chunking up works in the reverse direction by combining smaller parts into bigger ones, and so forth.

Chunking is reiterative, recursive, and incremental.  But at each stage the chunks are different, so it is like a fractal.

DONE.

Which – Which Zen Practices to Avoid in Agile

If you apply Zen to Agile go easy.  Avoid the Zen Koens. 

They are difficult, confusing, and intended to lead to analysis-paralysis.

Agile is about action; Zen … not so much.

So use Zen where it is needed (see Were above); not beyond.

And always true-up to the Agile Manifesto.  It is our fundamental guide.

DONE.

Where- Where is Zen Useful to Agile

Zen is most applicable to Agile in situations and places where there is conflict, contention, strife, friction, discord, and lack of cooperation.

There, Zen is effective.  It can bring peace, calm, and harmony.

Therefore, if you walk into a contentious situation be prepared to be the calming element.  Center yourself.  Speak in a level, calm, slow, metered voice.  Ask everyone to take a couple deep calming breaths, and then assist the group in finding their center – where is it?  Typically, the center of the group is the vision that brings them together.  Remind them and review that vision.  That is their common ground for rebuilding positive relationships.

If that fails to calm the situation, try reviewing the Agile Manifesto.  If that fails, try reviewing the reasons they work in the first place.  If that does not work, ask everyone to take a time-out and reconvene the “after lunch” – food is great at making piece.

I will cover actual conflict resolution and management in a later post.

DONE.

When – When is Agile NOT like Zen

Much of Zen is about meditation, contemplation, and mindfulness.

But Agile is mostly focused on immediate action.

For new Agile activities we say “fail-fast, then learn”, “try it before you decide”, “inspect and adopt”, etc.

The Agile approach is to avoid procrastination at all costs by jumping into immediate action, then based on the results of the action (feedback), learning and adjusting the next iteration.

While in Zen, it is paramount to understand the current situation, environment, impacts, and future state, results, outcomes ... all to avoid any possibility of harm.

From this perspective, Agile and Zen are at the opposite ends of the spectrum.

DONE.

Who – Who Needs to Understand the Zen of Agile

If you are reading this blog, you need to understand the Zen of Agile 
- the Agile Manifesto (http://agilemanifesto.org/). 

Please read it.  Please understand it and its history. 

Please add yourself to the list of signatories. 

And please share it with everyone who works with you.

DONE.

How – How are Zen and Agile Related

Both Zen and Agile promote balance, harmony, good will, and service, while pursuing self-development and self-actualization.

A minor difference could be that while Zen works mostly at the individual level, Agile is more focused at the group level, i.e. Teams, departments, and organizations of all sizes.

Yet, you do not need to know one to practice the other.  It is just nice to notice the alignment.

DONE.

Why - Why is Agile Important

Without getting philosophical and existential, Agile is important because it works at getting the job, any job, “done”.  People use Agile and keep using it.  Agile is successful because it helps people succeed.  There are other patterns, but why use them if you can use an Agile Pattern (see posts on Agile Patterns) and get your desired outcome better, faster, cheaper, and simpler.

As an Agilist, when using an Agile Patter make sure it is aligned with the Agile Manifesto.  Otherwise, it is just a pattern.

DONE.