Learning To Learn

Learning To Learn

Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. - W. Edwards Deming

DoesYourAgileProcessEncourageLearning?

TroyTu'[email protected]@troytuAle

leanagilekc.com

TITANIUMSPONSORS

Pla4numSponsors

GoldSponsors

wirestreamenabling ideas

TM

Learning Outcomes

•  Feedback Loops •  Tacit Knowledge •  Double Loop Learning •  Learning and Culture

•  Small Batches / Lean Startup •  Retrospectives •  Improvement Kata

Models

ApplicaEon

LearningistheConstraint!

Coding is Learning

For the programmers in the room, imagine writing a relatively complex algorithm that

takes about a day to complete… Nowdeletethecodeandwritethealgorithmagain.

Howlongdoesittakethesecond5me?

The Work is Learning

Idea Analysis Design Build (Dev) Test

“Learning”Phases “Execute”Phases

Deployment

Idea Analysis Design Build (Dev) Test Deployment

“Learning”Phases “Execute”Phases

Production

Learning Through Feedback Loops 2 digit lottery example:

We can buy a two-digit lottery ticket for $1. A winning number pays off $100.

BuyTwoDigitsattheSameTime:

Pay $1

Make Nothing

Make $100

99%

1%

BuyTwoDigitswithFeedback:

Pay $0.50

Make Nothing

Pay $0.50

90%

10%

Make Nothing

Make $100

90%

10%

ExpectedPayoff:Zero

ExpectedPayoff:$0.45

Reinertsen,ThePrinciplesofFlow

Learning Through Feedback Loops

Doing

Done Backlog

F

H E

C A

I

Development To Do

Done Doing Done

G D

A D

P1 B

T

Testing Analysis

Doing

Team

P InternalStakeholder

C Customer

Howquicklyarewelearning?

“We can know more than we can tell.”

TacitKnowledge:LearningandknowledgethatcannotbewriAendown,andisdifficulttoexpressthroughlanguage.Itrequiresasharedexperiencetounderstand.

TacitKnowledge

ExplicitKnowledge

Tacit Knowledge

TacitKnowledgeExamples:

•  Playinganinstrument•  Speakingalanguage•  InnovaEonskills•  Leadershipsocialskills•  Sales•  Humor•  DeliveringSo^wareValue

AllrequireaSharedExperiencetolearn.

Single and Double Loop Learning

Themostcommonstyleoflearningisjustproblemsolving—improvingthesystemasitexists.

SingleLoopLearning

Morethanjustfixingtheproblem,thisstyleoflearningquesEonstheunderlyingassumpEons,values,andbeliefsbehindwhatwedo.

DoubleLoopLearning

--ArgyrisandSchon,TheoryinPrac6ce,1974

Single and Double Loop Learning

Results(WhatweGet)

StrategiesandTechniques(WhatweDo)

AssumpEons(WhatweBelieve)

Leadsto

Informs

LeadstomoreeffecEve

QuesEonbeliefsandassumpEons

--ArgyrisandSchon,TheoryinPrac6ce,1974

What is Culture?

Cultureisapa'ernofsharedtacitassump4onsthatwaslearnedbyagroup…thathasworkedwellenoughtobeconsideredvalidand,therefore,tobetaughttonewmembersasthecorrectwaytoperceive,think,andfeel...--Schein,EdgarH.TheCorporateCultureSurvivalGuide

Schein’s Three Levels of Culture

(Visiblestructures,behavior,language)

(Espousedvalues,goals,philosophies)

(Underlyingbeliefs,tacitassumpEons)

Changingcultureisfundamentallyachallengeoflearning

ArEfacts

Values

AssumpEons

Application of Learning Models

ü  Feedbackloopsenablelearningü  Smallbatchesallowustoacceleratefeedbackloopsü  MuchofourKnowledgeisTacit,sowemustactonit

beforeitevaporates.ü  ReflecEontoolslikeretrospecEvesenabledouble

looplearningü  ImprovementKataprovidesstructureforsingleand

doublelooplearning

Feedback Loops

Ries,TheLeanStartup

Tacit Knowledge

Practices that enhance tacit knowledge learning: 1.  Real-time standup meetings 2.  User Story writing as a whole team 3.  Limiting WIP

Theory-In-Use vs. Espoused Theory

Theory of Action

EspousedTheory Theory-in-use

EspousedTheory Theory-in-use

≠

=PreventsDoubleLoopLearning

EnablesDoubleLoopLearning

--ArgyrisandSchon,TheoryinPrac6ce,1974

Retrospectives

RetrospecEvesarereflec6ontoolsforteamsandorganizaEons

SingleLoopLearning DoubleLoopLearning

Team systemgovernedbytacitassumpEons

Improvement Kata

TheImprovementKataconceptcomesfromtheToyotaProducEonSystem

Improvement Kata

PracEcalToyotaKataFormat:

ImprovementThemeNow/CurrentCondi4on

NextTargetCondi4on

Defini4onofAwesome(vision)

FirstSteps

--JimmyJanien,CrispBlog,2013

Improvement Kata Let’sExercise!

•  WorkinGroupsof2and3•  SharecurrentcondiEonideasanddecideonone•  CreateaKataBoardasagroup

OurGoal:TocreateanImprovementKataCandidate

Improvement Kata

MakeyourownKata

ImprovementTheme

--JimmyJanien,CrispBlog,2013

Defini4onofAwesome(vision)

Now/CurrentCondi4on

NextTargetCondi4on

FirstSteps

Learning To Learn

Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. - W. Edwards Deming

DoesYourAgileProcessEncourageLearning?

TroyTu'[email protected]@troytuAle

leanagilekc.com