Re: [AgileGames] Distributed game to introduce Agile concepts

[Doc]

Derek Wade just delivered a simulation/workshop at Agile2012. While it was "played" in a single room, I believe it could readily be used in a truly distributed environment. You might check in with him (I've copied him on this so he'll see it). Derek's work is nicely informed by both research and practice.

Doc

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On Aug 22, 2012, at 7:18 AM, Jean Lestang <jeu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all!

I am looking for a serious game to introduce Agile concepts, which could be played by people connected via visioconf in several locations.
I have found an online version of Beer Distribution Game, but I think it is more focused on pitfalls due to a lack of communication.

Any idea? Thanks in advance.
Jean.

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[Alan Dayley]

I think the session Doc is talking about can be found here: 

http://agile2012.sched.org/event/962db9c78b1c6247061f155903e376f4?iframe=no&w=918&sidebar=yes&bg=no

I missed the session, that whole day, even.  I will be looking at the presentation today!

Alan

[Derek W. Wade]

Hi All --

Thanks Doc, and Alan, for pulling me in and for the kind words. 

The slides give an overview to principles of effective distributed agile teams and could benefit to any team that "gets" agile but has to be distributed. The slides don't make the simulation very clear though ("you don't read a bike, you ride a bike.)  I plan to get the instructions, setup, facilitators guide up on my resources site. The sim could easily be adapted for use in a distributed environment (it'd be easier to use real distance than simulated distance). 

But Jean's original request was for a sim to introduce basic agile concepts, which was not one of the objectives of my sim scenario. 

To be most effective, simulation/serious play scenarios should be designed or selected with specific learning & performance objectives in mind. So, Jean, what agile concepts do you want your players to be introduced to?  I can think of a lot, and different ways to do them remotely -- if you can give us an idea of what you want people to learn and how you'd expect that to manifest in their performance, we can probably help. 

--

Sorry if I'm brief or a bad typist; I'm mobile.

[Jean Lestang]

Hi All,

First thank you all for your interest and answers. Here are some more information.

I am working in my company on Agile transition and adoption. We are preparing training sessions to introduce Agile concepts, which could be followed in several locations using videoconf. We would like to conclude the training with a game, to end with a positive feeling of what Agile could bring.

Clearly, there could be several topics to focus on. For example:
- working together: How communication and self-organization can improve team performance
- prioritization: How to use the Story points in the best way to create the most Business value
- estimation: How Planning poker is effective to trigger off discussion and then reach consensus
- importance of tests: How delivering without testing can be unproductive
...

I understand these are quite different topics, but I have the feeling that the distributed locations is the leading constraint (Lego game is not possible...) Please note that trainees are not meant to work together on a project. Definitely, the real goal of the game is having fun together.

Hope this sets better the context.
Jean.

[Derek W. Wade]

Merci, Jean, for the clarification.  It sounds like the objective of the distributed game "to have a positive experience from working in an Agile way on a distributed team."

The simplest "Agile" has very little rules.  Only:

- iterative improvement

- simultaneous, collaborative, visible work (not individual, specialized, siloed work) 

- limited work in process

- inspection and adaptation

I would suggest that the students iteratively build a product in an online workspace.  What they build should be simple.  It could be a MySpace page, a Google doc, a drawing using some free online sketch tool.  This could be a lot of fun and a meaningful learning experience.

SETUP:

======

Before the class, you will need to...

1. Choose a theme for the product:  e.g. a picture that shows the team's ideal vacation; a web page "brochure" that advertises something; a text document that tells a modern spin on a classic fairy tale... etc.

2. Write 4-8 very general "requests" for the product.  NOT detailed requirements.

3. Choose the tool for your online workspace, and ensure people can use it.

PLAY:

====

Briefing -- Divide the class up into teams of no more than 4-5 people. Ensure all can access the online workspace. Ensure all understand the goal is a real product that will be demonstrated.  Ensure all understand the timing.

Round 1 (5m) -- Lightweight planning: teams select as many requests as they feel they can deliver, and discuss how they might do it.

Round 2 (5+3m) -- 5 minutes of building, then no more building -- 3 minutes of discussing what they want to do next.  You MUST request that no work is being done during the 3 minutes. This is time for inspect and adapt ONLY.

Round 3 (5+3m) -- As round 2

Round 4 (5) -- 5 minutes of work. No inspection.

Round 5 -- A brief demonstration by each team of what they built.

DEBRIEFING (~25m)

===============

Discussion with the whole class: 

What happened? What was easy? What was hard? What surprised them?  

Was their product better or worse than they hoped? What was the effect of # committed requests on quality?

What did students learn?  What would they do differently next time? How does what they learn apply to real life?  

What will they be sure to do when they get back to work?

I've done something like this using both a wiki and a MySpace page, to very satisfactory effect.  I welcome your thoughts, as well as those of the group.

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Derek W. Wade

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To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/agilegames/-/DdiXWjif824J.

[Jean Lestang]

Hi Derek.
Your proposal looks great. Simple and I will organize a trial ASAP, and I will give you feedback.
Many thanks, Jean.