Who wants to be an Agilionaire? questions & answers

[Caio Proiete]

Who wants to be an Agilionaire? questions & answers

What's the most important thing to bring to an Iteration Review Meeting?

1. The list of done tasks
2. The list of tasks that will be done
3. A demo
4. The backlog

Answer
A demo. The demo enables you to show what you have done, enables you to gather feedback on how the work is going and is a far better way to transmit to stakeholders how things are going. This will also enable the stakeholders to discuss the backlog with a better understanding of what is really important.

http://www.mountaingoatsoftware.com/sprint-review-meeting

What's one of the things I should mention in a SCRUM meeting?

1. The weather
2. A summary of what I have done since the last SCRUM
3. The technical details of what I've done since the last SCRUM
4. The several options I have to implement the feature I'm working on

Answer
A summary of what I have done since the last SCRUM. SCRUMs are supposed to be fast meetings so that the team and the scrum master are aware of what's going on at a certain point. This enables team members to check everyone is working for the iteration goals, and allows the team to organize itself on the best way to achieve those goals. All detail and option discussions should take place after the scrum.

http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?DailyScrum

What's the most important output of the iteration planning?

1. The iteration goal, written down and communicated
2. The iteration issues, properly classified in Issue Manager
3. The correct budget & issue assignments for the next iteration
4. The team commitment

Answer
The iteration goal. Although the individual issues should be properly classified in issue manager, the goal is more important. It is totally acceptable for the issues to change as the iteration goes along, provided the changes are made to pursue the iteration goal. Team commitment is also paramount, but the team needs something to commit to...

http://www.mountaingoatsoftware.com/sprint-planning-meeting

What's the second most important thing to bring to an Iteration Review Meeting?

1. The list of tasks done in the iteration
2. The list of tasks that will be done in the new iteration
3. A demo
4. An updated and sorted backlog

Answer
An updated and sorted backlog. During the IRM the team must negotiate with the product owner what are the next iteration goals. To do this, the team must have a proposal prepared (the updated and sorted backlog) that can then be discussed upon and changed with the help of the product owner.

http://www.scrumalliance.org/articles/39-glossary-of-scrum-terms#1114

Who should I be talking to during the SCRUM meeting?

1. The scrum master
2. The most senior person in the group
3. The team
4. The peer that's working with me on the feature

Answer
The team. The idea of SCRUMs is to be a daily synchronization point with the team, not with a person in particular. Some tips: Scrum master, if people are talking at you, they're merely reporting. Look at the ground to avoid this, if you have to. Team, if you find yourself talking to only one person, and the rest is all blank stares, review your speech. Make sure everyone understands what you're talking about. You can talk with people in particular after the Scrum.

This was something I picked up from Mitch Lacey (http://mitchlacey.com/)

What's the goal of applying Agile Methodologies?

1. Super fast development
2. Being able to change direction really quick
3. Project success
4. Making sure everyone has fun

Answer
Project success: The main objective of Agile Methodologies is to ensure project success, not only in its delivery and user adoption, but also its life span and maintenance. Being able to change direction really quick is important to keep inline with business goals, and having fun is plainly the simplest way to ensure productivity and that the teams stay together. Super fast development is actually not a goal nor a consequence of Agile Methodologies. Actually, development can actually be slower! But since work is being done on the right things, the end result is that the project gets done faster.

http://www.objectmentor.com/omSolutions/agile_why.html

What should be the last part of the Iteration Review Meeting?

1. A slide with the tasks the team is going to do next
2. The backlog, with a proposal of the tasks the team is going to do next
3. Discussions around the topics that were left pending during the demo
4. Assignment of clear action items for everyone in the room

Answer
The backlog, with a proposal of the tasks the team is going to do next. It is important to have all the stakeholders of the project understand all that needs to be done, so they can help prioritize the missing work. This backlog should include the items raised during the IRM that just took place. It is also important that the team has a proposal, so that there is some ground work on the priorities. Note that it is possible to get out of the meeting without knowing exactly what will fit on the next iteration, but has long as the backlog is properly sorted a mail can be sent later with the details.

Which characteristic should a given "Iteration Goal" have?

1. It must be related with something perceivable by the current end-users of the system
2. It must be related with something that will be coded by the team members
3. It must be measurable
4. It must be a task in the issue tracker system

Answer:
It must be measurable. This is the only way the team can tell exactly where it stands during an iteration, and it is the best way to make sure that what is delivered goes along with the customer's expectations. It is also the best way to show everyone if the goals have been achieved or not. There are other characteristics a goal should have, to make sure it is a SMART goal!

http://www.scrumalliance.org/articles/39-glossary-of-scrum-terms#1115

 

Source:
http://blog.outsystems.com/aboutagility/who-wants-to-be-an-agilionaire-questions-answers.html