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Oct 18, 2021
Excellent Class
Excellent Class! Chuck did a great job of going through the Product Owner essentials.
Scott Francisco
Oct 1, 2021
Dr Chuck's has an impeccable teaching style and expert knowledge on subject matter
Dr Chuck's teaching style and knowledge on the subject is outstanding. The class worked together in groups on several real-life examples which we could relate to and have experienced in our professional career. Dr. Chuck also utilized class's combined expertise and facilitated the class to work on problems and think outside the box. The study material is to the point and easy to follow. I highly recommend Scrum.org's Scrum Guide and Dr. Chuck's training classroom. It was worth it
Preeti Yadav
Sep 17, 2021
Would recommend Chuck's courses to my colleagues
I would highly recommend choosing one of Chuck's courses! His presentation is clear and concise, and he allows room for candid discussion about the content (pros and cons) and time for engagement with other students. I will definitely be taking additional courses with him in the future when I can.
Aaron Kasdan
Aug 21, 2021
We had a small class and Chuck did a…
We had a small class and Chuck did a great job keeping engagement high and facilitating conversations among the participants to give real world scenarios as they applied to the course material.
Eric Arling
Aug 6, 2021
Both the material and the course were…
Both the material and the course were of great benefit. You can read through the course fairly easily, but the instructor was able to help make the material interesting by drawing on his extensive experience in Scrum and various other methodologies. I highly recommend this course.
Braden Pintar
Jul 13, 2021
Great class
Great class! The content was usefull, the instructor was very well prepared and proficient in the art of teaching. I am very satisfied with the class.
EDUARDO DULANTO
Jul 12, 2021
The teaching style made the class…
The teaching style made the class engaging and material easy to apply to my work setting. Passed the exam on the first try!
Chris Miller
Jul 9, 2021
Chuck made it very easy to learn the…
Chuck made it very easy to learn the material. The class was very interactive, I do wish more instructors had courses where there was more interaction and less "just" lecturing at the class.
I would recommend him as an instructor. Chuck seems to really enjoy what he does, which makes it enjoyable as a student.
shawnte' jaynes
Jul 6, 2021
Was a very engaging
Was a very engaging, interactive and informative class with fellow Product Owners. Gave us a forum to exchange ideas and gain new tools to apply to our own business. Highly recommended.
Ubokmfon Umobong
Jun 30, 2021
Dr.Chuck has engaged the class very…
Dr.Chuck has engaged the class very well with lots of workout sessions. For me, it is a great learning in a practical way. Some role play of SM/PO/Developers has helped the students in their understanding of scrum and product ownership. I strongly recommend Dr.Chuck's classes.
Ravi Sandhu
Jun 30, 2021
Thank you, Dr. Chuck!
Thank you, Dr. Chuck! I must say I was very surprised with the quality of the training. So many good insights and concrete tools to use in the real world of Product Management and Scrum Product Ownership. Strongly Recommended!
- Inês Lourenço
Jun 23, 2021
Chuck is a champ
Chuck is a champ! I appreciate his dedication to our growth and the community!
Nicole Robbins
Jun 21, 2021
Fantastic class
Fantastic class! Dr. Chuck did an outstanding job of teaching the principles of Kanban and how they work within the Scrum framework. The activities and class discussion were great and it was a pleasure taking this class. I highly recommend Dr. Chuck and any class he teaches. You won't be disappointed!
Rob Veeck
May 4, 2021
Excellent course
Chuck was an excellent teacher and presented the materials in a way that was clear, as well as relevant. Would absolutely recommend to anyone looking to expand their knowledge of product ownership, as well as scrum and agile concepts.
Vanessa Hinson
Apr 14, 2021
Informative Class, Engaging Instructor
Chuck Suscheck was an excellent instructor for the Professional Scrum Master I class. The class was extremely informative while being totally engaging the entire time (at no point did I feel my interest waning). The information was broad enough to be relevant to all industries of the class participants, while Chuck also took the time to answer specific questions or work through unique situations in our individual workplaces. I feel much more prepared to enact Scrum at work, and I hope to take more classes in the future.
Zoe Rabinowitz
Apr 14, 2021
Good review of the material
Good review of the material. Felt a little content light for 2 full days of training, but I still learned a lot, had a lot to think about, and plan to take things I learned back to my workplace.
Michael Bacigalupo
Apr 7, 2021
Great Class
Really enjoyed 2 days in PSPO Class with Chuck. The class was filled with great examples and activities. This made the learning experience very engaging and long-lasting.
Mr Gautam
Apr 4, 2021
Fantastic Class!
Dr. Suscheck is a fantastic trainer and clearly has a lot of experience. I would highly recommend him to anyone thinking about signing up!
Maegan Gallotello
Mar 29, 2021
The class was wonderful
The class was wonderful! I learned so much!!
Beth Robb
Feb 2, 2021
Great class for Product Owners
Great class. Good opportunity to grow as a Product Owner.
Guillem Hernandez Sola
Dec 13, 2020
Excellent Course - Thank you Chuck! Passed with a 98% First Attempt
Chuck was an excellent trainer who made the class enjoyable and facilitated solid engagement across the group. Additionally, Chuck made the course material relatable to our current work experience which helped tremendously during the exam.
Would highly recommend this course (and this instructor) to anyone contemplating the PSM I certification.
Class material and exercises not only reinforce the Scrum Guide, but many of the leadership techniques discussed are easily implemented within your existing Scrum Teams with benefits/value realized quickly.
Daniel Filice
Nov 9, 2020
Amazing trainers!
The trainers are very knowledgeable, and fun. They made this virtual class very entertaining and interactive. The day just flew by! I would definitely recommend this course, and these trainers!
Valerie Drainville
Nov 3, 2020
Excellent instruction by experienced…
Excellent instruction by experienced professional. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to learn beyond the basics.
Antonio Rodriguez
Oct 9, 2020
Chuck was a great Trainer/Teacher
Chuck was a great Trainer/Teacher he was very engaging and easy to understand and always made sure answer questions and verify understanding.
Steven Johnson
Sep 5, 2020
SM1 Training Course
Chuck is great, thoughtful, and comprehensive!
The materials are presented in a logic manner and are easy to digest.
Online classes were fun with a lot of activities that helped reduce the 'online' feel.
Great job all around and a great delivery method, online. Loving the online courses.
Keep it up!
MMurphy
Jul 27, 2020
Great Class
The class was an eye opener when it comes to realizing the actually job of a Scrum Master. I also realized where I lack the most on for the Scrum role, Need to improve my coaching method, giving directions for a solution rather than saying a solution.
Carlos M
May 13, 2020
Chuck is very knowledgeable and an…
Chuck is very knowledgeable and an excellent instructor!
Gina Sanchez
May 10, 2020
The training was very interactive and…
The training was very interactive and allowed the attendees to learn from other's experiences. Trainer mastered the content and managed well the time and everyone's participation.
Regilo de Souza
Feb 28, 2020
Professional Scrum Master
Mr. Suscheck is an excellent teacher and the information provided was clear and well prepared. I would highly recommend this class to anyone interested in Scrum.
Eric Hernandez
Feb 27, 2020
Class was interesting
Class was interesting. Enjoyed the activities
Stephanie Kunkle
Feb 27, 2020
Excellent refresher on agile scrum…
Excellent refresher on agile scrum framework and lots of new information! Highly recommend!
MT
Dec 20, 2019
Great for the organization
Excellent in presenting the personal skills needed at this level of Scrum Master.
Jeffrey Lanham
Nov 4, 2019
Enlightening class
Enlightening class. Good instruction. Very engaging.
Greg Brignola
Nov 4, 2019
It was a very interactive and…
It was a very interactive and interesting class.
James Hogsett
Sep 30, 2019
Great Class Dr. Chuck!
Dr. Chuck made the training understandable, interesting and fun. The teaching methodology kept the class interactive and ensured that the concepts were internalized.
Jennifer Lyle
Sep 23, 2019
Positive feedback
The class was very informative and trainer was well versed. thank you
Rashmi Jawa
Aug 13, 2019
Class review
Material covered was great and professor really knew his stuff. I do think that if the class was stretched out over at least 3 days we could have gotten more in depth of the subject.
Kathryn Weathington
Aug 8, 2019
chuck has a great pace and listens to…
chuck has a great pace and listens to the participants!
Palumbi1
Jul 17, 2019
This class was excellent
This class was excellent! The instructor was engaging and kept the material moving, but not too fast that people couldn't follow. The materials were extremely helpful as were the in-class team projects. I had an opportunity to work with some co-workers I wouldn't normally work closely with and it was a good learning opportunity. Overall, I couldn't be happier with this course!
Kathleen
Jul 17, 2019
This class was very insightful.
This class was very insightful.
Neil Alleyne
Jun 20, 2019
Good for techies
The course was insightful for someone like me coming more from a technical background.
Joseph Mikolajczyk
May 8, 2019
It was a very eye opening experience
It was a very eye opening experience. Super informative and definitely a more flexible way to run a project compared to a traditional PMP.
Cesar Roman Jr
Apr 25, 2019
PSPO review
Great overview of the PO role and responsibilities. Luckily I had already had my PSM certification completed as it helped me understand the concepts that were being reviewed. in the PO class. Dr. Chuck did a great job!
Robert Healy
Mar 25, 2019
Content and instruction were great
Content and instruction were great. Learned a lot.
Robert Emrich
Mar 8, 2019
Great class
Great class. Lots of practical and thoughtful exercises that helped reinforce the lessons.
Holly
Feb 4, 2019
Enjoyed the content and presentation
Enjoyed the content and presentation, helpful instruction.
John Lally
Jan 18, 2019
The Instructor was GREAT
The Instructor was GREAT! Chuck really helped me figure out some of the issues our team is facing with PB refinement and Velocity!
Kenna Lentz
Chuck's Certifications
Chuck's Bio
Background:
I am currently one of two stewards of the Professional Scrum Product Owner course and one of 7 PSTs in the world certified to teach the entirety of Scrum.org’s course catalog.
I have over 30 years of experience in education and software. I have has taught nearly 4,000 students in Professional Scrum classes and hundreds of students in noncertified classes ranging from highly technical programming classes to executive classes on process engineering.
Not only do I teach but I consult with a variety of large organizations. I focus on helping organizations realize the benefits of agile principles and practices through better business and IT alignment.
In academics, I've earned a Doctorate of Computer Science from Colorado Technical University, an MS in Computer Information Science from Cleveland State University, and a BS in Computer Science from Edinboro University. I've been a full-time faculty member at Colorado State University and currently serves as adjunct faculty at Colorado Christian University.
Teaching philosophy:
My classes focus on transforming the way you think about work over learning the mechanics of Scrum. If you don’t understand the basis for Scrum and you just follow the mechanics, you’ll be disappointed when you go to apply Scrum.
I don’t guarantee everyone will pass the Scrum.org assessment, and with good reason. The test is difficult and should be seen as a significant achievement. I don't run a certification mill and as such, I teach a deep understanding of the reasons behind Scrum rather than how to pass a test.
I don’t play games in classes: no Legos, marshmallows towers, paper airplanes, or pickles. I like to have fun in my class, but we are all professionals so I use difficult, professional exercises that reflect real-world situations. I believe my students are intelligent peers who bring their own worthy, creative ideas to the class and I respect their thoughts.
Languages
- English
Courses taught by Chuck
See What My Students Say
Oct 18, 2021
Excellent Class
Excellent Class! Chuck did a great job of going through the Product Owner essentials.
Scott Francisco
Oct 1, 2021
Dr Chuck's has an impeccable teaching style and expert knowledge on subject matter
Dr Chuck's teaching style and knowledge on the subject is outstanding. The class worked together in groups on several real-life examples which we could relate to and have experienced in our professional career. Dr. Chuck also utilized class's combined expertise and facilitated the class to work on problems and think outside the box. The study material is to the point and easy to follow. I highly recommend Scrum.org's Scrum Guide and Dr. Chuck's training classroom. It was worth it
Preeti Yadav
Sep 17, 2021
Would recommend Chuck's courses to my colleagues
I would highly recommend choosing one of Chuck's courses! His presentation is clear and concise, and he allows room for candid discussion about the content (pros and cons) and time for engagement with other students. I will definitely be taking additional courses with him in the future when I can.
Aaron Kasdan
Aug 21, 2021
We had a small class and Chuck did a…
We had a small class and Chuck did a great job keeping engagement high and facilitating conversations among the participants to give real world scenarios as they applied to the course material.
Eric Arling
Aug 6, 2021
Both the material and the course were…
Both the material and the course were of great benefit. You can read through the course fairly easily, but the instructor was able to help make the material interesting by drawing on his extensive experience in Scrum and various other methodologies. I highly recommend this course.
Braden Pintar
Jul 13, 2021
Great class
Great class! The content was usefull, the instructor was very well prepared and proficient in the art of teaching. I am very satisfied with the class.
EDUARDO DULANTO
Jul 12, 2021
The teaching style made the class…
The teaching style made the class engaging and material easy to apply to my work setting. Passed the exam on the first try!
Chris Miller
Jul 9, 2021
Chuck made it very easy to learn the…
Chuck made it very easy to learn the material. The class was very interactive, I do wish more instructors had courses where there was more interaction and less "just" lecturing at the class.
I would recommend him as an instructor. Chuck seems to really enjoy what he does, which makes it enjoyable as a student.
shawnte' jaynes
Jul 6, 2021
Was a very engaging
Was a very engaging, interactive and informative class with fellow Product Owners. Gave us a forum to exchange ideas and gain new tools to apply to our own business. Highly recommended.
Ubokmfon Umobong
Jun 30, 2021
Dr.Chuck has engaged the class very…
Dr.Chuck has engaged the class very well with lots of workout sessions. For me, it is a great learning in a practical way. Some role play of SM/PO/Developers has helped the students in their understanding of scrum and product ownership. I strongly recommend Dr.Chuck's classes.
Ravi Sandhu
Jun 30, 2021
Thank you, Dr. Chuck!
Thank you, Dr. Chuck! I must say I was very surprised with the quality of the training. So many good insights and concrete tools to use in the real world of Product Management and Scrum Product Ownership. Strongly Recommended!
- Inês Lourenço
Jun 23, 2021
Chuck is a champ
Chuck is a champ! I appreciate his dedication to our growth and the community!
Nicole Robbins
Jun 21, 2021
Fantastic class
Fantastic class! Dr. Chuck did an outstanding job of teaching the principles of Kanban and how they work within the Scrum framework. The activities and class discussion were great and it was a pleasure taking this class. I highly recommend Dr. Chuck and any class he teaches. You won't be disappointed!
Rob Veeck
May 4, 2021
Excellent course
Chuck was an excellent teacher and presented the materials in a way that was clear, as well as relevant. Would absolutely recommend to anyone looking to expand their knowledge of product ownership, as well as scrum and agile concepts.
Vanessa Hinson
Apr 14, 2021
Informative Class, Engaging Instructor
Chuck Suscheck was an excellent instructor for the Professional Scrum Master I class. The class was extremely informative while being totally engaging the entire time (at no point did I feel my interest waning). The information was broad enough to be relevant to all industries of the class participants, while Chuck also took the time to answer specific questions or work through unique situations in our individual workplaces. I feel much more prepared to enact Scrum at work, and I hope to take more classes in the future.
Zoe Rabinowitz
Apr 14, 2021
Good review of the material
Good review of the material. Felt a little content light for 2 full days of training, but I still learned a lot, had a lot to think about, and plan to take things I learned back to my workplace.
Michael Bacigalupo
Apr 7, 2021
Great Class
Really enjoyed 2 days in PSPO Class with Chuck. The class was filled with great examples and activities. This made the learning experience very engaging and long-lasting.
Mr Gautam
Apr 4, 2021
Fantastic Class!
Dr. Suscheck is a fantastic trainer and clearly has a lot of experience. I would highly recommend him to anyone thinking about signing up!
Maegan Gallotello
Mar 29, 2021
The class was wonderful
The class was wonderful! I learned so much!!
Beth Robb
Feb 2, 2021
Great class for Product Owners
Great class. Good opportunity to grow as a Product Owner.
Guillem Hernandez Sola
Dec 13, 2020
Excellent Course - Thank you Chuck! Passed with a 98% First Attempt
Chuck was an excellent trainer who made the class enjoyable and facilitated solid engagement across the group. Additionally, Chuck made the course material relatable to our current work experience which helped tremendously during the exam.
Would highly recommend this course (and this instructor) to anyone contemplating the PSM I certification.
Class material and exercises not only reinforce the Scrum Guide, but many of the leadership techniques discussed are easily implemented within your existing Scrum Teams with benefits/value realized quickly.
Daniel Filice
Nov 9, 2020
Amazing trainers!
The trainers are very knowledgeable, and fun. They made this virtual class very entertaining and interactive. The day just flew by! I would definitely recommend this course, and these trainers!
Valerie Drainville
Nov 3, 2020
Excellent instruction by experienced…
Excellent instruction by experienced professional. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to learn beyond the basics.
Antonio Rodriguez
Oct 9, 2020
Chuck was a great Trainer/Teacher
Chuck was a great Trainer/Teacher he was very engaging and easy to understand and always made sure answer questions and verify understanding.
Steven Johnson
Sep 5, 2020
SM1 Training Course
Chuck is great, thoughtful, and comprehensive!
The materials are presented in a logic manner and are easy to digest.
Online classes were fun with a lot of activities that helped reduce the 'online' feel.
Great job all around and a great delivery method, online. Loving the online courses.
Keep it up!
MMurphy
Jul 27, 2020
Great Class
The class was an eye opener when it comes to realizing the actually job of a Scrum Master. I also realized where I lack the most on for the Scrum role, Need to improve my coaching method, giving directions for a solution rather than saying a solution.
Carlos M
May 13, 2020
Chuck is very knowledgeable and an…
Chuck is very knowledgeable and an excellent instructor!
Gina Sanchez
May 10, 2020
The training was very interactive and…
The training was very interactive and allowed the attendees to learn from other's experiences. Trainer mastered the content and managed well the time and everyone's participation.
Regilo de Souza
Feb 28, 2020
Professional Scrum Master
Mr. Suscheck is an excellent teacher and the information provided was clear and well prepared. I would highly recommend this class to anyone interested in Scrum.
Eric Hernandez
Feb 27, 2020
Class was interesting
Class was interesting. Enjoyed the activities
Stephanie Kunkle
Feb 27, 2020
Excellent refresher on agile scrum…
Excellent refresher on agile scrum framework and lots of new information! Highly recommend!
MT
Dec 20, 2019
Great for the organization
Excellent in presenting the personal skills needed at this level of Scrum Master.
Jeffrey Lanham
Nov 4, 2019
Enlightening class
Enlightening class. Good instruction. Very engaging.
Greg Brignola
Nov 4, 2019
It was a very interactive and…
It was a very interactive and interesting class.
James Hogsett
Sep 30, 2019
Great Class Dr. Chuck!
Dr. Chuck made the training understandable, interesting and fun. The teaching methodology kept the class interactive and ensured that the concepts were internalized.
Jennifer Lyle
Sep 23, 2019
Positive feedback
The class was very informative and trainer was well versed. thank you
Rashmi Jawa
Aug 13, 2019
Class review
Material covered was great and professor really knew his stuff. I do think that if the class was stretched out over at least 3 days we could have gotten more in depth of the subject.
Kathryn Weathington
Aug 8, 2019
chuck has a great pace and listens to…
chuck has a great pace and listens to the participants!
Palumbi1
Jul 17, 2019
This class was excellent
This class was excellent! The instructor was engaging and kept the material moving, but not too fast that people couldn't follow. The materials were extremely helpful as were the in-class team projects. I had an opportunity to work with some co-workers I wouldn't normally work closely with and it was a good learning opportunity. Overall, I couldn't be happier with this course!
Kathleen
Jul 17, 2019
This class was very insightful.
This class was very insightful.
Neil Alleyne
Jun 20, 2019
Good for techies
The course was insightful for someone like me coming more from a technical background.
Joseph Mikolajczyk
May 8, 2019
It was a very eye opening experience
It was a very eye opening experience. Super informative and definitely a more flexible way to run a project compared to a traditional PMP.
Cesar Roman Jr
Apr 25, 2019
PSPO review
Great overview of the PO role and responsibilities. Luckily I had already had my PSM certification completed as it helped me understand the concepts that were being reviewed. in the PO class. Dr. Chuck did a great job!
Robert Healy
Mar 25, 2019
Content and instruction were great
Content and instruction were great. Learned a lot.
Robert Emrich
Mar 8, 2019
Great class
Great class. Lots of practical and thoughtful exercises that helped reinforce the lessons.
Holly
Feb 4, 2019
Enjoyed the content and presentation
Enjoyed the content and presentation, helpful instruction.
John Lally
Jan 18, 2019
The Instructor was GREAT
The Instructor was GREAT! Chuck really helped me figure out some of the issues our team is facing with PB refinement and Velocity!
Kenna Lentz
Upcoming Classes by Chuck
See all upcoming classes-
Professional Scrum Product OwnerDetails Register
Live VirtualNov 17-18, 2021
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
America/New_York
English -
Professional Scrum with KanbanDetails Register
Live VirtualDec 6-7, 2021
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
America/New_York
English -
Professional Scrum Product OwnerDetails Register
Live VirtualDec 13-14, 2021
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
America/New_York
English -
Professional Scrum Product OwnerDetails Register
Live VirtualJan 12-13, 2022
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
America/New_York
English -
Professional Scrum Product OwnerDetails Register
Live VirtualJan 31-Feb 1, 2022
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
America/New_York
English
Classes Attended by Chuck
Latest Blogs by Chuck
See all blogs
Chuck Suscheck
To meet schedules, deliver valuable products, and exceed your stakeholder’s expectations, you need the ability to flex scope and offer an actual minimum marketable product. You need to know how to break down your work to be forced by technology or business processes to deliver anything more than the minimum.
Jun 3, 2021
Read blog
Chuck Suscheck
If you’ve used agile, you’ve heard of creating the minimum viable product (MVP). MVP has been thrown around so much and for so long that the term’s original power is lost. The original intent is that if you make an MVP, you are making something valuable that your customers can use, albeit without many bells and whistles. Unfortunately, the phrases “minimum viable product” or “minimum valuable product” is open to interpretation, especially when the phrases’ intent isn’t clear.
It’s challenging to know when you have the right product increment to deliver to a customer. MVP is interpreted as something whole, usable, and valuable to the customer, emphasizing whole. “Minimum” becomes close to “maximum.” The MVP becomes a point of contention – leaders press to have viable mean more and more functionality, developers use minimum to lessen scope. In many cases, the minimum viable product becomes the first and only release, while any subsequent releases become minor enhancements, or worst yet, patches. The MVP isn’t put into the customers’ hands until many sprints have passed, so very little customer feedback is available as the product evolves.
Agile is based on an empirical approach: uncovering knowledge that may not be discoverable or knowable without trying small experiments. It’s a tried-and-true method, applied to all sorts of science, innovative work, and throughout the business world. Agilists use the empirical strategy of plan-do-inspect-adapt. We plan out a small work effort as a hypothesis, prob the validity of the hypothesis by developing an increment of the product, and then inspect our experiment’s results in order to extend or adjust the original hypothesis.
How can you get the most valuable results from an experiment? Test the hypothesis (in this case, product increment) in an environment close to the actual situation. Test the developed product increment with your customers who will use the product and review how it is adopted and used. The feedback from those closest and most knowledgeable about the product will produce the best test of your hypothesis.
The experiment should be small enough not to cause catastrophic failure and small enough not to introduce many change points. The experiment should be viable in that the customer will encounter and hopefully use the changes. Each deployment should have a way to analyze the experiment’s effect (built-in analytics, customer feedback mechanism, direct observations, and more). Lastly, take the results of the experiment into account going forward.
I propose replacing “minimum viable product” with “minimal inspectable increment.” The change may seem small, but it clarifies the scope, intent, and article. Minimum means the smallest amount or quantity required in absolute terms, while minimal refers to being the smallest amount or degree in non-absolute terms. Minimal give you more flexibility to produce something that is not the complete product. “Inspectable” points to the purpose of the product – something that can help guide you to determine if you are building the right thing. The result of a sprint is an increment or product. Replacing “product” with “increment” infers that product development will continue.
These changes may seem academic, but words matter, clarity is essential. I’ve seen many agile shops that continue to skirt the intent of agile either through ignorance or to maintain a sense of predictability. Agile is about inspecting and adapting, and you can get the best results if you adopt a more experimental approach. Thanks for reading. I hope this helped.
Dec 27, 2020
Read blog
Chuck Suscheck
You certainly know that COVID-19 has caused a great deal of loss. We’ve lost lives and have had a tremendous shift in our daily behavior.
Dec 26, 2020
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Chuck Suscheck
A few years ago, I became acquainted with a lady running a charity for a child who was having medical bills pile up. She was holding a charity bazaar to raise money for the child's family.
Jun 28, 2020
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Chuck Suscheck
Can anyone be a Product Owner (PO)? What’s the best position in the company to fill that role? With Scrum you have one and only one Product Owner for a given product...
Dec 6, 2019
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Chuck Suscheck
User stories are business needs, not requirements in the traditional sense. They are oriented toward the user and a business need. The big difference between a user story and other types of requirements is that a story describes a business need, not the system’s functionality.
Oct 25, 2019
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Chuck Suscheck
Do you ever influence or coach people? How? Do you use a gut feel approach or do you have coaching patterns that you use? I have several coaching patterns that I step through when trying to influence people. I also have a strategy for using these patterns. Let me share with you with an example of stepping through some patterns.
By default, my go to pattern is based on The Socratic Method: I ask a lot of questions and try to stimulate critical thinking. Hopefully these questions help lead my client to an answer that works far better than anything I would have come up with.
Imagine you have a kid who hasn’t showered in a long time. You ask him “wouldn’t it be nice if you smelled better? Don’t you think you have more friends if you weren’t so grungy? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you didn’t get teased all day for looking so dirty?” Hopefully this leads your kid to making the decision that a shower is a good idea. I tried this with my clients once and I kept asking questions. She eventually said, “Chuck, all you ever do is ask questions. I want you to coach me.”
So I tried a different pattern: The dictatorial pattern. You literally dictate a solution. Imagine again that you kid still hasn’t showered. You say, “every day I want to see the towel wet and your hair wet to prove that you’re taking a shower”. What does your kid do? Wet the towel and his head of course. That’s eventually what happened at my client’s shop. The client said, “Chuck you are so bossy. I just want you to coach me”.
Time for another pattern: The mirroring pattern. Imagine now that your kid is really smelling ripe. You take a shower and then walk around saying, “Ooo I’m so clean. I smell like a rose. I look bright and shiny. It feels so nice to be clean.” Hopefully your kid gets the idea and thinks “Boy I want some of that cleanliness too”. I tried this with my client, writing stories and delving out requirements and then trumpeting about how proud I was of them. After a time the client said “Chuck all you ever do is work. I want you to coach me”.
It was time for another pattern: Swarming. Imagine you tell all of your kid’s friends to say he’s dirty as a rag, he smells like an old shoe, he should shower more frequently. Hopefully, after hearing the same message from his friends, he gets the idea that it’s time take a shower. I tried this with my client telling all of my consulting colleagues “Why don’t you tell her this? Can you tell her that?” Eventually she began to listen to one of the consultants; the UI guy. I would tell him what works well, he’d tell her, and she would listen. Problem solved! But I lost influence and power. She started to listen to the UI fellow and not to what I had to say even though the UI guy was saying roughly what I had been saying. I was now only indirectly effective in my role.
Finally I moved on to another pattern: The voice from afar pattern. We got a fellow from California who looked nice, wore great cologne, wore an expensive suit, and charged twice as much per hour as I did. My client looked at him and said “Oooo, he’s impressive and expensive so I better listen to him.” and she did. This was a win-win-win result. She was happy since she had somebody that was directly helping her. The consulting company was happy because they were charging a higher rate. I was happy because I was able to work myself onto another client. It’s like your kid being told by Taylor Swift that he should take a shower. He’ll be in that shower in a jiffy!
The point: don’t try to influence people just from a gut feel - that’s tough and it takes a lot of trial and error experience. Each situation has a pattern or approach that is appropriate for what you and your client are trying to achieve. Learn them and how they can be applied.
There are references for patterns on coaching which can help you create a concrete strategy of influencing people. Some great references for patterns are:
“Fearless change” by Linda Rising and Mary Lunn Manns
“Agile Coaching” by Rachel Davies and Liz Sedley
“Coaching Agile Teams” by Lyssa Adkins.
You can also look into the psychology of influence in:
“Drive” by Daniel Pink
“Switch” by Heath and Heath
“Influence” by Robert Cialdini.
I hope this approach has given you something to think about. What is your go to pattern? Please add it to the comments at the end of this post. Meanwhile, I’ll be off trying another pattern.
Jan 2, 2018
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Chuck Suscheck
Check out this job advertisement:
At Acme drainage system, we are building on our success by finding only the finest people and helping them achieve their full potential. The ideal candidate will be inspired to learn and grow, not to settle for good enough but demand excellence both of themselves and others. This is a fast paced position that requires multi-tasking, so the candidate must be a self-starter and critical thinker who takes pride in their work. We owe it to our employees to hire only the best and the brightest, the rock stars in our industry.
Do you want to work at Acme drainage? It sounds awesome! Do all of these characteristics reflect your work ethic? Of course! This advertisement really appeals to the ego of the job seeker, doesn't it? But is this ad for real?
All companies can’t possibly hire the best and brightest. It’s a statistical impossibility. According to a recent Gallup poll, roughly 30% of the American workforce is engaged. The other 70% are either the disengaged, who approach their work as just a job, or actively disengaged, who have enough of a moral deficit to pull everyone else down. A lot of places are hiring or creating workers that are disengaged. Imagine the impact if that rock star who is known and respected in the industry becomes actively disengaged while at your company. Internal moral can be crushed as well as your reputation in the industry!
The question is, does Acme drainage really the structure and drive to support the best and the brightest? Let’s analyze the job description.
The rock stars are “inspired to learn and grow”. Does your company have the long-term support to keep these rock stars engaged five or more years down the road or do you need, the kind of people who aren’t discouraged when asked to modify the pricing report for the hundredth time this year? A rock star’s drive to “not to settle for good enough” may lead to a hasty resignation. Remember, he or she “must be a self-starter and critical thinker who takes pride in their work”. If the real corporate fit is not right, this ‘A player’ should have no problem finding work at the many other companies who claim to only hire the best and brightest.
Is your company willing to accept someone who “demands excellence both of themselves and others”? Will this trait be seen as arrogance or rudeness when the rock star tells people that they aren’t doing a very good job?
Is “fast paced position that requires multi-tasking” a code phrase for a high pressured chaotic environment? Will Acme drainage simply expect the person to do a lot of work without much direction? The American Psychological Association proves that multi tasking is actually detrimental to productivity so do you really want a multi tasker?
Will this rock star be as proud to say “I work at Acme Drainage” as they would be to say “I work at Amazon, Microsoft, Google or Facebook”? In addition, are you willing to pay well above market rate to get these kind of ‘A players’?
Rock stars aren’t all about productivity and work throughput. They come with baggage, needs, and negative consequences. Maybe you owe it to your employees to hire competent people who fit your culture; people who can get along. Advertising that you “hire only the best and the brightest” may actually discourage people with the right cultural fit from applying.
It’s OK to hire the ‘B players’. Take a good long look in the mirror and think about what you really need before you recruit people.
Jul 22, 2017
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Chuck Suscheck
Ah, the Daily Scrum, so often misused as an instrument of status (see https://youtu.be/i7_RPceEIYE for a discussion). Often the way the Daily Scrum is conducted lends itself to a report of status. The team answers 3 questions in a round robin fashion. It often sounds like this:
What did you do yesterday?
I went to meet with Joe and had to fill out an HR form. I also wrote 13 emails and filled out my timesheet. Oh, yeah, I also wrote a little code.
What will you do today?
Well, I’m going over to the other building to talk to the stakeholders about next month’s sprint. I’m also going to three meetings about the user interface. On top of that I’m going to Yorka’s Greek for a gyro with Felice.
Are there any blockers?
No blockers.
Not a fruitful exchange, is it?
The heart of the Daily Scrum is to use it as a micro planning and coordination session for the next 24 hours, not so everyone can share their status. Status can be gleaned from a simple task board, a burndown, a burnup, or other information radiators.
Here’s some ways to promote focus on the sprint goal and coordination during the Daily Scrum:
Recast the questions to focus on a consumer/producer conversation like so:
What did you complete yesterday that we can consume?
What will you complete today that we need to consume or coordinate?
Is there anything out of your control that will prevent you from reaching your objective for the day?
Recast the questions to focus on the sprint goal like so:
What did you do yesterday to contribute to the sprint goal?
What will you do today to contribute to the sprint goal?
Is there anything out of your control that will prevent you from contributing to the sprint goal?
Abandon the questions and focus on 3 questions and focus explicitly on coordinating like so:
In order to make progress toward the sprint goal, what do we need to coordinate today (e.g. technology, people, process)? Make sure this question says “what do we need” as opposed to “do we need”. The former infers something needs to be coordinated.
Focus on the tasks and PBIs that are in progress. Rather than a round robin by person, the Daily Scrum becomes round robin by PBI:
For PBI xyz, do we need to coordinate anything for today’s progress?
One more thing. The it’s the Daily Scrum, not the standup. You don’t have to stand up.
As you can imagine, there are a lot of other ways to keep the Daily Scrum focused appropriately. Try your own experiments and inspect and adapt. Just keep the heart of the Daily Scrum in mind.
Jun 25, 2017
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