Define a flexible concept for the main watch.

Question

I'm working on a new contract where they seem to have gone overboard with Agile, including hiring a consultant just to make Agile easier. Something that he introduces is the concept of the “main clock”, where we will all be in the same room together. Is this really what the “main watch” means? I ask because it is very inconvenient to pick up my laptop and go to this common place for half a day; I always thought that the “main clock” means that you were available, not necessarily in the same room, for example, from 9:30 to 4.

Answer 1

Yes and no.

Base hours are the period (s) when all team members agree to work on a project (and not to deal with administrative material or other projects). For many teams, this will mean that they are in the same room, but with proper planning and the necessary infrastructure, the team can work well from different places.

Answer 2

I think that you have an extension of the "main hours" where you are. The idea of ​​being in a common place is that special meetings can arise, and also possibly be within the ears of various discussions so that you can jump in if this is where you think your opinion or knowledge will be useful, for example. why is it so encoded? or why do we have this requirement? kind of thing.

Answer 3

I would like to think that I am aware of the Agile world. This is actually not the case. With that said, I'm not sure that this is a flexible concept, but a convenient way for the team to work together. It is more like something from Peopleware.

As with any team and attempting something new, one, there will be resistance to change and two, the team must really buy a new process and working methodology. An Agile consultant should not just bark orders about what you need to do. He must also explain and convince you why this is good. If you already think that the company is “overboard”, I think something is wrong. Agile is a great way to work for many (but not all) teams and should not cause such a reaction.

Having a core clock makes sense, so there is a match for collaboration. If people work in a more open space, perhaps 4 people per large cube instead of 1 per small cube also helps to develop collaboration. At work, I can just spin up a chair, and there are 2 people who can help me or answer questions. However, trying to force something uncomfortable and uncomfortable hits the target.

I think it would be better to tear down the walls of the cab and rearrange the cubes to make evirnonment more cooperative.

Answer 4

Slightly off topic, but does not fit into the comment:

Agile extremely destroys programmers "Normal Practice". The word Agile means that you have to adapt to the changes, I recommend that you try to accept them, and not fight, because one of the adaptations is to cut out team members who cause team failures.

A consultant is practically necessary for a smooth, quick transition.

If your consultant does it right, you should be much more miserable than it seems. During these basic hours, none of you should have your own computer - you should share a group. If everything is done correctly, you should be encoded in "Bullpen" without cube walls (facilitates pairing and general communication).

But there are different levels for Agile, and it is designed to be adapted. Many programmers have a problem with pairing, so often this is not forced or just recommended.

Anyway, it looks like your consultant is pretty easy to deal with you guys. Try a cool help drink and relax, it will all be over soon.