Distributed Teams

Google jam board for quick risk strategizing for Dreaming Donkeys Motels cancellation feature

Quick risk strategizing

People often ask me about good ways to devise a test strategy for a new epic or feature. Like many practitioners, I find a risk-based approach works well. I’m a big fan of Beren Van Daele’s risk storming with TestSphere cards. I had the good fortune during 2020 to participate in risk storming sessions facilitated […]

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Ways to improve listening skills

Retrospectives for large teams with many sub-teams

My team has 40+ members, distributed into seven or so “pods” and across several locations. It’s a challenge to communicate information among the multiple pods. In addition, we often face obstacles that cross over multiple pods. We usually have a “cross-pod retrospective” once a month. It’s typically in the “Happy/Puzzler/Sad” format. We collect items in […]

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What I Learned Pairing on a Workshop

I pair on all my conference sessions. It’s more fun, participants get a better learning opportunity, and if my pairs are less experienced at presenting, they get to practice their skills. Big bonus: I learn a lot too! I’ve paired with quite a few awesome people. Janet Gregory and I have, of course, been pairing […]

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