Information Technology Reference
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they learned it, how to do it, and where to return to refresh themselves on it.
What I hear in gap analysis interviews is that people need a quick reference
to help them do certain activities right when they need to do them. It was
phrased by one client:
Just tell me what I need to know to do my job.
LESSON 7
By breaking up training into “scenarios,” each oriented toward a specific
role or activity, and making this training available online, students can
access and refresh themselves on specific details just when they need it.
Initially I observed this form of training in Agile organizations focused pri-
marily on tool usage. I now find it is growing in interest and use across a
broader range of organizations. It is being extended beyond just tool use to
include snippets of related principles and rationale along with “how-to” tool
examples.
CAUTION
If you start to move your training in the “Agile Scenario” direction, be aware
that focusing training just on what people need to know to do their job
should not be misconstrued to mean that they don't also need to be con-
cerned about when to involve others. Being aware of interfaces and
dependencies involving other stakeholders is part of everyone's job.
While Agile practices are practical and proven in the trenches, the practices
themselves fail to address the needs of an organization to ensure it has a staff
of personnel trained in the right skills to execute those practices. The CMMI
does not give you the training you need, but reminds us of the importance of
training. It is a reference to help guide you to the right training answers for
your organization.
8.19 How Is Management Affected by an Agile
Approach?
Many of the Agile practices we have been discussing in this chapter lead to
increased visibility of issues and risks earlier in a project. When uncertainty
is allowed to exist late into a project, we increase the chances of significant
