Better Software - January 2009 - (Page 19) Management Chronicles Challenging teams with “so” not only forces them to justify their logic, but it also helps them to begin thinking outside the box. What might the widget conversation have looked like if we’d challenged the team to be creative in that situation? Team Member: We aren’t able to ship the widgets. Facilitator: Why? TM: Because the boxes aren’t the right size. F: So? TM: So the widgets don’t all fit in the standard-size box, and they need special packaging so they don’t get broken. F: Why? TM: Because they’re fragile, and we don’t have any support packaging designed for them yet. F: So? TM: So, what are you asking? Do you expect us to ship them without the special packaging? F: Why not? TM: Well, maybe we could if we used enough bubble wrap. We might be able to ship the widgets in multiple boxes, using extra bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts. Let me see if that will work. Using “why” and “so” seems inevitably to lead us to “why not,” and this is how teams transition to being creative and innovative. In software development, the “why not” may be aimed at technologies as well as business value. Be sure to include your product owners in these discussions so that they, too, can ask and answer the “so” and “why not” questions. In today’s highly competitive marketplace, asking “why” is only the beginning! {end} note: This article originally appeared on StickyMinds.com. STORY LINES • Remember that attitude is important when you ask so, why, and why not—so be genuinely curious and genuinely courteous. • “Why” questions enable us to discover the points of failure, while “so” questions enable us to learn more about the business value linked to the issue. sign and problem solving. This product owner is a customer-facing role and typically works in marketing. Including the product owner in the problem solving ensures that a more well-rounded solution will be developed, one that satisfies proper design considerations as well as providing a useful and valuable asset to the customer. What other questions have you tried asking in order to break others out of the assumed model? Follow the link on the StickyMinds.com homepage to join the conversation. Read your favorite magazine it hits the street—check out the digital edition online today at Better Software Has Gone Digital! straight from your desktop before www.StickyMinds.com/DigitalPreview Want to switch to the digital edition? Contact our subscription department at 1.800.450.7854 or info@BetterSoftware.com to find out how. www.StickyMinds.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 BETTER SOFTWARE 19 http://www.StickyMinds.com http://www.stickyminds.com/managementchronicles11-1 http://www.StickyMinds.com/DigitalPreview http://www.StickyMinds.com
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