The Process Trap

It is an easy trap to fall into, a project somewhere in the company has a few struggles or even outright fails and management sends in a team to “fix the process.”

After studying the failure, the team suggests a new document or checklist to add so that other teams will not have this problem in the future too.

Problem solved.

Unfortunately, this solution likely simply exacerbates the problem. The solution was yet another checklist, yet another way to remind people there is something they need to be thinking about, yet another form to fill out so the team is reminded ”do not forget this important thing:.

The Agilist understands there is another way, a better way, to help teams be successful.

First, keep the tribe together dedicated and co-located so important knowledge about the system is maintained in the group automatically over time. Keeping the tribe together eliminates the need for a lot of documents and checklists.

Second, pair everybody. Ensure key knowledge is spread across the entire tribe by pairing and eliminating specialists, so everybody has an opportunity to be exposed to core issues.

Third, if it is so important you are inclined to put it on a check list to make the team constantly review it then AUTOMATE the test for it. If you are worried you need to remember something then eliminate the worry by automating the test for it.

UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE ALL THREE OF THE ABOUT DON’T CREATE NEW CHECKLISTS!

There is a really important reason why, care to guess what it is?