My approach on coaching Agile teams using Theory of Constraints and Just In Time Practice concepts.

1. Using ToC and JIT Practice
to Coach Agile Teams
Naresh Jain
naresh@industriallogic.com
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2. Example Context
Large Enterprise clients [450 ppl + 30 teams]
Huge communication and delivery issues
Help teams adopt Agile thinking
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3. Consider this...
Bug reported Customer Signoff
0 71
Time in days
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4. After Value Stream Mapping
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5. After Value Stream Mapping
Bug reported
0
Time in days
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6. After Value Stream Mapping
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8
8
Time in days
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7. After Value Stream Mapping
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10
8 2
Time in days
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8. After Value Stream Mapping
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30
8 2 20
Time in days
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9. After Value Stream Mapping
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38
8 2 20 8
Time in days
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10. After Value Stream Mapping
Making a release
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38 69
8 2 20 8 31
Time in days
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11. After Value Stream Mapping
Customer Signoff
Making a release
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38 69 71
8 2 20 8 31 2
Time in days
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12. After Value Stream Mapping
Customer Signoff
Making a release
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38 69 71
8 2 20 8 31 2
Time in days
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13. Identify Constraints/
bottleneck
Subordinate everything
else and Elevate the Set Goals
Constraints/bottleneck
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14. Agenda
Some background about ToC and JIT
Technique
Open Discussion with examples from audience
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15. Theory of Constraint is based on the
premise that...
“Every real system, such as a business, must have within it at least one
constraint. If this were not the case then the system could produce
unlimited amounts of whatever it was striving for, profit in the case of a
business.……………….”
Dr Eli Goldratt
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16. “Theory of Constraints”
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17. “Theory of Constraints”
Global optimization does not emerge from local
optima
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18. “Theory of Constraints”
Global optimization does not emerge from local
optima
Managing by cost (optimizing local performance) is usually at odds with
managing by throughput (exploiting constraints)
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19. Significance of bottlenecks
Maximum speed of the process is the speed of the slowest
operation
Any improvements will be wasted unless the bottleneck is
relieved
Bottlenecks must be identified and improved if the process is
to be improved
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20. Significance of bottlenecks
Maximum speed of the process is the speed of the slowest
operation
Any improvements will be wasted unless the bottleneck is
relieved
Bottlenecks must be identified and improved if the process is
to be improved
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21. Assume current constraints cannot
be changed in the short-run
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22. Assume current constraints cannot
be changed in the short-run
What should be produced now, with current resources, to maximize profits?
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23. How to apply ToC?
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24. How to apply ToC?
Step 1: Identify the system's constraint(s).
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25. How to apply ToC?
Step 1: Identify the system's constraint(s).
Step 2: Decide how to exploit the system's constraint(s).
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26. How to apply ToC?
Step 1: Identify the system's constraint(s).
Step 2: Decide how to exploit the system's constraint(s).
Step 3: Subordinate everything else to the decisions of Step 2.
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27. How to apply ToC?
Step 1: Identify the system's constraint(s).
Step 2: Decide how to exploit the system's constraint(s).
Step 3: Subordinate everything else to the decisions of Step 2.
Step 4: Elevate the system's constraint(s).
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28. How to apply ToC?
Step 1: Identify the system's constraint(s).
Step 2: Decide how to exploit the system's constraint(s).
Step 3: Subordinate everything else to the decisions of Step 2.
Step 4: Elevate the system's constraint(s).
Step 5: Back to Step 1, identify next constraint.
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29. Step 1: Identify the system’s constraint(s)
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30. Step 1: Identify the system’s constraint(s)
Goal?
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31. Step 1: Identify the system’s constraint(s)
Goal?
Throughput?
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32. Step 1: Identify the system’s constraint(s)
Goal?
Throughput?
Inventory?
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33. Step 1: Identify the system’s constraint(s)
Goal?
Throughput?
Inventory?
Operating Expense?
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34. Step 2: Decide how to exploit
the system’s constraint(s)
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35. Step 3: Subordinate everything
else to the decisions of Step 2
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36. Step 4: Elevate the system’s constraint(s)
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37. Step 5: Back to Step 1, identify next
constraint.
What might happen if the constraint is elevated?
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38. ToC : 3 things can increase
profitability of a plant
Decrease Inventory
Decrease Operating Expense
Increase Throughput
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39. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?
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40. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?
Inventory
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41. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?
Inventory
Features requested but not specified
Features specified and documented but not built
Code that's written but not tested
Code that's tested but not deployed to users
Code that's deployed but not used
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42. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
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43. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Operating expenses
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44. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Operating expenses
Idle team members - Phased approach
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45. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Operating expenses
Idle team members - Phased approach
Commercial Tools
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46. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Operating expenses
Idle team members - Phased approach
Commercial Tools
Cost of change curve - rework
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47. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Operating expenses
Idle team members - Phased approach
Commercial Tools
Cost of change curve - rework
Constant thrashing of ideas
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48. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Operating expenses
Idle team members - Phased approach
Commercial Tools
Cost of change curve - rework
Constant thrashing of ideas
Technical Debt
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49. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Throughput
Large batch Size - Queuing Theory
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50. Queuing Theory
Utilization (%)
Source: Beyond Agile Software Development Becoming Lean, Mary Poppendieck, Poppendieck.llc
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51. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
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52. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Throughput
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53. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Throughput
Large batch Size - Queuing Theory
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54. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Throughput
Large batch Size - Queuing Theory
Heavyweight methodology
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55. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Throughput
Large batch Size - Queuing Theory
Heavyweight methodology
Poor choice of tools
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56. How does ToC apply to
Software projects?...
Throughput
Large batch Size - Queuing Theory
Heavyweight methodology
Poor choice of tools
Real resource shortage
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57. Using Lean principles to Identify Waste
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58. Using Lean principles to Identify Waste
Overproduction = Extra Features
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59. Using Lean principles to Identify Waste
Overproduction = Extra Features
Inventory = Requirements
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60. Using Lean principles to Identify Waste
Overproduction = Extra Features
Inventory = Requirements
Extra Processing Steps = Extra Steps
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61. Using Lean principles to Identify Waste
Overproduction = Extra Features
Inventory = Requirements
Extra Processing Steps = Extra Steps
Motion = Finding Information
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62. Using Lean principles to Identify Waste
Overproduction = Extra Features
Inventory = Requirements
Extra Processing Steps = Extra Steps
Motion = Finding Information
Defects = Defects Not Caught by Tests
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63. Using Lean principles to Identify Waste
Overproduction = Extra Features
Inventory = Requirements
Extra Processing Steps = Extra Steps
Motion = Finding Information
Defects = Defects Not Caught by Tests
Waiting = Waiting, Including Customers
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64. Using Lean principles to Identify Waste
Overproduction = Extra Features
Inventory = Requirements
Extra Processing Steps = Extra Steps
Motion = Finding Information
Defects = Defects Not Caught by Tests
Waiting = Waiting, Including Customers
Transportation = Handoffs
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65. Just In Time
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66. Just In Time
A pull system, driven by actual demand. The goal is to produce or provide one
part just-in-time for the next operation. Reduces stock inventories, but leaves
no room for schedule error. As much a managerial philosophy as it is an
inventory system.
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67. Just In Time
A pull system, driven by actual demand. The goal is to produce or provide one
part just-in-time for the next operation. Reduces stock inventories, but leaves
no room for schedule error. As much a managerial philosophy as it is an
inventory system.
Last Responsible Moment
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68. Just In Time
A pull system, driven by actual demand. The goal is to produce or provide one
part just-in-time for the next operation. Reduces stock inventories, but leaves
no room for schedule error. As much a managerial philosophy as it is an
inventory system.
Last Responsible Moment
Just-In-Time Training - Training provided to individuals or units just before the
skills or function taught will be used in a practical application. Typically used to
teach perishable or infrequently used skills
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70. Can we benefit more from
ToC, JIT and Lean?
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71. What if...
We consider software team members as the machines in our software
factories?
Can we apply ToC and benefit?
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72. Consider this...
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73. Consider this...
Bug reported
0
Time in days
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74. Consider this...
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8
8
Time in days
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75. Consider this...
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10
8 2
Time in days
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76. Consider this...
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30
8 2 20
Time in days
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27

77. Consider this...
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38
8 2 20 8
Time in days
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27

78. Consider this...
Making a release
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38 69
8 2 20 8 31
Time in days
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27

79. Consider this...
Customer Signoff
Making a release
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38 69 71
8 2 20 8 31 2
Time in days
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27

80. Consider this...
Customer Signoff
Making a release
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38 69 71
8 2 20 8 31 2
Time in days
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81. Challenges making a Release
Developers not checking in frequently
Complicated and non-standard build process
Real Build owned by Config Mgmt Team
...
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82. Fixing Release issues by
applying JIT Practice
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83. Fixing Release issues by
applying JIT Practice
Standardize build process for the whole team
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84. Fixing Release issues by
applying JIT Practice
Standardize build process for the whole team
Manual integration on developers machines before checking in
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85. Fixing Release issues by
applying JIT Practice
Standardize build process for the whole team
Manual integration on developers machines before checking in
Manual integration on an independent server machine
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86. Fixing Release issues by
applying JIT Practice
Standardize build process for the whole team
Manual integration on developers machines before checking in
Manual integration on an independent server machine
Continuous integration using CI servers like CruiseControl
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87. After optimizing biggest bottleneck...
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88. After optimizing biggest bottleneck...
Bug reported
0
Time in days
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30

89. After optimizing biggest bottleneck...
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8
8
Time in days
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90. After optimizing biggest bottleneck...
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10
8 2
Time in days
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91. After optimizing biggest bottleneck...
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30
8 2 20
Time in days
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30

92. After optimizing biggest bottleneck...
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38
8 2 20 8
Time in days
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93. After optimizing biggest bottleneck...
Making a release
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38 43
8 2 20 8 5
Time in days
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94. After optimizing biggest bottleneck...
Customer Signoff
Making a release
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38 43 45
8 2 20 8 5 2
Time in days
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30

95. After optimizing biggest bottleneck...
Customer Signoff
Making a release
Regression Testing
Fix Bug
Write failing test
Reproduce Bug
Bug reported
0 8 10 30 38 43 45
8 2 20 8 5 2
Time in days
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96. After recursively applying ToC
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97. After recursively applying ToC
Total time to fix any bug was 10 days...one two-week iteration
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98. After recursively applying ToC
Total time to fix any bug was 10 days...one two-week iteration
Find practices or techniques that help solve this problem and recurse.
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99. Summary
ToC and JIT can be applied to software team’s “business” process
Using Retrospectives and other techniques Identify biggest stinkers
[bottlenecks]
Use a JIT practice to elevate the bottleneck
Baby Steps - No Silver Bullets!
Recurse
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