From Theater to Flow: A Conversation with Ross Beurmann

Join Dave Prior as he sits down with Ross Beurmann, author of "From Theater to Flow: Rebuilding the System Behind Agility." In this episode, they delve into the challenges of agile transformations, the concept of "Agile Theater," and the importance of focusing on the middle management to drive meaningful change. Ross shares insights from his book and discusses the need for organizations to rethink their approach to agility.

Key Topics:

• The pitfalls of "Agile Theater" and how to avoid them 
• The role of middle management in successful transformations 
• Ross's unique approach to integrating governance and agility 
• Real-world examples and lessons learned from Ross's consulting experience

You can find the podcast here.

Investing in Business Strategy NOT IT Strategy with Ross Beurmann

Ross Beurmann, is back! This time he takes us on an exploration into how the way we fund IT projects impacts how we work and the outcome that work delivers. Drawing inspiration from his thought-provoking LinkedIn post, Ross advocates for making intentional decisions about how we fund IT projects and products,  ensuring their separation between operations IT projects and strategic IT projects. Discover how this distinction can impact the outcomes of our work, shaping priorities, staffing decisions, and resource allocation. 

You can find the podcast here.

PODCAST TEAM UP! A Couple of Coaches and DrunkenPM on Metrics

Christine Converse and Ross Beurmann, the hosts of the podcast A Couple of Coaches and I teamed up for some interviews.

I interviewed them on Agile Metrics. During the podcast, we discuss what metrics help create clarity for the team on how well they are performing and what metrics help highlight areas that could be improved. We weigh the pros and cons of standard Scrum metrics, Kanban metrics, and share the ones we each find most valuable.  

It was a great conversation and if you are looking for a deeper understanding of what metrics to focus on, there is a lot of good stuff in the podcast.

You can find that interview here.

And they interviewed me for their A Couple of Coaches podcast on what it is like to be part of the Scrum Alliance TAC and what it takes to become a Certified Scrum Trainer. You can find that interview here. I rarely get a chance to be the interviewee and it was a lot of fun. I highly recommend their podcast. They offer some great insights and listening to them banter back and forth is a lot of fun.

Knowing How to Measure Progress in Agile Transformation w/ Ross Beurmann

Ross Beurmann and I explore how to make sure you measure the right things to gain insights into how to improve your Agile Transformation. (And the impact measuring the wrong things can have on your agility to create lasting organizational change and deliver value for the company and your customer.)

The interview can be found here.

Resistance to Change with Christine Converse and Ross Beurmann

Christine Converse and Ross Beurmann are back and this time the conversation centers around the problems we face when trying to create change within a team or organization. More specifically, we talk about how you can influence others to change when you have no authority, the people you are trying to help may have no desire to be helped. Whether you are working in an agile environment, a traditional organization, or something that is careening back and forth between the two, this interview is going to give you a lot to think about.

You can find the podcast here.

The Art of Coaching with Christine Converse and Ross Beurmann

Two of my colleagues from LeadingAgile, Christine Converse and Ross Beurmann join me for a conversation on the Art of Coaching. During the interview we discuss how paired coaching strengthens their ability to foster organizational change and help companies move towards business agility. We also explore the differences between coaching executives and coaching team members, how paired coaching works, and why it has become such a powerful approach for them. Along the way, they both offer lots of tips and techniques you can employ whether you are working as an Agile Coach or serving on a team trying to help them, and your organization raise its game with Agile. 

You can find the podcast here. 

ALSO, this podcast features a brand new theme song for the podcast that was created by Chris DeMakes. If the music or Chris’s voice sounds familiar, that’s because Chris is in the band Less Than Jake. He also has a podcast of his own where he interviews songwriters and producers about the art of creating great music. The podcast is called Chris DeMakes a Podcast and it is definitely worth checking out. 

Business Planning for Agile AND Traditional Time Horizons with Ross Beurmann

 In this interview with Ross Beurmann we dig into the topic of how to handle business planning when you've got both traditional (waterfall) and Agile work happening concurrently within the organization. 

Here is the interview -> Business Planning for Agile AND Traditional Time Horizons with Ross Beurmann

You can also hear an update on how Ross's son Tom is doing with his effort to enact lasting social change within his local government. If you missed that interview, you can find that one here.

Using Outcome Based Planning at Home to Effect Social Change

In this episode of the Reluctant Agilist, you’ll hear the story of how a father helped his son use outcome-based planning to define his personal response to what happened to George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter events that followed. 

Ross Beurmann is a seasoned Agile coach (and a co-worker of mine). His son Tom just graduated from high school. When Tom learned about what happened to George Floyd, he felt a need to respond. Attending a local march was definitely an option, but Ross brought some of his coaching experience to bear in the conversation. By working together to define the results his son was looking for and exploring ways to achieve that outcome, Ross and Tom were able to define a plan of action that has impacted local officials, law enforcement, and increased local interest and awareness. This set the stage for Tom to move forward with his efforts to establish lasting local change that will have a positive impact now and into the future.

You can find the interview here.