Comments for Pentablog: the European offshore, nearshore and right costing blog http://blog.pentalog.biz Pentablog: the European offshore, nearshore and right costing blog Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:01:13 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Scrum requires a different mindset by Daniel Taivan http://blog.pentalog.biz/scrum/scrum-offshore-different-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-25935 Daniel Taivan Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:01:13 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=2682#comment-25935 Interesting article and the title says it all... After working in agile for about 3 years, I agree with the fact that the 1st thing that must be changed is not the process, but ourselves(our mindset). From my point of view the 4 agile principles from http://agilemanifesto.org/ can be resumed by qualities that if we developed them is more easy to understand& work& value agile world: flexibility, focus, priorities, value added... And I believe that if we really stick to this 4 basic principles, at the end of the day we will be fulfilled in our work& sure that we really helped the client& did the right and not the written thing...going the extra mile (and not to be read extra time). Regards, Daniel Interesting article and the title says it all…

After working in agile for about 3 years, I agree with the fact that the 1st thing that must be changed is not the process, but ourselves(our mindset).
From my point of view the 4 agile principles from http://agilemanifesto.org/ can be resumed by qualities that if we developed them is more easy to understand& work& value agile world: flexibility, focus, priorities, value added…
And I believe that if we really stick to this 4 basic principles, at the end of the day we will be fulfilled in our work& sure that we really helped the client& did the right and not the written thing…going the extra mile (and not to be read extra time).

Regards,
Daniel

]]> Comment on Scrum requires a different mindset by Cornel http://blog.pentalog.biz/scrum/scrum-offshore-different-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-25934 Cornel Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:06:45 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=2682#comment-25934 @Marius, sorry for my late answer! Numbers written above are results from our experiences, from projects which passed from the traditional to agile way, mostly migrated from V-Cycle to Scrum. The performance rate is calculated based on number of features delivered in a specific amount of time =>costs per feature including defects solving=>“Scrum is often seen as a cost saving measure for the companies”. When does Scrum apply? it is a tricky question. Scrum it is not the only agile framework and none of these process tools are complete or perfect. So when we compare tools we should “compare for understanding, not for judgment”. When I’m comparing, I’m keeping in mind two different aspects: 1.Philosophy and principals of the method so that I could categorize them as a.traditional (sequential) : V-Cycle, Waterfall,… or b.agile : XP, Scrum,… Starting from their focus: process, people, tools...? What values: commitment to business value, to respect a planning..? What roles? How we continually improve the process and ensure a sustainable pace? How do we treat information?... 2.Prescriptive VS Adaptive, depending on the number of rules (constraints) that the framework/model imposes (http://www.crisp.se/futureofagile/slides/henrikkniberg at page 8) My answer is becoming quite big so I think it would be better to write another article on this subject but from my opinion the main actor who’ll make a difference is the client. Here you can find a presentation where we gathered the most frequently asked questions during their visits: http://www.slideshare.net/PentalogHighTech/pentalog-scrum-vscyclev. Hope I’ve answered your questions! @Marius, sorry for my late answer!

Numbers written above are results from our experiences, from projects which passed from the traditional to agile way, mostly migrated from V-Cycle to Scrum. The performance rate is calculated based on number of features delivered in a specific amount of time =>costs per feature including defects solving=>“Scrum is often seen as a cost saving measure for the companies”.

When does Scrum apply? it is a tricky question. Scrum it is not the only agile framework and none of these process tools are complete or perfect. So when we compare tools we should “compare for understanding, not for judgment”. When I’m comparing, I’m keeping in mind two different aspects:
1.Philosophy and principals of the method so that I could categorize them as
a.traditional (sequential) : V-Cycle, Waterfall,…
or
b.agile : XP, Scrum,…
Starting from their focus: process, people, tools…? What values: commitment to business value, to respect a planning..? What roles? How we continually improve the process and ensure a sustainable pace? How do we treat information?…
2.Prescriptive VS Adaptive, depending on the number of rules (constraints) that the framework/model imposes (http://www.crisp.se/futureofagile/slides/henrikkniberg at page 8) My answer is becoming quite big so I think it would be better to write another article on this subject but from my opinion the main actor who’ll make a difference is the client. Here you can find a presentation where we gathered the most frequently asked questions during their visits: http://www.slideshare.net/PentalogHighTech/pentalog-scrum-vscyclev.
Hope I’ve answered your questions!

]]> Comment on Scrum requires a different mindset by Marius I. http://blog.pentalog.biz/scrum/scrum-offshore-different-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-25933 Marius I. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:13:10 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=2682#comment-25933 Great article, but I detect a halo effect in your analysis: "Our experience shows that in the first semester you will earn between 25%-50% in productivity if you are already aligned with an international standard like ISO 9001:2008 and after 2-3 years of continuous improvement with Scrum, the gain can raise to an astonishing 100%-200%." This analysis is based on what? On opinion of people involved in SCRUM projects after having applied this methodology? How has this "astonishing" rate of productivity rate been measured? And by whom? If it's by people involved in SCRUM-approach projects and it's a post-project analysis they do by themselves, it doesn't say anything -one could mitigate that an alternative development approach COULD have brought exactly the same results (only it wasn't tried on exactly the same project with the exact same people, was it?) Generally, there is no golden rule. And this is why I particularly like this part in your article: "Maybe they found a context where Scrum does not apply." Could you please detail what are the contexts where SCRUM is more desirable? Thank you! Great article, but I detect a halo effect in your analysis:

“Our experience shows that in the first semester you will earn between 25%-50% in productivity if you are already aligned with an international standard like ISO 9001:2008 and after 2-3 years of continuous improvement with Scrum, the gain can raise to an astonishing 100%-200%.”

This analysis is based on what? On opinion of people involved in SCRUM projects after having applied this methodology? How has this “astonishing” rate of productivity rate been measured? And by whom? If it’s by people involved in SCRUM-approach projects and it’s a post-project analysis they do by themselves, it doesn’t say anything -one could mitigate that an alternative development approach COULD have brought exactly the same results (only it wasn’t tried on exactly the same project with the exact same people, was it?)

Generally, there is no golden rule. And this is why I particularly like this part in your article: “Maybe they found a context where Scrum does not apply.” Could you please detail what are the contexts where SCRUM is more desirable?

Thank you!

]]> Comment on Scrum requires a different mindset by Ion Vasilov http://blog.pentalog.biz/scrum/scrum-offshore-different-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-25931 Ion Vasilov Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:20:54 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=2682#comment-25931 Thank you for an interesting analysis. Certainly the process will not work itself. It is very important that all the involved people (client and provider) understand and follow their roles responsibilities, the Agile/Scrum philosophy and principals. A key factor is the setting of a clear project objective and the motivation for the team. And when I saying the "team", I mean the common "project team" consisting client and provider people. Without these there is no way to succeed with Scrum. Thank you for an interesting analysis.
Certainly the process will not work itself. It is very important that all the involved people (client and provider) understand and follow their roles responsibilities, the Agile/Scrum philosophy and principals. A key factor is the setting of a clear project objective and the motivation for the team. And when I saying the “team”, I mean the common “project team” consisting client and provider people. Without these there is no way to succeed with Scrum.

]]> Comment on Scrum requires a different mindset by Arthur Peltier http://blog.pentalog.biz/scrum/scrum-offshore-different-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-25930 Arthur Peltier Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:41:07 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=2682#comment-25930 Good article ! What I retain from this article (and my short experience) are the following points : - Avoid ScrumBut! - “Working software over comprehensive documentation” is not “we no longer need documents!”. - The importance of feedback (continuous integration, frequent delivery). - Scrum is a continuous process (continuous improvement and learning cycles, retrospectives, impediments management). These are soooo true. I tried to use scrum after reading a couple articles and a book or two but it didn't work right from the beginning (I had left some ceremonials out that seemed a hassle)... Got there after a couple of months of iterations and retrospectives : once the organization/velocity looked right and the team was self organized, I looked back and understood what scrum was really about. I have been using it ever since... More surprisingly, I saw that we had actually re-implemented all the good practices that I had thought would be not adaptable to my context >> ScrumBut doesn't work ! Scrum does ! Good article !

What I retain from this article (and my short experience) are the following points :
- Avoid ScrumBut!
- “Working software over comprehensive documentation” is not “we no longer need documents!”.
- The importance of feedback (continuous integration, frequent delivery).
- Scrum is a continuous process (continuous improvement and learning cycles, retrospectives, impediments management).

These are soooo true. I tried to use scrum after reading a couple articles and a book or two but it didn’t work right from the beginning (I had left some ceremonials out that seemed a hassle)…

Got there after a couple of months of iterations and retrospectives : once the organization/velocity looked right and the team was self organized, I looked back and understood what scrum was really about. I have been using it ever since…

More surprisingly, I saw that we had actually re-implemented all the good practices that I had thought would be not adaptable to my context >> ScrumBut doesn’t work ! Scrum does !

]]> Comment on Scrum requires a different mindset by Cornel http://blog.pentalog.biz/scrum/scrum-offshore-different-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-25929 Cornel Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:14:57 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=2682#comment-25929 @Cristina, as it is difficult to create a ScrumMaster it is also difficult to identify and train the Product Owner. The role didn’t exist till recently. To quickly describe the responsibilities for the Product Owner: define the features, lifecycle and a shared vision of the product. Skills required: qualified for negotiation and product definition techniques, high level of expertise in the required business domain, capacity to take decisions and to define features just in time. The following references treat most of the common traps for a PO and cover Scrum from the basics till advances scenarios and very useful tools: Must read! Scrum Primar http://www.rallydev.com/documents/scrumprimer.pdf -Scrum: Le guide pratique de la méthode agile la plus populaire - Claude Aubry -Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum - Mike Cohn -Agile Product Management with Scrum - Roman Pichler -User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development - Mike Cohn -Scaling Lean & Agile Development - Craig Larman -Practices for Scaling Lean & Agile Development - Craig Larman You just gave me an idea for another article :P Hope this will help you developing as a PO! @Cristina, as it is difficult to create a ScrumMaster it is also difficult to identify and train the Product Owner. The role didn’t exist till recently.
To quickly describe the responsibilities for the Product Owner: define the features, lifecycle and a shared vision of the product.
Skills required: qualified for negotiation and product definition techniques, high level of expertise in the required business domain, capacity to take decisions and to define features just in time.
The following references treat most of the common traps for a PO and cover Scrum from the basics till advances scenarios and very useful tools:
Must read! Scrum Primar http://www.rallydev.com/documents/scrumprimer.pdf
-Scrum: Le guide pratique de la méthode agile la plus populaire – Claude Aubry
-Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum – Mike Cohn
-Agile Product Management with Scrum – Roman Pichler
-User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development – Mike Cohn
-Scaling Lean & Agile Development – Craig Larman
-Practices for Scaling Lean & Agile Development – Craig Larman
You just gave me an idea for another article :P
Hope this will help you developing as a PO!

]]> Comment on Scrum requires a different mindset by Cristina Stoian http://blog.pentalog.biz/scrum/scrum-offshore-different-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-25928 Cristina Stoian Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:01:39 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=2682#comment-25928 I found your article very interesting. It is almost a law of nature that individuals tend to label hard&useless the method that requires the most effort, forgetting at the same time that ultimatelly, if done properly, it brings the best results. Before reading your article it I was also getting deeper into analysing Scrum methodology, especially from the perspective of a Scrum-Product Owner. I went from the basics and then deeper into some case studies. In my research of I found out that the major hiccup for this role is the tension between authority and responsibility. The harder task for the Owner is to strike the right balance of involvement. Can you recommend some training material/books/studies that deal specifically with this? I found your article very interesting. It is almost a law of nature that individuals tend to label hard&useless the method that requires the most effort, forgetting at the same time that ultimatelly, if done properly, it brings the best results.
Before reading your article it I was also getting deeper into analysing Scrum methodology, especially from the perspective of a Scrum-Product Owner. I went from the basics and then deeper into some case studies.
In my research of I found out that the major hiccup for this role is the tension between authority and responsibility. The harder task for the Owner is to strike the right balance of involvement.
Can you recommend some training material/books/studies that deal specifically with this?

]]> Comment on Scrum requires a different mindset by Vasile Putina http://blog.pentalog.biz/scrum/scrum-offshore-different-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-25927 Vasile Putina Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:42:27 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=2682#comment-25927 I think the people who says "Scrum doesn't work" don't know exactly what Scrum mean, tryed to use an "Adapted Scrum" metodology or because of an another reason didn't manage to implement it corectly. For me a "self-organizing team" it's a dream that serve as a final target for continuous amelioration of team work. I think the people who says “Scrum doesn’t work” don’t know exactly what Scrum mean, tryed to use an “Adapted Scrum” metodology or because of an another reason didn’t manage to implement it corectly.

For me a “self-organizing team” it’s a dream that serve as a final target for continuous amelioration of team work.

]]> Comment on Jeune Afrique dedicates an article to the offshoring in Maroc by Herv de Troostembergh http://blog.pentalog.biz/morocco-tunisia-algeria/jeune-afrique-dedicates-an-article-to-the-offshoring-in-maroc/comment-page-1/#comment-25824 Herv de Troostembergh Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:39:44 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=1629#comment-25824 Dear Frederic, I do agree with most of your conclusions, however, I have not red the "Jeune Afrique" article over outsourcing in Morocco, but I wrote 2 years ago an article over ICT nearshouring between Morocco and Spain. It apares that both have a wide synergy in developing business together. Spain is now for the last 2 years the first foreign investor in Morocco and Moroccans do speak Spanish in the northern part of the country. Without any doubt, this occidental (maghreb) region has future. Dear Frederic,

I do agree with most of your conclusions, however, I have not red the “Jeune Afrique” article over outsourcing in Morocco, but I wrote 2 years ago an article over ICT nearshouring between Morocco and Spain. It apares that both have a wide synergy in developing business together. Spain is now for the last 2 years the first foreign investor in Morocco and Moroccans do speak Spanish in the northern part of the country. Without any doubt, this occidental (maghreb) region has future.

]]> Comment on Meeting with the French Ambassador in Bucharest: is there a connection between a language and corporate culture? by fred http://blog.pentalog.biz/morocco-tunisia-algeria/meeting-with-the-french-ambassador-in-bucharest-is-there-a-connection-between-a-language-and-corporate-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-25822 fred Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:53:44 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=1570#comment-25822 Hi Imad, Considering the aim of Pentablog which is to sustain a constant reflexion on O&O topics as well as the article was somehow about the added value of the french language in business, it was obvious for me it has to be extended to other countries having a cultural and linguistic advantage in the relation with France. Where are you from? Hi Imad,
Considering the aim of Pentablog which is to sustain a constant reflexion on O&O topics as well as the article was somehow about the added value of the french language in business, it was obvious for me it has to be extended to other countries having a cultural and linguistic advantage in the relation with France.
Where are you from?

]]> Comment on Meeting with the French Ambassador in Bucharest: is there a connection between a language and corporate culture? by imad http://blog.pentalog.biz/morocco-tunisia-algeria/meeting-with-the-french-ambassador-in-bucharest-is-there-a-connection-between-a-language-and-corporate-culture/comment-page-1/#comment-25820 imad Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:50:12 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=1570#comment-25820 First of all, thank you for the quality of that article showing that french is a strongue language used inside IT companies such as yours within other languages. But may i know why did yout tagged the article Morocco Tunisia Algeria? Regards First of all, thank you for the quality of that article showing that french is a strongue language used inside IT companies such as yours within other languages.
But may i know why did yout tagged the article Morocco Tunisia Algeria?
Regards

]]> Comment on From Tel Aviv to Amsterdam! by Pentablog: the European offshore, nearshore and right costing blog » Pentalog launches operations in Israel and possibly more http://blog.pentalog.biz/uncategorized/from-tel-aviv-to-amsterdam/comment-page-1/#comment-25800 Pentablog: the European offshore, nearshore and right costing blog » Pentalog launches operations in Israel and possibly more Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:08:47 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=1216#comment-25800 [...] times lately we mentionned Israel on Pentablog (From Amsterdam to Tel Aviv and Israel my entrepreneurial dream), and today we can reveal a little more about it to you… [...] [...] times lately we mentionned Israel on Pentablog (From Amsterdam to Tel Aviv and Israel my entrepreneurial dream), and today we can reveal a little more about it to you… [...]

]]> Comment on iPhone: already 10 applications on the road map… by Alexandra MONDANEL http://blog.pentalog.biz/romania-and-moldova/iphone-already-10-applications-on-the-road-map/comment-page-1/#comment-25766 Alexandra MONDANEL Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:46:50 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=1137#comment-25766 Hi Nicolas, yes, operations are to be launched very soon in HCMC as well! please, contact me or Tuan if you are interested in taking part in those operations. Hi Nicolas,
yes, operations are to be launched very soon in HCMC as well! please, contact me or Tuan if you are interested in taking part in those operations.

]]> Comment on Tomorrow: a Pentalog Lab? by People Centric - Efficient IT Recruitment - Job: Innovation & Operations Manager http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/tomorrow-a-pentalog-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-25643 People Centric - Efficient IT Recruitment - Job: Innovation & Operations Manager Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:25:10 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=912#comment-25643 [...] More about Pentalog’s business unit: http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/tomorrow-a-pentalog-lab/ [...] [...] More about Pentalog’s business unit: http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/tomorrow-a-pentalog-lab/ [...]

]]> Comment on Tomorrow: a Pentalog Lab? by Recruitment Romania-Brasov: Innovation & Operations Manager Brasov http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/tomorrow-a-pentalog-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-25639 Recruitment Romania-Brasov: Innovation & Operations Manager Brasov Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:55:53 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=912#comment-25639 [...] More about Pentalogs business unit: http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/tomorrow-a-pentalog-lab/ [...] [...] More about Pentalogs business unit: http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/tomorrow-a-pentalog-lab/ [...]

]]> Comment on Tomorrow: a Pentalog Lab? by Recrutare Innovation & Operations Manager Brasov http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/tomorrow-a-pentalog-lab/comment-page-1/#comment-25638 Recrutare Innovation & Operations Manager Brasov Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:53:49 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=912#comment-25638 [...] More about Pentalogs business unit: http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/tomorrow-a-pentalog-lab/ [...] [...] More about Pentalogs business unit: http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/tomorrow-a-pentalog-lab/ [...]

]]> Comment on iPhone: already 10 applications on the road map… by Nicolas http://blog.pentalog.biz/romania-and-moldova/iphone-already-10-applications-on-the-road-map/comment-page-1/#comment-25637 Nicolas Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:27:25 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=1137#comment-25637 That's a great road map you have here. Any plan to setup in HCMC in the pipe? That’s a great road map you have here.
Any plan to setup in HCMC in the pipe?

]]> Comment on Pentalog is looking for potential partners in India by Mujeeb http://blog.pentalog.biz/offshore/pentalog-is-looking-for-potential-partners-in-india/comment-page-1/#comment-24870 Mujeeb Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:40:37 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/offshore/pentalog-is-looking-for-potential-partners-in-india/#comment-24870 Dear, I am interested to work with you in Embedded systems in India in partnership with you. COuld you please let me know the details regarding this. Regards Mujeeb Dear,

I am interested to work with you in Embedded systems in India in partnership with you.

COuld you please let me know the details regarding this.

Regards

Mujeeb

]]> Comment on Pentalog, Russia, an SAP proposition by Pentablog: the European offshore, nearshore and right costing blog » Vodka & suit + snow boots http://blog.pentalog.biz/for-friends/pentalog-russia-an-sap-proposition/comment-page-1/#comment-24367 Pentablog: the European offshore, nearshore and right costing blog » Vodka & suit + snow boots Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:08:13 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=1060#comment-24367 [...] spoke of the language problems in his post; it’s true that the use of English is not yet systematic amongst IT engineers. But after [...] [...] spoke of the language problems in his post; it’s true that the use of English is not yet systematic amongst IT engineers. But after [...]

]]> Comment on December 1st, Romanian National Day by unu http://blog.pentalog.biz/uncategorized/december-1st-romanian-national-day/comment-page-1/#comment-22818 unu Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:27:19 +0000 http://blog.pentalog.biz/?p=811#comment-22818 Mon dernier comment, il n'existe pas. Pourquoi pas???? Fred, mon ami, c'est pas correct ;) Mon dernier comment, il n’existe pas. Pourquoi pas????
Fred, mon ami, c’est pas correct ;)

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