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Free Intro To Scrum Wallpaper

By
Derek Huether
– February 19, 2011Posted in: Agile, Project Management

Around 2005, when I started using Scrum, I went looking for figures that would help me describe the process to my product owners, stakeholders, and my team.  I think that it’s always good to use a visual aid to help someone understand process or where they fit into that process.  Well, I found a free wallpaper over at Mountain Goat Software.  Since then, I’ve seen this exact wallpaper used over and over again by many people, to describe Scrum.

Scrum Intro Wallpaper - Mountain Goat Software

Well, I thought it was time for a refresh.  After I created my first prototype of a new wallpaper, I worked with Pictofigo to refine my vision of the Scrum process.  Because the process is centered around people, I wanted to make sure they were in the drawing.  Additionally, we made male and female versions.  This free 300 dpi wallpaper is available for download from Premium Pictofigo.  The first wallpaper (of figure) is 1600 x 1200.  More sizes will be posted soon, so you don’t have to mess with them.  Depending on feedback from the Scrum Community, we may refine the drawing a little.  To get the latest and greatest, go to the Pictofigo website and get it for free.

Scrum Intro Wallpaper - Pictofigo

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License, which means you can copy, distribute, and display the images including in commercial and derivative works as long as you include attribution to Pictofigo and myself. (just don’t delete our names)

Popularity: 3%

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11

Free Copy of Scrum Pocket Guide

By
Derek Huether
– January 28, 2011Posted in: Agile, Project Management
Scrum Pocket Guide

PDF Version of the book (iPod and my hand not included)

I recently read a pre-published copy of the Scrum Pocket Guide: A Quick Start Guide To Practical Agile Software Development by Peter Saddington of AgileScout.  Prior to reading it, I was told any level of ScrumMaster or Project Lead could utilize it to refine and develop their facilitation and Agile knowledge.  I confirmed that statement to be true.  It was a very easy read, full of great information.

To add to that, upon seeing the published copy, I would say the final copy is even better.

I noticed Peter is running a contest, giving away 3 free copies of his book.  Well, I would like to increase your chances of winning a free copy.

I will also give away one free PDF copy of his book.  Not sure you even want a free copy? Well, just download the Introduction to the book and example chapter on High Performance Teams [here].  I think you will want a copy.

Don’t want to wait?  You can also purchase a copy for $17 at ScrumPocketGuide.com.  Just to let you know, I am not being paid by Peter for writing this post or having this contest.

So, how do you enter my giveaway?  I’ll give you two ways of entering.  You only need to do one.

  1. Click the TWEET button above so I can see it on Twitter.
  2. Leave a comment to this post.

What’s important is I have a way to [1] know you entered and [2] have a way to contact you if you won.

I will pick (at random) the winner in 2 weeks (02/11/2011).  Why two weeks?  That ensures the post stays on my blog homepage for the duration of the contest.

I added a link to the book in the right navigation of my site. If you purchased a copy after clicking that link, I do get paid.  Otherwise, I am not being compensated by this blog post or any links within it.

Popularity: 1%

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2

TPS Report

By
Derek Huether
– January 3, 2011Posted in: Project Management, Templates

After my little diatribe titled “Project Management Theater” I had a few days to think about the less than stellar status report provided by the vendor to my customer.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized the vendor did nothing to meet the unique customer needs.  The attitude was Well, you asked for a status report. This shows status. I’m a firm believer that you need to understand who your customer is and then provide status reporting to meet their needs.  Even when using a burndown chart for a team, I usually don’t show that to a C-Level. I understand that C-Levels (CEOs, COOs, CTOs…) are looking at the business more strategically.  For that reason, I offer my 50,000 foot view of the project or program.  TPS Report Two years ago, when I arrived at this PMO, I looked at their Metrics Plan.  One of the things that was missing was a summary graph or chart for the Federal Senior Executives (SES). What you see above is one graphical indicator I provided to them.  What you do not see in the screen-grab is the associated data, which I made available on subsequent pages.

I’d like to thank Sam Palani over at Around the CHAOS for inspiring me to write this post. His post How Worthy are Your Status Reports nailed it.

Feel free to download a copy of my original (TPS Report) template Total_Project_Status_Template

Popularity: 2%

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1

Pictofigo Partnership

By
Derek Huether
– November 1, 2010Posted in: Misc

As many have seen, since August, I’ve been using freehand drawings with many of my blog posts.  They were all created by the skilled hands over at Pictofigo.

Pictofigo provides high-quality freehand drawings for agile practitioners, professionals, project managers, presenters, web designers, etc. in an easy and efficient way. Pictofigo helps communicate your message through a visual experience, rather than using huge amounts of text. Anyone can use them and it is 100% free.

So, are you looking for something for your next PowerPoint presentation?  Need something better than clip-art but your budget is limited?  Go over to Pictofigo right now and get yourself some original artwork.

Just pick and click to download.  It’s free!

Popularity: 1%

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2

Nine Destructive Behaviours

By
Derek Huether
– June 22, 2010Posted in: Project Management

Geoff Crane, in the time I’ve known him, has opened my eyes to the area of project leadership many ignore.  Geoff looks at things from a human perspective.  I know it sounds odd but many of us make objective, quantifiable calculations.  Geoff does as well but he doesn’t ignore his gut feelings.  He writes about his knowledge and experiences on his blog Papercut Edge.

Geoff recently wrote a series about destructive behaviors (behaviours for my colleagues in Canada) project leaders need to avoid; 9 of them in fact.  As I read each, I found myself nodding my head over and over again.  Yep, he nailed that one.  Yep, he nailed that one as well.

How did he do it!?  How did he describe situations that could have been taken from my biography?  Too bad I didn’t have Geoff’s book several years ago.  I could have avoided all 9 destructive behaviors.

  1. The Sack
  2. The Magpie
  3. The Deer in Headlights
  4. The Hungry Vulture
  5. The Premature Solutioner
  6. The Terrier
  7. The Wanderer
  8. The Anticipator
  9. The Reluctant Puppet

When he decided to publish the series as an ebook, I was flattered that he asked me to write the forward.  Do yourself a favor.  Read his blog.  Read his ebook.  You’ll be glad you did.

Forward from Nine Destructive Behaviors

To be successful as a project leader, you need to know destructive behaviour when you see it. And there is no better tool for this than Geoff’s ebook! The Latin saying, ‘praemonitus, praemunitus,’ loosely translates as ‘forewarned is forearmed’. “9 Destructive Behaviours Project Leaders Need to Avoid” is an essential read for any individual wishing to be a successful project leader.

Get a free copy here!

Popularity: 1%

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