Paul Rayner on "Lean Principles for Effective Metrics and Motivation"

Measure for Measure: Lean Principles for Effective Metrics and Motivation

This presentation explores the nature of motivation and the place of metrics and measurement in software development, and how lean software development principles and practices shed light on motivation and metrics and how they can be used to support deep organizational improvement. We will examine the nature of motivation in terms of the four intrinsic rewards that drive positive engagement, and also how certain approaches to measuring and managing performance lead to organizational dysfunction. We will also show how the application of lean principles such as building quality into the product, respect for people and optimizing the whole enable more effective approaches to motivation and metrics in software development.

Paul has been interested in metrics and measurement for a while now, and concerned about how a naive understanding and application of various types of instrumentation in agile projects actually works against agile values. He said as much when he participated in the Agile Denver “Metrics in Agile” panel discussion last August. However, when applied carefully and thoughtfully, Paul think metrics and measurement have a great deal of value. These are some of the thoughts will be expanded on in his talk.

SPEAKER

Paul Rayner is a Denver-based independent consultant with more than twenty years of software development and consulting experience. His company, Virtual Genius LLC, provides organizations with the tools and practices needed to succeed at agile software development, from portfolio management through to customer delivery. He specializes in helping organizations struggling with their transition to agile software development and in need of assistance to make their transition a lasting success, or are in need of external agile custom development or architectural expertise.

Paul is the founder and president of IASA Denver, a member of the Agile Denver leadership, and speaks regularly at user groups and conferences. He writes with an Australian accent about software development at www.virtual-genius.com/blog.