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The Augmented Product Owner: Amplifying Scrum with AI

April 17, 2025
AI is transforming product management across the entire Planning Onion, from vision to validation. Learn how AI enhances market analysis, backlog prioritization, and customization while rethinking technical debt. Discover how the Model Context Protocol and AI code generation are revolutionizing how Product Owners deliver value in Scrum.

Algunos impedimentos para usar Scrum

April 15, 2025
Adoptar Scrum requiere cambios que se dan en muchos aspectos dentro de una organización. Estos cambios a veces demoran en ser realizados y esto provoca que se tengan impedimentos que impidan o retrasen la entrega de valor. A continuación, algunos impedimentos que pueden aparecer al adoptar Scrum y que pueden servir de referencia para identificarlos en forma temprana:
Blog Post

Winning Executive Backing for Agile Change

April 15, 2025
Struggling to get real buy-in for agile at the executive level? You’re not alone. Too many agile transformations stall because senior leaders remain stuck in old ways of thinking while teams push for change. We need to break down why executive traction is the missing ingredient in enterprise agility and how to actually get it. In this blog I'll talk about how we can turn 'agile' from a buzzword to a business enabler.
Blog Post

Are User Stories, Requirements?

April 15, 2025
You have been working on an agile team or maybe a Scrum team. And every time someone refers to requirements, they mention about User Stories. So, now you have started to believe that User Stories are Requirements. But is that true?
Blog Post

Don't Overload the Sprint

April 14, 2025
It may be tempting to push the team to deliver more by overloading the Sprint with extra work. But don’t do it! One of Scrum’s core values is focus, and that value exists for a reason. A team that focuses on delivering a reasonable amount of work will accomplish more than one that tries to take on everything at once.
Blog Post

That's Not the Point of Points

April 14, 2025
Points are not for measuring individual performance. Points are for forecasting future delivery. We don't need to fake the data to make developers look better, because that's not what points are for.
Blog Post

Scrum Team 3D Reality Model: Path to Agile Product-Oriented Organisation

April 14, 2025
You’ve adopted Scrum. You’ve trained your teams. But still, something’s off. Scaling is slow. Results are inconsistent. That’s because you’re scaling the wrong thing. It’s not just about growing Scrum—it’s about re-centering your organisation around it. In a world where enterprise agility often disappoints, this article offers a bold perspective: the problem isn’t Scrum—it’s how we orient Scrum Teams within complex systems. Enter the 3D Reality Model: a visual, three-dimensional map that places Scrum Teams at the core of product-oriented transformation. The model provides a reference system with three strategic axes: Portfolio (Height): Vertical alignment with goals and governance. End-to-End Value (Width): Ownership across the full delivery cycle. Cross-Org Collaboration (Depth): Transparent engagement with surrounding teams and services.
Blog Post

Riding Waves: How Surfing Principles Can Transform Your Product Leadership

April 9, 2025
In a recent ProdPad webinar, I sat down with Janna Bastow for a fireside chat. This was an opportunity to explore how the principles of surfing can revolutionize product leadership and business agility. In this article, I share highlights of our conversation in order to offer a unique perspective offers product managers, owners, and leaders a fresh framework for navigating uncertainty and complexity in today's fast-paced market.
Blog Post

Micro-training: Definition of Done

April 8, 2025
Master one of Scrum’s most critical (and misunderstood) concepts with PST Jason Malmstadt in this micro-training video. Alongside PST'S Robb Pieper and Greg Crown, Jason explains what the Definition of Done really means, how it differs from acceptance criteria, and why it’s key to delivering high-quality, releasable increments every Sprint.
Blog Post

“Can We Do Scrum And SAFe Simultaneously?”

April 8, 2025
Can you do 100% Scrum and SAFe at the same time? In this post, I explore that question through a real-life training story, highlighting the tradeoffs and tensions that surface when frameworks collide. The key takeaway: it’s less about purity and more about mindful, context-driven choices.
Blog Post

Accountability, Responsibility and Authority in Scrum

April 7, 2025
Unlock effective Scrum! Learn the distinct roles of accountability, responsibility & authority. Discover why empowering Product Owners, Developers and Scrum Masters with real decision-making authority is fundamental to self-management & value delivery. While often used interchangeably, accountability, responsibility and authority have distinct implications that are essential for effective teamwork and value delivery.
Blog Post

When Leadership Changes, Who Pays the Price?

April 4, 2025
Frequent organizational restructuring disrupts careers, impacts morale, and affects business performance. Are leaders considering the human cost of constant change? Explore the effects of leadership transitions and restructuring in this insightful analysis.
Blog Post

Facilitating Collaborative Conversations

April 3, 2025
Ever felt like team conversations spin in circles? Mark cuts through the chaos, revealing the art of facilitation as a powerful tool for driving effective collaboration. Discover the four-phases—Context, Diverge, Converge, and Action—essential for guiding productive conversations and driving teams towards shared goals. Through practical techniques, you will be empowered to master facilitation and unlock the collective potential of your team.
Blog Post

Coaching vs. Mentoring: Guiding Yourself and Others to Greatness

April 3, 2025
In the fast-paced world of leadership and career growth, the right guidance can make all the difference. But are you seeking coaching when you actually need mentoring—or vice versa? Coaching helps unlock your potential by guiding you to your own solutions, while mentoring provides wisdom and strategic advice from those who’ve walked the path before you. This article breaks down the key differences and real-world applications of both, helping you make informed decisions to accelerate your success. Whether you’re looking to grow as a leader or support others in their journey, understanding when to choose coaching or mentoring is the key to unlocking greatness.
Blog Post

Why Does Management Hate Scrum?

April 2, 2025
Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and others pushing for a more agile product organization often face apathy, resistance, or downright hostility from management. In this video, PSTs Jason Malmstadt, Robb Pieper, and Greg Crown break down why management often resists Scrum and share practical tips to tackle that pushback and make Agile stick.
Blog Post

AI Team Scaling Models in Organizations

April 2, 2025
What structure do the AI teams follow in Uber, Meta, or Spotify? I researched it and was able to find some articles and blogs from different people. This information may have changed, so please comment and provide references if you have access to the latest information. Happy reading!
Blog Post

Release Date Slipping? Small Batches for the Win!

April 1, 2025
This is a story about a former client. Early plans were to release a “Minimum Viable Experience” before year end. By late Spring, the Product Director described two “problems” and asked for my help: Release dates for the first publicly available version were slipping. And scope was expanding.
Blog Post

Do You Need That Ticket?

March 31, 2025
Some teams are obsessed with documenting everything. They create tickets for tracking time, logging meetings, or even planning how to plan. They think they’re being transparent. In reality, they’re just adding layers of clerical work that don’t actually help deliver value.
Blog Post

Why Your Team Resists Change – And How to Inspire Change

March 31, 2025
Implementing change in the workplace is one of the most crucial skills in your professional career. Regardless of your current position and industry, with high probability, your next big step in professional growth will be related to change. This article is worth reading if you want to be more effective in implementing change in the workplace.
Blog Post

Scrum Pitfalls: Avoiding a Mission Impossible

March 29, 2025
Over the years, I've noticed recurring challenges and red flags that can seriously limit Scrum's effectiveness. Spotting these symptoms early can mean the difference between Scrum thriving or turning into "mission impossible." In this blog post, I'll highlight the key pitfalls to watch out for.