Egg and Eggbox Analogy in Agile: Balancing Value and Frameworks

A few days ago, during a fascinating discussion at a Business Black Belt workshop I was facilitating, we explored an intriguing analogy: eggs and eggboxes in the context of Agile. This discussion delved into the delicate balance between the value (the eggs) and the systems or frameworks (the eggboxes) that ensure their safe delivery. Understanding … Read more

Lean Product Management: A Practical Guide to Building Value

In a landscape where speed, innovation, and customer satisfaction are paramount, product management has steadily shifted from heavy upfront planning to more nimble, user-focused, and iterative approaches. Lean Product Management embodies this shift by emphasizing efficiency, customer feedback, and the pursuit of value over mere output. Let’s dive into some fundamental principles, techniques, and practical … Read more

Agility over Agile

“Agility over Agile” is a concept that emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and responsive to change, rather than strictly adhering to the methodologies or frameworks commonly associated with Agile as used in projects and product development. Here’s why this perspective can be important: Adaptability In a rapidly changing business environment, the ability to adapt … Read more

Got Yourself a Mountain of a Problem

While on my honeymoon in New Zealand last month, I captured this breathtaking view of a perfectly conical volcano on the North Island. It reminded me of a valuable life and work lesson: even the most daunting challenges can be conquered one step at a time. Mountains, like problems, can feel insurmountable from a distance. … Read more

Navigating the “Layer Cake” of Agility, Lean, Systems Thinking, and Product Management

In the film Layer Cake, we see how the lives of the rich, the criminal, and the criminally rich are intricately woven together, each layer impacting the others in ways that often defy logic and expectation. This metaphor of intersecting worlds is surprisingly relevant to today’s complex landscape of agility, lean practices, systems thinking, and … Read more

Unearthing Memories: A Reflection on Being a Pi-Shaped Consultant

This week, while clearing out an old laptop bag, I stumbled across a stash of my business cards from my time at Parity. These cards hadn’t seen daylight in over 10 years, yet holding them again sparked memories of an exciting chapter in my career. As a Principal Consultant at Parity Solutions, I was fortunate … Read more