Tips for Agile Project Management

If you've ever struggled with long-drawn-out projects or wished for a more responsive way to deal with ever-changing legal landscapes, I'd like to introduce you to something called the Agile Process. Though originally designed for software development, this methodology can be a real game-changer for our legal profession! 🚀 Here's a practical look at what it entails and how we can adopt it: 1️⃣ Sprints: Break down a complex case or project into smaller, manageable 'sprints.' Work intensively on these short phases and review progress regularly. It makes large tasks more manageable and allows us to adjust if needed quickly. 2️⃣ Daily Stand-ups: A brief daily meeting where everyone in the team updates what they're working on and any obstacles they face. This ensures alignment and immediate support where it's needed. 3️⃣ Client Collaboration: Regular check-ins with clients ensure that you're on the same page and allow adjustments based on real-time feedback. This helps in avoiding any last-minute surprises. 4️⃣ Retrospectives: After each phase or sprint, the team reflects on what went well and what could be improved. This ongoing learning process ensures continuous growth and adaptation. 5️⃣ Digital Tools: Utilize tools like project management software tailored for Agile (like Jira, Trello) to keep everyone on track. It can also facilitate document sharing and collaboration between legal teams, clients, and other stakeholders. 6️⃣ Cross-Functional Teams: Build diverse teams with various areas of expertise. It enhances collaboration and ensures that different aspects of a case or project are considered from all angles. The Agile Process is not just a buzzword – it’s a practical approach to managing our work more efficiently and responsively. It could mean faster case resolutions, higher client satisfaction, and a more cohesive working environment. If you've already used Agile in your practice or if you're curious to learn more, I'd love to hear from you. Let's embrace this modern approach and drive our profession forward! #law #generalcounsel #digitaltransformation #technology -------- 💥I am Olga. 🔺Providing tips for in-house lawyers. 🔺Educating about disruptive technologies. 🔺Delivering keynotes on the intersection of business, law, and tech. Like this post? Want to see more? 🔔 Ring it on my Profile Follow #DailyOlga 🔝 Connect with me 🔝 Subscribe to Notes to My (Legal) Self newsletter

Tips about daily (standup or scrum or sync or meeting or connection or whatever-you-call-it). 👉 The three question format gets boring. Change it from the usual "do" to "done!" 1. What I got *done* (Not what I did) 2. What I will get *done* (Not what I will do) 3. What kept me from *done* 👉 Instead of *people* taking turns, *work items* take turns Proceed in order of iteration backlog priority At each item, those working on it, tell about the item Don't talk about items no one is working (If all your items have someone working on them, what might that mean?) 👉 Do Standup Poker (Kalpesh Shah, inventor) 1. Don't talk about stuff until the team answers the following question with a silent, fist-of-five-like confidence vote 2. Question: How confident are we that as a team we will meet the Sprint Goal [or plan] by end of Sprint? 3. At the same time, all team members hold up 0 to 5 fingers 0️⃣=No way! 1️⃣=No 2️⃣=Difficult 3️⃣=Yes, I think 4️⃣=Yes 5️⃣=Easy! 4. Dig into low numbers and plan what to do about it before next sync 👉 The daily sync contains status but is not a status meeting. It is a planning meeting of the next 24 hours 👉 Scrum Master: Do not call on people to talk. Do not dominate the conversations, you are not a project manager collecting status. This is the Dev Team's planning meeting. Perhaps facilitate, don't control. 👉 Product Owner: Do not call on people to talk. Do not dominate the conversations, you are not a project manager collecting status. It is the Dev Team's planning meeting. Participate, don't control. 👉 Dev Team: This meeting is for you to plan the next 24 hours, plan it The iteration or Sprint backlog is your plan, own it Your Scrum Master and Product Owner will support you, ask for what you need #dailyscrum #dailystandup #dailysync #scrum #agile #productowner #scrummaster