The more you flow, the faster you go

I've just started working on an agile project with Darren Cotterill, in Sydney. Ben Hogan and Jason Yip have already blogged about it, so I thought I would chip in with my two cents.

The project is really quite agile but "officially" it's a waterfall project. We're considering hanging up a picture of a waterfall, just so we can point and say "look, there's the waterfall". Really there isn’t a splash of waterfall in the vicinity.

We're a small team: 3 devs, a BA, a PM, and a tester. We have an enviable collection of whiteboards and wall space. Everything we’re doing is represented on a wall or a board. The PM is open and creates some awesome burn charts. The BA is ex-techy and writes exceptional stories. The customer is relaxed and good fun. We just write tests, write code and crack silly techy jokes.

It’s clear to me that there is something special about this team. We have only been together a few weeks, and already we’re already working very well together. Some teams I have been apart of, never achieved this level of cooperation and collaboration, even after months together.

The key element within this team is flow. The flow of requirements through development into test is smooth and quicker than expected. The flow of verbal communication is instantaneous and creates an informative environment. The flow of good humour keeps us all amused. All of this creates a well functioning team but the real key is the true flow that emanates from each individual. Each member of the team is truly enjoying their work. Everyone is contributing, and every contribution is highly valued. This creates an exceptional flow of positive energy that propagates continuously. This energy motivates us to go faster, and to reach for that almost impossible end date. Well, that and the promise of “all you can drink” beer when we make over to the finish line :-)