Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile Storytelling from the Trenches Episode: The Challenge of Breaking Silos, And Building Collaborative Teams Remotely | Antti Horelli Release Date: January 28, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast, host Pasco Duarte welcomes Antti Horelli to discuss the intricacies of building collaborative teams in a remote setting and the challenges of breaking down silos within organizations. The conversation delves into personal experiences, insightful strategies, and practical solutions aimed at enhancing team dynamics and fostering effective communication in distributed environments.

Agile Fatigue and the Global Agile Summit

Pasco Duarte kicks off the podcast by addressing a prevalent issue in the Agile community: Agile Fatigue. He shares an anecdote from a Global Agile Summit attendee who expressed feeling overwhelmed by the rigid adherence to Agile frameworks, likening them to "handcuffs" rather than empowering tools. Recognizing this sentiment, Duarte highlights the upcoming Global Agile Summit in Tallinn, Estonia, scheduled for May 18-20, 2025. The summit aims to rejuvenate the Agile spirit by featuring real-life success stories, practical solutions, and keynote speakers like Gojko Adzic and Jurgen Apelo. Duarte encourages listeners to overcome Agile fatigue by engaging with the summit for fresh perspectives and actionable insights.

Notable Quote:
"It doesn't have to be this way. So we started thinking and at the Global Agile Summit, which is happening this May, we're bringing together practitioners who've actually done that, who've broken free from this... mindset." — Pasco Duarte [00:01]

Guest Introduction: Antti Horelli and His Influential Book

Pasco introduces Antti Horelli, an experienced Scrum Master, who shares his most influential reading material: "This is Lean: Resolving the Efficiency Paradox" by Swedish professors Mudig and Ostrom. Although not exclusively about Scrum, the book profoundly impacted Antti's understanding of flow and efficiency within Agile frameworks.

Notable Quote:
"It really helped me kind of crystallize my understanding about what is this flow that we talk about when we like talk about flow and Kanban flow in Scrum." — Antti Horelli [02:34]

Explaining Flow in Scrum: A One-Piece Flow Approach

Delving into the concept of flow, Antti emphasizes the importance of one-piece flow—focusing on completing one task at a time to maximize value delivery. He acknowledges the practicality challenges in adhering strictly to this methodology but asserts the significant benefits it brings in enhancing overall productivity and ensuring that work translates into functional code and tangible value for end-users.

Notable Quote:
"Aiming for completing one thing that creates value to the end user... it's tough. It probably doesn't make sense to really in everyday work do exactly that. But aim for that." — Antti Horelli [04:39]

Pasco reinforces this by summarizing Antti's perspective on one-piece flow, encouraging listeners to adopt this approach where feasible.

Story of Team Conflicts and Challenges

Antti recounts a challenging experience with a development team characterized by personal differences and poor communication. The team comprised individuals accustomed to solo work, leading to clashes over work methodologies, technical approaches, and efficiency standards. Despite initial progress, the team's inability to integrate their efforts into functional and valuable outcomes grew evident. Attempts by the Product Owner to refine user stories and enhance backlog management were met with resistance, with some developers pivoting towards technical solutions instead.

Notable Quote:
"The feeling in the team was turned to be really bad and so on. And I tried to help. We had some other people also try to help. Eventually we kind of just weren't able to do it and the team was disbanded." — Antti Horelli [08:00]

This case culminated in the team's dissolution, leaving unresolved questions about the missing elements that could have fostered a more cohesive and productive environment.

Lessons Learned and Alternative Approaches

Reflecting on the failed team dynamics, Antti suggests that establishing a stronger foundation at the outset could have preempted conflicts. This includes fostering mutual understanding, clarifying team purposes, and addressing communication barriers early on. Additionally, Antti highlights the compounded difficulty of managing a distributed team, where remote communication exacerbates personal and professional misunderstandings.

Notable Quote:
"Maybe I would have brought the team together if that had been possible. It wasn't in this case, but still." — Antti Horelli [10:11]

Addressing Remote Team Challenges

Pasco expands on the unique challenges posed by remote and distributed teams, emphasizing the necessity for Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches to prioritize communication and conflict resolution proactively. He offers strategies such as:

• Early Conflict Resolution: Addressing disagreements before they escalate by scheduling dedicated meetings.
• Geographical Considerations: Acknowledging and adapting to time zone differences and communication barriers inherent in remote settings.
• Creating Informal Interaction Opportunities: Facilitating virtual "coffee chats" or informal meetings to replicate the spontaneous interactions that occur in co-located environments.

Notable Quote:
"Frontier after Corona, we go from co-located to distributed, and we forget that distributed is a totally different type of work than co-located." — Pasco Duarte [11:23]

Antti concurs, noting that remote work requires heightened awareness and adaptability to mitigate typical problems effectively.

Conclusion

The episode underscores the critical role of effective communication, mutual understanding, and adaptability in building and maintaining collaborative teams, especially in remote settings. By sharing real-world experiences and practical strategies, Antti and Pasco provide valuable insights for Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches striving to overcome silos and foster cohesive, high-performing teams.

Pasco wraps up by encouraging listeners to rate and share the podcast, promoting it as a valuable resource for ongoing professional development.

Notable Quote:
"Remember that sharing is caring." — Pasco Duarte [13:48]

Key Takeaways

• One-Piece Flow: Striving for completing one task at a time can enhance value delivery and team efficiency.
• Early Foundation Building: Establishing clear communication channels and mutual understanding from the team's inception is crucial.
• Remote Team Dynamics: Acknowledging the unique challenges of distributed teams and proactively addressing them can prevent conflicts and promote collaboration.
• Proactive Conflict Resolution: Addressing issues promptly before they escalate is essential in maintaining a healthy team environment.

For more insights and actionable strategies, tune into the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast and consider attending the Global Agile Summit in Tallinn, Estonia.