Talk To Users - Agile Principle of Face-to-face Communication

Agile makes a big deal about face-to-face communication. Why is this? What are the principles behind striving for talking face to face? Watch this cartoon for some stories about communication gone bad and footage of an alien abduction! If you'd like a free book on this topic, please see below...
I've published a book called "Starting Agile" that is designed to help you start your team's Agile journey out right. You can buy a copy from Amazon, but I'm giving free copies away to my subscribers from KZbin. You can signup for a copy at this link:
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[@chaseplacelinda]

Right on!! One more thought, although you might have covered it in another video. You show a scene where the developer is using the laptop and the user is nearby communicating his wishes. Another scene should be where a user, who hasn't seen the set of screens that were just developed, is fumbling his way through, and the developer is observing how the user is trying to figure out the next step and also how he tries to recover from any mistakes he makes. It's really easy for the developer to fly through the demonstration and for the user to understand everything he said.... until he is all alone is his cubby trying to use it for the first time.

[@jord_codes]

Mark, Thank you so much for all of your excellent videos! Your videos on Agile do an excellent job at clearly explaining concepts that most people are incapable of clearly communicating. In my experience with past employers, I've seen a large disconnect between management that decides to implement Agile-inspired processes from developers who are instructed to suddenly "become Agile" without fully understanding what "being Agile" means, or why it's important. I think bridging that divide by promoting an understanding of the Agile values and beliefs among all team members is essential for maximizing productivity. I've been growing my own small software development company for the past several months, and I'm seriously considering lining up a playlist of your Agile videos as must-watch material for new hires. Thanks again, and please keep up the excellent work.

[@OperationAndrewDocumentaries]

These videos are truly fantastic! Well done for all that you do!

[@MarkShead]

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback!

[@kulashaker30]

Thank you so much for all of the excellent videos! This helps me a lot understanding the basics I also signed up. 😍

[@MarkShead]

You are so welcome!

[@priyakrishnan9295]

Excellent video and information that teams and leaders should be aware of.. There is a huge difference between a project that has unnecessary layers i.e.basically messenger roles and a project where team talks f2f with end users and demo directly to them .

[@MarkShead]

Priya Krishnan Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate your comment! It is great to get feedback like that. I'd love to hear what you think of the other Agile videos on my channel. Thanks again!

[@DaniCoimbraTV]

I like the way you teach. The cartoons turned the subject fun and cool to learn.

[@ElizabethHernandez-qt2ks]

Great video! QQ: Where do you see Business Analyst get to? As Product Owners maybe?

[@MarkShead]

In some places the role of the business analyst exists to prevent developers and users from talking to each other. There isn't a lot of value in just having someone run back and forth and repeat information. However, in some cases it is hard to find a user that fully understands all the parts of what they want and the BAs may be valuable in filling that role. But as you point out, that role may morph into more of what a product owner traditionally does.

[@EquatorLounge]

LOVE IT!!!!

[@mahmudurrahman7841]

Very helpful videos.

[@MarkUKInsects]

The person who pays for the development is the one that wants to specify the software. Good software is one that meets the end user's needs, they are seldom invited to participate, and if they are is right at the 11th hour. Squaring that circle is the key to great product.

[@cloudevops]

good video. and please just not make the final music so loud compared to the speech. Often music is not necessary at all. please, dont make music loud at least. thank you.

[@MarkShead]

Thanks for the feedback!