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Following my previous post (book review of “Tale of Two Systems” – but really a consideration of Agile & Lean Software Development) I have continued to read, and think (yeah, dangerous, I know).
The following two posts will be of interest:
1) This post from the HBR Editor’s Blog titled “How do innovators think?” provides many good points (and some of the added comments at the bottom are great as well) but I want to cut to the chase and highlight the “5 Discovery Skills” included in the article:
Skill 1 = Associating – a cognitive skill that “allows creative people to make connections across seemingly unrelated questions, problems, or ideas”. Like being able to find your way without needing a map.
Skill 2 = Questioning – like asking the “5 why’s”
Skill 3 = Observation, and (particularly) doing it really well – well enough to pick up nuances in behaviour, etc….
Skill 4 = Experimentation – try a lot of things and keep what works, as noted by Collins and Porras.
Skill 5 = Networking – the post notes that the key is that the networking is done with smart people who have little in common with them, but from whom they can learn.
2) I read in the comments that someone has already made the link with Agile Software Development. Here’s commentary by Bob MacNeal on his blog.
In particular with respect to Bob’s post, he has omitted the 3rd skill. I am not sure why he has done this, or if it is deliberate.
However one of the comments underneath sums it up when they note “To write great software you need to observe the detail that’s not included in the written version of the requirements.” (my emphasis added, as I totally agree)
Given the challenges, opportunities and uncertainties our business faces, we need all 5 in spades!