Helping students to differentiate between subjects about which a lot is already known and subjects which are relatively new. Part of a module on Workshop Facilitation for MSc Agile Software Projects

1. THE STATE of THE ART

2. CONSIDER MOBILE PHONES
The state of the art has grown
The deliverables are different
From to

3. CONSIDER PROGRAMMING
1965 A few whiz kids could do it very well
Able people could do it, but slowly and not reliably well
Lots of books about maths algorithms. Not very helpful
The best way to learn was from a whiz

4. CONSIDER PROGRAMMING
1965 A few whiz kids could do it very well
Able people could do it, but slowly and not reliably well
Lots of books about maths algorithms. Not very helpful
The best way to learn was from a whiz
1980 The books said write structured code
Not everyone is convinced > enforced standards

5. CONSIDER PROGRAMMING
1965 A few whiz kids could do it very well
Able people could do it, but slowly and not reliably well
Lots of books about maths algorithms. Not very helpful
The best way to learn was from a whiz
1980 The books said write structured code
Not everyone is convinced > enforced standards
1995 The books said write object-oriented code
Now practitioners and academics begin to agree

6. CONSIDER PROGRAMMING
1965 A few whiz kids could do it very well
Able people could do it, but slowly and not reliably well
Lots of books about maths algorithms. Not very helpful
The best way to learn was from a whiz
1980 The books said write structured code
Not everyone is convinced > enforced standards
1995 The books said write object-oriented code
Now practitioners and experts begin to agree
What next?

7. FACILITATION is DIFFERENT
• Technology is deterministic and predictable
• People are much more complex, unpredictable
• People have rights, may feel a sense of duty
• People can choose to dissemble (to lie)
• New ideas take a long time to validate, context specific
• Ideas about people change more slowly
• Old theories last longer
Human Activity Systems (HAS) create new meanings
Each individual tries to keep their behaviour ok, all the time,
as judged by many conflicting meanings
(ref: Merleau Ponty)

8. WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?
• Listen and learn from the best facilitators.
• Compare them with other facilitators.
• Talk to colleagues. Find a mentor.
• Read about facilitating other things.
• Read lots (Craig Larman & Alistair Cockburn seek empirical evidence)
• Be aware of the current fashions.
• Select what makes sense to you
• Use ideas that make sense to the best
facilitators.

9. FACILITATION NOW
A few really effective facilitators, quite rare
Able people can do it, not reliably successful
Lots of books about facilitating other things

10. FACILITATION NOW
A few really effective facilitators, quite rare
Other people who can do it, not reliably
Lots of books about facilitating other things
We’re only just starting. End-point uncertain
You will see this story through… Enjoy!