Agile in a Flash 26

Communication-SMITH with Information Radiators– The Plan

Agile in a Flash by Jeff Langr and Tim Ottinger (card #26)

Be Communication-SMITHS with information radiators that are

> Current

> Simple

> Minimal in number

> Influential

> Transient

> Highly visible

> Stark

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Information radiators, aka big visible charts (BVCs), are wall hangings you design to broadcast important information. In yo’ face! Your team won’t have to proactively seek out their relevant info. (Unhip folks just call ’em posters.)

Current. Stale information is soon ignored. Ensure it’s current, or take it down.

Simple. Dense or complex BVCs fail to communicate. Present information so people can understand and digest it in a few seconds.

Minimal in number. Killing too many trees creates a thick, impenetrable forest on your wall. Also, exposing too many problems at once can be demoralizing.

Influential. Worth while BVCs influence the team (and perhaps managers, customers, or other stakeholders) to improve how they work.

Transient. BVCs that expose problems should be short-lived; otherwise, it’s clear you’re not solving your problems. Highlight challenges for which you can demonstrate progress in a few days or iterations.

Highly visible. Radiating information requires your BVCs to be readable by everyone who enters the team area.

Stark. BVCs don’t exist to convince others of your team’s excellence. Don’t mask problems with them—use BVCs to display progress and expose problems.