Paper and Presentation: Solving Problems in Frameworks: Feature Focused
Abstract: Popular frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban use User Stories, Epics, and large concepts as their default unit of work. Developers tend to prefer smaller better defined technical tickets that they work against and submit for peer review. In 2018, the Earth Observing System Flight Dynamics System Support team wrestled with this impasse and decided to take a new approach by creating a new framework based around turning the user stories into technical tickets by focusing on designing, architecting, and building individual features. This framework came to be called Feature Focused and is now being used by several teams throughout NASA.
In this talk we’ll look at the problems that lead to the creation of Feature Focused, details of how Feature Focused works, the results of the initial team’s use and case study, and how others can adopt this framework. We’ll explore the common pitfalls of Scrum and Kanban when working with complex features and teams commonly attempt to solve them verses how the Lean Feature Focused framework works. Participants will gain a better understanding of how software design can be done within the Agile and Lean philosophies, and how to determine which framework is right for your team and project.
PMI Talent Triangle: Ways of Working
Biography: A self-proclaimed “Agile Philosopher”, Christopher “Ax” Axthelm is a certified project manager with over fourteen years of experience leading teams in software development from small mobile games & apps, to large restaurant back-office servers, to flight dynamic systems at NASA’s Goddard campus. When he’s not working, Ax is dedicated to championing Agile as a philosophy to improve all facets of business. Through continual research into Agile, Lean, and business communication Ax hopes to help even the most reluctant in the software industry see the good Agile can do.
