BI Over Beers

Author: Wendy Gilbert

  • The Definition of Done in Agile DW

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    Wendy Gilbert
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    In scrum, the definition of done is a simple checklist that helps the development team ensure a story is complete and ready for shipping. The items on the list are nothing special by themselves, but diligently ensuring that all user stories satisfy the definition of done is key to delivering quality, well documented results. Here…

  • How is Data Warehousing Different?

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    Wendy Gilbert
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    While there are many similarities between data warehousing and software development, there are common situations when applying scrum to data warehousing initiatives and projects that may not apply to software development. We don’t deliver software I’ve seen several data people read the agile principles and immediately take issue with the term ‘working software’. The agile…

  • Being Agile Versus Doing Agile

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    Wendy Gilbert
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    Agile training classes will teach you the elements of what it is to ‘do agile’, but to ‘be agile’ is to change the mindset of yourself, your team, and your organization, and put the focus on the core tenets of the Agile Manifesto. Business value Everything you do, every key you press, spec you write,…

  • Team Agreements

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    Wendy Gilbert
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    I would like to point out one practice that my agile coaches (Shama Bole and Grant Beck with Plaster Group Consulting) introduced me to, and that is the concept of a Team Agreement. A Team Agreement is not specific to scrum and can be used by any team. It is basically a short list of…

  • Agile Manifesto and Principles

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    Wendy Gilbert
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    Agile software development is based on the Agile Manifesto which values: Individuals and interactions over processes and tools Working software over comprehensive documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Responding to change over following a plan The most important take-away from the Agile Manifesto is that it puts the focus on the elements on the left…

  • Is Agile Data Warehousing Worthwile?

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    Wendy Gilbert
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    Data warehouses (DWs) built using waterfall methodologies are not doomed to failure. Despite the headlines we see of how often DWs fail, many of them do succeed. I worked on several DWs earlier in my career that used a traditional waterfall software development lifecycle (SDLC). In my experience, the projects were massively over schedule and…

  • Agile Data Warehousing

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    Wendy Gilbert
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    In my ScrumMaster certification course, the instructor started the day with a group exercise.  He broke the class into groups of two with each team having a ‘manager’ and a ’developer’.  Our first task was to navigate around a small section of the room with the manager giving direction (start, stop, left turn, right turn)…