At the core of agile development are self-organizing cross-functional teams. Yet, this is often understood as e.g. backend & front-end developers working together. If an organization is aiming for company-wide agility, to fully benefit from agility it has to enable teams as value centers that are truely cross-functional by bringing in different perspectives from business, markets, cultures, beliefs etc.This way cross-functional teams overcome not only the limitations of organizational silos but also of a singular view on the market.

1. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Jutta Eckstein | @JuttaEckstein
www.JEckstein.com
Maryse Meinen | @leanarchitect
www.agileforlife.org
Real Cross-functional Teams for Creating Real
and Better Products

2. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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3. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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4. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Can the product team on the left build for
the user population on the right?
©
https://guidestudio.com/ideas/developing-a-brand-for-diverse-audiences/

5. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Inclusive Products?
■ There are five required tests to approve a car for the EU
■ In no test is a female crash-test dummy required

6. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Inclusive Products?
■ Map apps that fail to account for women’s desire
for ‘safest’ in addition to ‘fastest’ routes
■ Virtual reality headsets that are too big for the
average woman’s head
■ Microphones that require either a waistband or
substantial pockets to attach to

7. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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8. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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An organization produces a design
that reflects the organization's
biases.
Eckstein’s Law

9. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Contributions to Diversity Bias
■ Speedy decision-making
■ Raise certain issues for people in minority
■ Early feedback is captured mostly from male users
■ Language use
©
Gayna
Williams:
Are
you
sure
your
software
is
gender
neutral?

10. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Differences & Exchanges
Source:
https://www.hsdinstitute.org/resources/difference-matrix.html
high
low
Exchanges
Differences
low high

11. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Changing Differences & Exchanges
high
low
Exchanges
Differences
◼ Decrease exchanges:
• Reflection
• Separation
• Rest
◼ Decrease differences:
• Identifying similarities
• Creating common group
stories
◼ Increase differences:
• Identifying differences
• Asking for opinions
◼ Increase exchanges:
• Using questions and
stories
low high

12. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Difference nurtures democratic and
organizational life.
Yet, sometimes we think plurality and
difference is dangerous.
The key is, can we learn to respect and
engage with other’s ideas, behaviors
and beliefs.
Peter Senge

13. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Chat Storm
■ What are your recommendations for cross-functional
teams?

14. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Our Recommendations for Cross-functional
Teams
■ Consider your personas
■ Ask for different perspectives within the team
– You can use de Bono thinking hats or the like
■ Ask for anonymous feedback
■ Consent decision-making
■ Use metrics

15. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Inclusive Language
■ Personal characteristics only when relevant
– Ableism
– Ageism
■ Careful with meritocracy language
■ Gender inclusive practices
■ No expressions or metaphors
■ Be explicit about supporting diversity and inclusion

16. @leanarchitect | @JuttaEckstein
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Thank you!
Jutta Eckstein, @JuttaEckstein
Jutta@JEckstein.com
http://JEckstein.com
Maryse Meinen, @leanarchitect
marysemeinen@xs4all.nl
www.agileforlife.org