Agile and Lean Games

Agile and Lean
Games

Adrian Smith
@adrianlsmith
Engineering Innovation.

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Agile and Lean Games
Why Games are
Great For Learning

Useful References
for More Information

Have Some Fun
Playing Games


Laws of Learning
• Law of Readiness
Individuals learn best when they are ready to learn
and understand the reason for learning

• Law of Exercise
Repetition is basic to learning; things most often
repeated are easiest remembered

• Law of Effect
Learning will always be much more effective when a
feeling of satisfaction accompanies the process

Edward L. Thorndike



Laws of Learning
• Law of Primacy
Items learned ﬁrst are more easily remembered

• Law of Intensity
A vivid, dramatic or exciting
learning experience teaches
more than a routine or boring
experience

• Law of Recency
Things most recently learned
are best remembered



Alignment with Games
Ensure that purpose and relevance of game is
Law of Readiness understood and allow time to debrief and absorb

Law of Exercise Play games regularly to reinforce key messages

Ensure games are fun to maximise impact and learning
Law of Effect opportunity

Play games as teams are forming to create/reinforce
Law of Primacy good behaviours

Ensure games are fun and participants are highly
Law of Intensity involved/engaged

Play games relevant to team/project phase to ensure
Law of Recency alignment



Games are
Great
for Learning


Games Deﬁned
Game Space
Ordinary life is temporarily suspended and replaced with the game
environment. Plays obeying the rules enter the game space and can
engage in behaviour that might otherwise be risky or uncomfortable.

Interaction Rules
Within the game space the plays abide by a set of rules
for interaction. The rules deﬁne the constraints of the
game space.

Artefacts
All games rely on specialised artefacts that hold information
either through content or position in the game space.

Goals
Players must understand the to goal of the game and how
the game will end. Sometimes games end once the goal is
achieved and sometimes when a time limit is reached.


Game Resources



References



Sample Games



Ball Point Game
Purpose
Helps teams learn about iterations, continuous improvement,
measurement, theory of constraints, ﬂow and retrospectives.

Description
Team runs multiple iterations where they must move as many
balls as possible through the team in 2 minutes. Each ball must
have air time and must be touched by at least every team
member. Typically 4-5 iterations are run will time available for
teams to plan.

References
Team and Materials • http://agileprogramming.org/boris-gloger
• Large open space %E2%80%99s-ball-point-game/
• One team of at least 4 people • http://dpwhelan.com/blog/
• At least 20 balls (preferably tennis balls) uncategorized/learning-scrum-through-
• Timer the-ball-point-game/



Marshmallow Challenge
Purpose
Helps teams appreciate the value of planning and prototyping. It
also helps team bond and learn about creativity and innovation.

Description
Teams construct the tallest free standing structure from spaghetti,
tape, string and a marshmallow. Allow between 45-60 minutes for
teams, multiple teams can be run at the same time.

References
Team and Materials • http://marshmallowchallenge.com/
• Teams of at least 3 people
• 20 Sticks of dry spaghetti
• 1 metre of masking tape
• 1 meter of string
• 1 marshmallow



XP Game
Purpose
Help customer and team learn how to work together and
demonstrates concepts like planning, user stories, velocity,
sustainable pace and the iteration lifecycle.

Description
Construct a model (paper, balloon, lego, etc) according to user
stories deﬁned by customer. A number of short (5-10min)
iterations are used demonstrate process of user story creation,
estimation, elaboration, implementation and acceptance.
Retrospectives may be used between each iteration.

References
Team and Materials • http://www.xp.be/xpgame.html/
• Mixture of customer and team staff roles • http://www.xp.be/html/explained.pdf
• Pens, index cards, bluetak • http://www.xp.be/xpgame/download/
• Lego (or other modelling materials)
• Timer



Lean Paper Plane Game
Purpose
Illustrates in a visible and experiential way the difference between
pull systems and push systems. Teaches concepts like Limited
WIP, Building Quality In, Theory of Constraints and Just-in-Time.

Description
Team(s) construct paper aeroplanes according to a deﬁned
speciﬁcation for a limited period of time. Points are earned for
number of planes produced and deducted for the amount of
materials used. Multiple iterations are run to facilitate plan-do-
check-act cycles and to record metrics.

References
Team and Materials • http://www.shmula.com/paper-airplane-
• Team of at least 5 people game-pull-systems-push-systems/8280/
• Paper and pens • http://www.youtube.com/watch?
• Timer v=KSsWm1LxEQQ
• Scoresheet



Let the
games
begin


Lean Paper Plane Worksheet
QAPlane = $100
Sheet of Paper = $50
Worker person = $5 / round

Average
Materials People Total
Time Throughput Cycle Total Costs Proﬁt Productivity
Used Used Revenue
Time

Round
1

Round
2

Round
3



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