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2011年五月對話新訊息

朝 邦 文 教 基 金 會

運用AGILE敏捷軟體建構社群

五月份的朝邦對話新訊息，談及的是一群教育者如何

運用U型理論帶來啟發，改變教學方式，分享他們使用理論的方法，以及建立社群的軟體《Agile》的過程。

今年夏天，來自全國各地的教師、行政人員、學生、家長、社區成員、商界代表和政府領導人都在美國亞利桑納的圖森，參與一場稱為《雪球營地(Camp

Snowball)》的活動(網址： http://www.campsnowball.org)，希望建立一個可延續的社會運動，將教育思維從工業社會的年代轉化為以思考為基礎的做法的教育系統，支持學生的創意思想，引領他們成為「系統思維的公民」。

系統思維的公民是全球社群的一份子，致力於了解複雜的現今世界，並以了解現狀的態度展現改變的能

力。就如馬爾文‧亞當斯(Marv Adams (TD Ameritrade營運長，曾任花旗集團資訊長、福特汽車企業策略部門資訊長與負責人)所說：

「如果缺乏思考的技巧，根本無法在大多數的產業中達成有效率的領導、訂定目標、執行較高階主管的工作。很可惜的是，太多的領導者發展出左腦思考為導向的管理方式，但在右腦的開發，也就是整體性思考的領導能力上卻顯虛弱。究竟是因為左腦思維的當道促成現有的學府與培訓課程的模樣，還是這是系統上的天性使然？如果不是本質上的問題，那麼，趁年輕及早開發系統性思維，才能為創新的教育提供更多的契機！」

雪球營隊就是社群啟動的活動，在這之後，主辦單位希望在網際網路上建立互動的平台，串連起各種教育的倡議，並運用持續性的能力訓練服務提供支援。我受邀參與這項創舉，和大家一起想出可以讓這個社會運動更有規模的科技。以下是雪球營隊目前策略的重點，也示範出團隊如何促成社會性變革、漸立可續性社群的模式：

• 拓展在雪球營隊中所建立的跨領域、學校系統與社區的關係，建立足夠的空間讓每個團隊可以說明並分享他們的工作成果。來自全世界不同地區、想法多元的團隊聚集在一起時，產業與產業交流、社群成員與其他社群成員互動、教育者與學生則可以加入其他教育者與學生的團隊，也強化了在雪球營隊所栽培的學習。具有多元需求與觀點的跨領域關係，對於建立起創意的張力、擴大這些活動規模的層面上，也是關鍵的要素。

• 在雪球營隊活動結束後，參與者透過持續性的教練式指導，持續引導各人與系統性的變革。遠在雪球營隊開始之前，支援性的結構、規畫與最初步的活動就已經完整規畫好。

• 學生成為平台開發的主力。如果學生對於教育

改革感到有所啟發，成人也會受到感染。 • 打造「容易找到、運用、並可行的東西」，像是經由同行評估的資源與教材。

• 針對運用或造就出系統性變革的案例在網路上提供獎勵、肯定、刊登表揚。

以上腦力激盪的成果是運用P.O.S.T.步驟所產生 – 這是一種透過策略做思考的方式：

(http://forrester.typepad.com/groundswell/2007/12/the-post-method.html)

當參與的人士、目標與策略都找到以後，最後就要思考運用的科技。為什麼？因為經常網頁是最先架構出來的，然後我們就假設社群會自然而然地受到吸引而來。但是我卻認為充滿活力的社群和真正目標的實踐，都是先來自面對面的關係，並不會因為有了科技而就自然產生。全球性的網路，如果能夠連結活絡的當地關係時，效能最理想；反之，如果關係只是建立在網路的互動，效果反而不太理想。「全球本土化

Glocal」對我的意義就是深度地連接至當地的思維與背景，同時做一個全球性家族的成員。

以下為各位分享一些Agile理念可以幫助 Glocal全球本土化 社群促成共有的理想的重點。

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運用Agile來促成社會的變革

Agile通常運用於軟體開發產業，重視計畫週期中的合作與過程的調適。它發展自精益生產的過程也因為豐田汽車在二次世界大戰後促使日本經濟復甦、為產業帶來革命性變革而享有盛名。精益生產重視的，是從

有限的投資達到最好的成效： · 加強需要的事項 · 去除所有不會帶來價值的事物 · 一出差錯就停止

Agile就是從這種傳統衍生出來，透過小型、自我形成、跨功能的團隊不斷合作而找出需要與解決方案。每天短暫的面對面溝通，團隊成員向大家報告前一天完成的事項、今天要完成的事項、目前的狀態，讓社群可以針對目前的狀況快速做回應和調整。

今年五月我也參加由敏捷(Agile)軟體科技領導品牌

Rally Software舉辦的第一次的社群研討會 (https://rallyon.rallydev.com/)。雖然在一群敏捷軟體專家之中，我顯得有點突兀，但是仔細聆聽，希望能在這個

問題上找到答案：「Agile如何能在非科技的架構下引導出正向的社會變革和永續性的社群發展？」我很快

就發現Agile的思維模式和U型理論有很多平行之處。

U型理論與Agile敏捷模式：

「Co-Initiating共同啟動」：Agile的POST過程。了解客戶真正的需求。

「Co-Sensing共同感知」與「Presencing共同湧現」：Agile的日常會談，在此分享、省思、感覺正在發生的真相。

「Co-Creating共同創造」：Agile所探索的原型。

「Co-Evolving共同演化」Agile的成果階段，將使用者的體驗整合到進行中的計畫的內容。

上圖：

1. Co-­‐Ini)a)ng共同啟動建立共同的意圖。停止，聆聽其他人，了解生命需要你做的是什麼。

2. Co-­‐Sensing共同感知觀察，觀察，再觀察。走到最有潛力的地方，用你的心智聆聽，開啟你的心胸。

3. Presencing共同湧現連接到靈感啟發與意願的根源處，走向沉靜的地方，讓內在的已知浮現。

4. Co-­‐Crea)ng  共同創造建構新的生命範例原型，透過行動來探索未來。

5. Co-­‐Evolving共同演化擁抱可以從整體面向觀察與行動的全新生態系統。

請參考四月的朝邦對話新訊中，有關U理論的更多介紹。http://cp-yen.ning.com/profiles/blogs/april-2011-cpyf-

dialogue

雪球營隊針對持續建立社群的設計過程，也和U型理

論與Agile方法有很多雷同之處。我的參與也是一種建構原型，示範可以如何引導出正向的社會變革與永續社群發展。這份簡短的新訊無法深入探討我所提到的

每一種工具，因此希望各位可以更深度探索Agile、POST、U型理論與雪球營隊，了解您如何能運用這些工具達到您的目標！

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This May Dialogue Newsletter tells the story of a group of educators aspiring to transform the way education is taught and how they are using Theory U and a software development process called “Agile” to build their community.

Teachers, administrators, students, parents, community members, businesses, and government leaders from across the globe are gathering this summer in Tuscon, Arizona, at an event called “Camp Snowball” (http://www.campsnowball.org), and intend to build a scaleable social movement that will shift education from industrial era paradigms to a systems thinking-based approach which supports kids as innovators and enables them to become “systems citizens.”

Systems Citizens are members of a glocal community who strive to understand the complexities of today's world and have the informed capacity to make a difference. The pragmatism of this idea is expressed well by Marv Adams (COO of TD Ameritrade!; former CIO of Citigroup; former CIO and head of Corporate Strategy of Ford Motor Company):

"Without systems thinking skills, it is impossible to effectively lead, set direction and execute in senior executive roles across most industries. Too many leaders, unfortunately, have emerged with well-developed left brain thinking methods of management, but underdeveloped right brain, holistic thinking leadership abilities. Is this dominance of left brain thinking a result of our schools and our training and development programs, or is this inherent? If it is not inherent, then there are few greater areas of leverage for innovation in education than by developing systems thinking skills with kids starting from a young age!"

Camp Snowball is the community launch event, following which the organizers want to build an online platform that will connect education initiatives and offer support through ongoing capacity building services. I was invited to think together with them about what kind of technology would enable their social movement to scale-up. Highlights from Camp Snowball’s current strategy are listed below as an example of one groups approach to developing social change and sustainable community:

• Build on the relationships formed at Camp Snowball across sectors, school systems, and communities by creating spaces for teams to present and share their own work. When diverse teams from different parts of the world come together, businesses can connect with other businesses; community members connect with other community members; educators and students can join with other educators and students, thus reinforcing the learning that is seeded at Camp Snowball. Cross-sectoral relationships highlighting diverse needs and perspectives are also critical for building creative tension and thereby driving these activities to scale.

• After the Camp Snowball event, participants benefit from ongoing coaching support for personal and systemic change challenges. A support structure, plan, and initial activities are in place before Camp Snowball starts.

• Students are enrolled as the main drivers of platform development. If the students get excited about transforming education, the adults will follow.

• Make it easy to find & use “stuff that really works” such as peer reviewed resources and curriculum materials.

• Awards, recognitions and post criteria are applied to showcase online contributions about applying or accomplishing systemic change.

The brainstorming above was produced by using P.O.S.T. - a way to think through one’s strategy:

(http://forrester.typepad.com/groundswell/2007/12/the-post-method.html)

Once the people, objectives and strategy are identified, lastly consider the technology. Why? Because too often websites are built first with the belief that community will naturally be drawn to it, yet I believe vibrant community and real mission realization grows from genuine face-to-face relationships and don’t emerge simply because the technology exists. Global networks function best when they’re connecting vibrant local relationships, and doesn’t work well when relationships are based solely on internet exchanges alone. “Glocal” to me means, being deeply connected to local contexts while also behaving as a member of the global family.

Briefly below I highlight how aspects of the Agile philosophy can help Glocal communities realize a shared mission.

May 2011

C P Y E N F O U N D A T I O N

Community Building with Agile

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Applying Agile to social change

Agile is used in the software development industry and values collaboration and process adaptability throughout a project’s life-cycle. It developed from lean manufacturing: a process made famous by Toyota’s revival of the Japanese economy after WWII and revolutionized industrial era conventions. Lean manufacturing values getting the best out of limited investment: · Build only what is needed · Eliminate anything which does not add value · Stop if something goes wrong

Agile grew from this tradition where requirements and solutions evolved in iterations through collaboration among small self-organizing, cross-functional teams. Through the discipline of brief and daily face-to-face communication where teammates report 1) what was done on the previous day, what is intend for today, and current roadblocks are, the community is able to address issues as they arise and adapt quickly.

This May I attended the first Agile community conference hosted by Rally Software, a world leader in Agile technology (https://rallyon.rallydev.com/). Despite being an odd-ball in the crowd of Agile experts; I listened with the question in mind: “how can Agile help facilitate positive social change and sustainable community development in a non-technology context?” I soon discovered that Agile parallels remarkably to Theory U.

Theory U and the Agile methodology:

“Co-Initiating”: Agile’s POST process. Understand what the client really wants.

“Co-Sensing” and “Presencing”: Agile’s daily meetings where sharing, reflection and sensing the emergent reality take place.

“Co-Creating”: Agile’s iterative prototypes.

“Co-Evolving” Agile’s delivery stage where user experience is integrated into ongoing project work.

*Read more about the U Theory in April’s Dialogue Newsletter.

The design process for Camp Snowball’s ongoing community building mimics Theory U and Agile as well. My involvement was itself a prototype of what facilitating positive social change and sustainable community development could look like. This brief newsletter doesn’t do justice to the depth of each tool mentioned here, I encourage you to look further into Agile, POST, Theory U, and Camp Snowball for experimenting with how you too could apply them to your mission!