Scrum Task Origami
Thursday, 4 February 2010 -- 6:30 pmA year ago our software team became a pilot project for the Scrum software development process. Among the changes that came along with this was a giant board in our work area where we write down all of our tasks on Post-It notes and move them around as we complete them. Every two weeks, we clean up the board and start all over, planning our next two weeks’ of work.
All of the completed tasks used to go into the recycling bin, but one day I was fidgeting in our bi-weekly planning meeting and realized that the Post-It notes were perfectly square. So naturally I did what I always do with a square piece of paper – I folded it into an origami crane.
I’ve always wanted to fold a thousand paper cranes, so I collected all the used Post-Its and set them in a pile in our work area. Every morning during our status meeting I fold while I listen. 20+ years of folding paper cranes means that the task is practically mindless, and I actually find that I pay better attention with a Post-It crane to occupy my hands.
Although I’m by far the most frequent contributor to the crane collection, other team members have added their work to the pile. And maybe if we reach one thousand, our wish will be granted and the whole Scrum thing will go more smoothly!