Tailoring WoW with Process Goal Diagrams

Tailoring WoW Process Goal Diagrams: A Comprehensive Guide

1. Why Process Goal Diagrams are Important for Tailoring WoW

Process Goal Diagrams are essential tools in the Disciplined Agile (DA) toolkit that enable teams to make informed decisions about their Way of Working (WoW). Their importance stems from several factors:

• They provide a visual map of available process options
• They help teams understand the trade-offs between different approaches
• They support context-sensitive decision making rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions
• They facilitate the evolution of processes as teams learn and grow
• They create a common language for discussing process improvement

2. What are Process Goal Diagrams?

Process Goal Diagrams are visual representations used in Disciplined Agile that map out:

• Goals: What a team is trying to achieve in a specific process area
• Decision Points: Key considerations that must be addressed to achieve the goal
• Options: Potential strategies or practices for each decision point
• Factors: Contextual elements that influence which options are most appropriate

Each diagram focuses on a specific process goal (such as "Explore Scope" or "Coordinate Activities") and displays the various paths a team might take to achieve that goal based on their unique context.

3. How Process Goal Diagrams Work in Practice

When tailoring your WoW using Process Goal Diagrams:

Step 1: Identify the process goal you need to address
Step 2: For each decision point within that goal, consider your team's context and constraints
Step 3: Evaluate the options presented for each decision point
Step 4: Select options that best fit your situation
Step 5: Implement the chosen approaches
Step 6: Regularly reflect and refine as you learn

The diagrams don't mandate specific practices but instead present options ranging from basic to advanced, allowing teams to start simple and evolve their practices over time.

4. Real-World Application Example

Consider a team working on the "Coordinate Activities" process goal:

• Decision Point: How will we coordinate our work?
• Context: Distributed team across two time zones with varying experience levels
• Options Considered: Daily stand-up meetings, digital coordination boards, async updates
• Selected Approach: A hybrid of digital Kanban boards with brief synchronous check-ins three times weekly

The team chose this approach based on their specific context rather than defaulting to daily stand-ups just because they're common in Scrum.

5. Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Tailoring WoW with Process Goal Diagrams

When faced with exam questions about Process Goal Diagrams, remember these key points:

• Context is king - Always consider the specific situation described in the question
• Look for clues about team maturity, project complexity, and business environment
• Remember the spectrum from basic to advanced practices
• Consider trade-offs between different options
• Focus on goals over practices - What outcome is needed rather than which methodology to follow
• Multiple valid paths may exist - There's rarely a single "correct" answer

Common Question Types:

1. Scenario-based questions where you need to recommend appropriate process options for a specific team
2. Comparison questions asking you to evaluate different approaches for a given context
3. Process improvement questions about how a team might evolve their WoW over time

Example Question Strategy:

For a question asking which coordination approach is best for a new team in a regulated industry:

1. Identify relevant factors (new team = less experienced, regulated industry = documentation needs)
2. Consider the process goal (likely "Coordinate Activities" or "Ensure Quality")
3. Evaluate options against the context (need for structure, compliance requirements)
4. Select options that provide appropriate guidance while meeting regulatory needs

Remember that the DA mindset values pragmatism over purism - choose what works for the specific situation rather than adhering to process orthodoxy.