Diversity in Agile Project
My collegue Jon Bach pointed me to a project funded by the Agile Alliance to highlight some successful women in Agile today! See http://sites.google.com/site/diversityinagile/project-definition for details. The first thing that surprised me was the title. Why isn't it titled "Women in Agile?" I found it odd that it didn't mention any other diversity besides gender diversity. Let's face it, it isn't just women that are missing in most technology teams. Hispanic and black people of either gender are few. Also, let's not forget that the GLBT (not sure what order they go in but I'm talking about sexual orientation and transgender) are still underrepresented. However, this is one part of diversity, and they are DOING something. So many people just nod, complain, or use it as an excuse for why they can't go further. Not these people. They volunteer time to make a positive change.
There are many things I love about this project. First, it is volunteers who care doing this on their own time, and kudos to the Agile Alliance for funding a project that highlights the success of women in Agile! I'm proud of Lisa Crispin , and the longer I know her the more amazed I am at all she volunteers for. She inspires me. I enjoy the positive attitude that agile takes. It doesn't claim that this will solve the problem of diversity in software, but it shows a scope and something they WILL do and I think it will get people thinking. I love that. Rather than being petty or giving up because the problem is too large, or refusing to do anything until they can do everything, they pick something they can agree on and get to work.
If that isn't the spirit of agile , I don't know what is.
There are many things I love about this project. First, it is volunteers who care doing this on their own time, and kudos to the Agile Alliance for funding a project that highlights the success of women in Agile! I'm proud of Lisa Crispin , and the longer I know her the more amazed I am at all she volunteers for. She inspires me. I enjoy the positive attitude that agile takes. It doesn't claim that this will solve the problem of diversity in software, but it shows a scope and something they WILL do and I think it will get people thinking. I love that. Rather than being petty or giving up because the problem is too large, or refusing to do anything until they can do everything, they pick something they can agree on and get to work.
If that isn't the spirit of agile , I don't know what is.
Posted by Testy Redhead at 4 Jun 2010 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: testing Agile projects women diversity
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: testing Agile projects women diversity
I wholly agree with you that there isn't enough diversity in IT but I don't think that it is a purely IT issue.
I don't think that forced diversity is going to do anyone any good. I have seen what Apartheid has done and now the reverse (affirmative action) is doing. This has negative consequences to the economy as a whole in South Africa. This is partly the reason why I move to the UK.
Science degrees are suffering with a lack of people and the people that do these degrees are what we are seeing. I think that we need to change the way that sciences are perceived and I think naturally we will solve the issue with diversity.
Good article Lanette! It is very thought prevoking.
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I think that this topic can be touchy. What is unique about the project here is that it is on a small scale and no one is suggesting "forced" anything. All this project does is shows some women who are having success on agile teams. I would prefer if the focus was on showing a broader picture of diversity than just women, but they are a small group of volunteers. It is easy to be critical, but if you wait for the perfect way to promote diversity that "will work" for sure and that pleases everyone action will never happen.
This project focuses on success right now rather than blaming or going in to injustice or anything else. It is only about role models, showing that it can work, nothing else. It doesn't tell anyone what to do, it shows that it is being done. What good will it do? We don't know. What good does being critical do? If people have a better idea, they should act instead of sitting around doing nothing. Propose something and get funding like these people did.
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yes we are aware there are more diversity problems then this one.
And yes the problem is big in IT and not just the agile world. Again we act on one part.
Most reactions we get are like: "this is not big/good enough".
The fact that we get lot's of reactions, shows me it is an important issue.
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How many people do you have on the project? I understand and support the idea to do something now, then change or expand based on those results. To me, that is a bit part of agile development.
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It has definitely spawned some interesting discussion and introspection.
Having read the site, I think I can see what is being attempted but I do question whether it is broad enough or will, instead, serve to cause more problems. Speaking for myself, I'd rather see a presentation on diversity in teams and how that helps success because I don't find myself particularly motivated or encouraged because I'm a woman and someone else in a video is a woman.
As for not criticizing and doing my own thing - I happen to be a woman in test for over a decade, I happen to work in an Agile environment. That makes me part of the set of people you say you are looking for. I'm also part of the target market - women in IT or considering IT. But most of all, I do care about this subject.
Does anyone have to pay ANY attention to my thoughts? No - you have absolutely no obligation to do so. I'm fully aware it's not my project and I don't have a say in what you do. That said, I had hoped that offering some thoughts and some feedback might help you also see the diversity of your proposed subjects and audience, even though I do fit in the class "woman in Agile" as well.
Looking forward to discussing this more with you in person, Lanette.
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Whoops, I think I may have been misleading. This isn't my project, and I'm not involved with it at all. I simply read about it, thought about it, and blogged on my perspective.
This project is in it's infancy and no one has even made the videos yet. I'd personally like to see it cover a broader definition of diversity, but this isn't my project. Having personally worked with a transgendered co-worker as a woman for years and then as a man for a few years later, I'd be interested in his perspective on the difference, just as I'm interested in thought diversity.
I've also been in testing for over a decade and since working in an agile environment starting in 2009 I only want to work on agile teams from now on. I feel like my skills and personality are better suited for agile teams than waterfall teams.
The Diversity in Agile project is headed up by Mike Sutton, not by me.
I still hope we can go to lunch because I'd like to hear about your experience.
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I'm looking forward to lunch
I didn't realize it's not your project but I still think it's an interesting discussion to have.
I'd love to see the commentary of how changing gender changes the person as a tester. I worked with a man for several years who then changed to female. It would be interesting and I think I'd have a lot of questions. I should look her up at work and have coffee.
I prefer Agile processes over waterfall for several reasons as well, part of which is personality and part of which is project transparency to all.
Looking forward to lunch!
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