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055 Look for solutions to problems rather than a scaling framework

Bas Vodde: I’m Bas Vodde, the “accidental” creator of the large scale scrum or LeSS framework, and I’m spending most of my time building products, writing code, coaching, and giving trainings every now and then. And having a lot of fun doing that while trying to figure out weird organizational dynamics, cool technical problems, and contribute to open source every now and then. And that’s about it. Most of the rest of the time I like to spend with my family

Dhaval Panchal: Dhaval Panchal, based in Houston, I work with organizations for the transition to Agile. I prefer that they don’t have a choice of how to do it, but more interested in solving real problems that they’re facing. And I’m also a Scrum trainer so I do training for folks. I like motorcycles and if I’m not paying attention in a meeting I’m most likely dreaming about football or soccer. You can find me on twitter @DhavalPanchal

Lancer: I’ve a question for Bas. A vice president is looking for a scaling framework. He goes up to you and says, “Hey Bas, I hear you have a scaling framework. I’ve been looking at these other frameworks.” He goes through the list of them and then says, “So tell me, what is LeSS all about?”

Bas: I would be uncomfortable with that discussion to start with. Saying “we need a scaling framework” is the wrong starting point because he’s already assumed too much. So I might just tell him that LeSS is a way of scaling by creating a simpler organization or I would tell him that if he’s looking for scaling framework right now, then he can pick one of the others and come back when he would like to talk about the problems he has in the organization first. Then we’ll help him solve that particular problem. Just assuming that you know all the problems and then assuming the solution is a scaling framework would be an awkward starting point.

Lancer: Does it happen in real life?

Bas Vodde: Not very often. I guess it does happen, but because LeSS is such a seemingly simple way of working, that person will want to look for something complex and–

Dhaval Panchal: —complicated

Bas Vodde: —so they will not seriously look at LeSS and that’s okay. When I work with organizations, I like to help them to figure out their problems, and not necessarily hand them a solu