Facilitation for Distributed Agile Teams

Introduction

Working with distributed teams is not a new idea. However, its implementation has been accelerated in many organizations by our recent global pandemic. Fortunately, the tools needed to work remotely have been evolving and are extremely effective. But what are those tools, and is a tool enough? How do distributed teams work within an agile philosophy?

Agile highlights that face-to-face communication is the most efficient and effective method to convey information; it even includes individuals and interactions in one of its four key values. So how does this work when we have distributed agile teams, even fragmented ones? What can a facilitator do to maintain a positive and effective workflow in these circumstances?

In this course, we will answer these questions. Students will learn the basic concepts and principles associated with successful remote facilitation and will practice using different techniques and tools. Also, students will gain practical recommendations to energize and encourage the participation of all attendees.

Distributed agile team facilitation is different and requires some unique skills, but it doesn’t mean work can’t get accomplished. It can even mean an opportunity to stop doing agile and actually start being agile.

Objectives

At the end of this course students will be able to:

Identify when and how to use different facilitation techniques and tools
Confidently lead a remote facilitated session
Use a toolbox of facilitation skills to effectively conduct remote facilitation sessions
Actively practice the skills, tools, and techniques learned
Successfully facilitate an Agile session with remote participants

Student Profile

This course is designed for Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, Release Train Engineers (RTEs), consultants, facilitators, or anyone in general who facilitates Agile sessions remotely.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to attend this course. However, attendees should know agile principles, values, and ceremonies and have some experience in face-to-face facilitation.

Course Materials

Each student will receive a copy of the course documentation prepared by Netmind.

Methodology

Engaging and interactive course. Our instructors teach all course materials using the demonstrative method; the participants learn new concepts through exercises and real application practices.

Certification

There isn’t an official certification associated with this course. However, students will earn 14 credit hours for their attendance.

Accreditation

A certificate of attendance will be issued to students who attend the course for at least 75% of the duration.

Course Outline

Welcome and Course Intro
Agile Remote Facilitation
1. Remote facilitation context and trends
2. Benefits and challenges for remote facilitation
3. Agile facilitation
4. Remote facilitated sessions approach
5. Activity: Propose a facilitated session
Session Feasibility
1. Determine need, level of commitment, risks, and appropriateness
2. Facilitation techniques
3. Remote facilitation tools
4. Activity: Assess feasibility of your session
Planning and Preparation
1. Plan the session: determine purpose, number of sessions, participants, deliverables
2. Remote facilitated session canvas
3. Activity: Plan your session
4. Prepare the session: participants, detailed agenda, facilities, and technology
5. Activity: Create a detailed agenda for your session
Conducting the Session
1. Introduce the session
2. Activity: Introduce your session
3. Facilitate session to agenda
4. Activity: Facilitate your session
5. Concluding the session
6. Action plan development
7. Session follow-up
Course Summary, Conclusions, and Feedback