Number of backlogs and multi-learning 4) specialized feature team

(Originally published by Lv Yi on June 23, 2019)

In this article, we shall look at the organization structure made of specialized feature teams, explore the dynamics around their backlogs, and then analyze the impact on agility and find levers to optimize for agility.

feature teams and agility

A feature team is responsible for delivering customer value from end to end. There is only one backlog associated with value delivery, i.e. the whole team shares the work and has one priority. In an organization, however, there are usually multiple feature teams, each having their own backlog. They are responsible for different customer domains, and that is why they are called specialized feature teams. Their backlogs contain mostly independent work.

More backlogs for efficiency

Let’s still ask the question of why having multiple backlogs for multiple feature teams. The answer again lies in efficiency thinking.

efficiency thinking CLD

B1-loop: specialization for efficiency

This is the same loop as the one we have seen in the structure made of functional and component teams. There is an explicit or implicit efficiency goal. This causes an efficiency gap, leading to more backlogs, more specialization, higher efficiency, which reduces the gap.

With feature teams there is a different type of specialization. Instead of specializing in a function or a component, a feature team specializes in a customer domain. This creates a different impact.

The “unintended” impact on adaptability

Since feature teams can deliver customer value independently, having more backlogs won’t have direct impact on e2e cycle time. But there is an unintended impact on adaptability - ability to change direction.

adaptability CLD

In the upper part of the diagram, there are 3 causal links from the number of backlogs to adaptability.

  1. More backlogs lead to lower transparency, less motivation to respond to change and lower adaptability.
  2. More backlogs lead to stronger local identity, less motivation to respond to change and lower adaptability.
  3. More backlogs lead to more specialization, narrower knowledge and lower adaptability.

All of them indicate that having more backlogs leads to lower adaptability.

For higher adaptability we need to:

  1. Increase transparency so that we see the need to adapt
  2. Reduce silos associated with local identity so that we are willing to adapt
  3. Increase knowledge breadth so that we have the skill to adapt

Multi-learning for fewer backlogs

Let’s see how to drive toward fewer backlogs in the context of feature teams.

knowledge breadth CLD

R1-loop: fewer backlogs drive broad learning

More backlogs lead to more specialization and narrower knowledge. The narrow knowledge, in turn, becomes the cause for more backlogs, thus creating a reinforcing R1-loop. It is easier to work in the direction of increasing the number of backlogs, how could we turn this around?

Take the same reinforcing loop and read it as follows: fewer backlogs, less specialization, broader knowledge, even fewer backlogs… The challenge is that less specialization does not lead to broader knowledge by itself. We need multi-learning to increase the knowledge breadth.

Fewer backlogs drive multi-learning; multi-learning enables fewer backlogs. They are mutually reinforcing. Therefore, the number of backlogs itself is an important lever - have one backlog for multiple feature teams.

The above analysis is exactly the same as the one for functional and component teams. What are the differences here? Here, the knowledge breadth is about customer domains, rather than functions or components. The backlog is product backlog, rather than functional or component backlog. The multi-learning is cross-domain learning, rather than cross-functional or cross-component learning.

What are the techniques for doing cross-domain learning? LeSS provides a guide about multi-team PBR. This is the key practice for any feature team to learn broadly about as many items as desirable from the same product backlog. In fact, when you start an adoption, it is recommended to do all-teams PBR by default, in order to maximize the learning. During multi-team PBR, instead of having different feature teams refine different items, we create mixed groups with people from different feature teams, and have them refine different items. They diverge and merge to get maximum cross-domain learning among feature teams sharing one product backlog.

In summary, the backlogs associated with feature teams are still there for efficiency. But the unintended impact is on adaptability, rather than e2e cycle time. Cross-domain learning enables fewer product backlogs, while fewer product backlogs in turn drives cross-domain learning.

Conclusion

Let’s conclude this series by putting various types of backlogs, specialization and multi-learning together.

Backlog Specialization Multi-learning
Functional backlog Function Cross-functional
Component backlog Component Cross-component
Product backlog Customer domain Cross-domain

 

The driver for having multiple various backlogs is the desire for higher efficiency through specialization. Teams specialize in different things: functions, components and customer domains. It creates different problems. Functional and component backlogs create dependencies for delivering customer value, thus, they have the most impact on e2e cycle time. While independent product backlogs for feature teams has the most impact on adaptability.

The key lever for all lies in multi-learning, though different types of multi-learning. Cross-functional learning enables fewer functional backlogs; cross-component learning enables fewer component backlogs; and cross-domain learning enables fewer product backlogs.

This ends the series about the number of backlogs and multi-learning.

Number of backlogs and multi-learning 3) feature group

(Originally published by Lv Yi on June 21, 2019)

In this article, we shall look at a variant of the functional team and component team structures - a feature group. We shall revisit known dynamics of the functional and component teams, and see what’s similar and different between them and a feature group in terms of impact on organizational agility.

feature project and agility

A feature group is also called a feature project. It is usually formed to deliver some special customer value by picking people from various functional and component teams. Each member has their own work and priority, thus their own backlog. This is similar to the functional team and component team structure where all the work needed for value delivery is in multiple interdependent backlogs. The difference is who is responsible for specific backlogs, teams or individual members of a feature group.

Feature group

Let’s start with the diagram for a functional team and component team structure, and understand how it applies in the context of a feature group.

local identity and efficiency

Individual responsibility

Members in a feature group take individual responsibility for either function or component, thus, they have multiple backlogs. Why?

B1-loop: specialization for efficiency

The functional or component specialization is good for efficiency. Except that now it is on members, rather than teams, but the same efficiency thinking applies.

This weakens the group’s common goal, and likely leads to the following dynamic.

R2-loop: Local identity hurts collaboration

Members still keep a strong local identity with their speciality. It hurts collaboration and leads to 1) increased integration effort, thus lower efficiency, and 2) increased integration time, thus longer e2e cycle time.

The feature group could reduce silo thinking by developing a common identity in addition to local identity. Something like: “You belong to this ‘team’ (feature group), nevertheless, you still do the work in your speciality only.”

Cycle time

In organizations with functional and component team structure, related parts may be done in different sprints, thus, the e2e cycle time could be several sprints long. However, the feature group should have the common goal of delivering customer value within the same sprint. In that case, the level of synchronization improves and waiting is confined to one sprint. The longest e2e cycle time would be one sprint. This also lessens the problem below .

R3-loop: Rework hurts efficiency

The rework caused by asynchrony still exists, but with improved level of synchronization, the resulting rework gets decreased.

Specialization

R1-loop: Over-specialization hurts collaboration

Over-specialization is still there when members have their own backlogs (B1-loop). The resulting narrow knowledge continues to hurt collaboration, and creates unintended impact on efficiency.

Besides, with dynamic requirements, the effort needed in various functions and components will change, which creates two more dynamics, shown as the additional R5 and R6 loops in the updated diagram.

group stability, collaboration and efficiency

As members have their own backlogs (B1-loop), the change on effort leads to:

1) Partial allocation

Some members will work in multiple feature groups with ensuing multi-tasking and associated context switching cost.

R5-loop: Multi-tasking hurts efficiency

More backlogs lead to more multi-tasking, which lowers efficiency. In other words, multi-tasking creates another unintended impact on efficiency.

2) Temporary group

Group members will change according to the amount of specialized work needed. Thus the group becomes a temporary group.

R6-loop: Group instability hurts collaboration

More backlogs lead to a less stable group. The feature group consists of people who are able to work on various backlogs. More backlogs, more changes the group is likely to endure. It takes time for any group to jell and become effective. Temporary groups tend to have low collaboration levels, and it is very hard to introduce and sustain any improvements. Thus, group instability creates another unintended impact on efficiency.

In summary, the feature group has the same main dynamics and problems as the functional and component teams with additional problems related to multi-tasking and group stability. However, a feature group may have a strong common goal of delivering customer value within the same sprint, and develop a common identity as a group. Therefore, it is usually better than no group at all, in terms of our goal for agility.

Feature team

To improve further on agility, having fewer backlogs in the feature group is a key lever. In fact, this is the main difference between a feature group and a feature team. A real feature team has only one backlog, and members take shared responsibility.

R4-loop: fewer backlogs drive broad learning

A feature team may also start with multiple implicit backlogs due to skills constraints. But one explicit backlog drives multi-learning and reduces the number of implicit backlogs over time. On the other hand, a feature group accepts the status quo and keeps multiple backlogs forever.

Having one backlog removes the need for partial allocation and temporary groups. With dynamic requirements, which is very common, the effort needed in various functions and components will still change, and there will still be a mismatch between work and skills. When that happens, we take advantage of it and trigger cross-functional and cross-component learning.

The same list of techniques for cross-functional and cross-component learning still applies.

  • specification by example
  • collective code ownership
  • pair/mob programming
  • communities of practice (both functions and components)
  • component mentor
  • current-architecture workshop
  • multi-team design workshop

Multi-learning further enables fewer backlogs, until eventually achieving one backlog. By then, a feature group becomes a feature team.

Number of backlogs and multi-learning 2) functional team and component team

(Originally published by Lv Yi on June 12, 2019)

In this article, we shall look at the structure of functional and component teams, explore the dynamics around their backlogs, analyze its impact on agility, and find the lever to optimize for agility.

org structure impact on agility

A functional team is responsible for functional work such as analysis, design, implementation, and testing. Component team is responsible for the implementation of various technical components, such as component A, B and C. Each team has its own work and priority, thus, its own backlog. For overall value delivery, it means that the required work is in multiple backlogs which are dependent on one another.

More backlogs for efficiency

Let’s step back and first ask the question: why more backlogs? The answer lies in “efficiency thinking”.

Specialization for efficiency

B1-loop: specialization for efficiency

Organizations have either an explicit or implicit efficiency goal. The difference between this goal and reality causes an efficiency gap. Creating more backlogs, leads to specialization and, it theory, to higher efficiency, which reduces the gap.

Higher efficiency should also lead to shorter touch time (i.e. the time used to process the work in a function or a component), thus, shorter end-to-end cycle time. However, we need to understand what percentage touch time accounts for in the whole e2e cycle time, and to see a bigger picture.

The “unintended” impact on cycle time

Let’s see more factors having impact on cycle time.

Impact on cycle time

In the upper part, more backlogs lead to more parts for integration, longer integration time, longer e2e cycle time.

In the lower part, more backlogs lead to lower level of synchronization (different parts are being worked on at different times), which leads to: 1) more rework, thus, more rework time, and 2) longer waiting time. In both cases, longer e2e cycle time.

Even though having more backlogs may lead to shorter touch time, other factors create negative effects on the whole cycle time. It is often the case that touch time is not the most significant part, while waiting and integration account for much more.

The “unintended” impact on efficiency

Let’s return to efficiency. As we analyzed earlier, it is the efficiency goal that drives toward more backlogs. Now we shall see the unintended impact on efficiency.

Impact on efficiency

The level of collaboration is one commonly overlooked factor. A unit of work does not stand alone, but needs to be integrated with other units. Integration requires collaboration with others. Thus, the level of collaboration affects both time and efficiency. Let’s see which dynamics create negative effects on collaboration.

R1-loop: Over-specialization hurts collaboration

More specialization leads to deeper but narrower knowledge. The knowledge breadth is important for collaboration. In fact, the overlap in knowledge among collaborators helps a lot in mutual understanding. On one hand, narrow knowledge decreases efficiency, thus, creates the R1-loop. On the other hand, it creates more negative effects on integration time, leading to an even longer e2e cycle time.

R2-loop: Local identity hurts collaboration

More backlogs leads to stronger local identity, which means that one group only works on a specific function or component, while another group is not allowed to touch it. These are functional and component silos, and they hurt collaboration. This both decreases efficiency and worsens the integration time, thus even longer e2e cycle time.

Another dynamic comes from rework, which also creates a negative effect on efficiency.

R3-loop: Rework hurts efficiency

When work is done asynchronously, hidden problems are commonly discovered during integration and often require redoing parts that were considered complete. So, the rework caused by the asynchrony (i.e. low level of synchronization), which is caused by having different backlogs, decreases efficiency. This creates the R3-loop.

Overall, B1-loop aims to increase efficiency, but it creates unintended consequences on collaboration and rework and worsen the e2e cycle time. B1-loop and R1..R3-loop form the system archetype called “fixes that backfire”.

Multi-learning for fewer backlogs

Let’s see how to drive toward fewer backlogs.

Backlogs and knowledge breadth

R4-loop: fewer backlogs drive broad learning

More backlogs lead to more specialization and narrower knowledge. Then, the narrow knowledge becomes the cause for more backlogs creating a reinforcing R4-loop. It is easier to work in the direction of more backlogs. How could we turn this around?

Take the same reinforcing loop and read it like this: fewer backlogs, less specialization, broader knowledge, even fewer backlogs… The challenge is that less specialization does not lead to broader knowledge by itself. We need multi-learning to increase the knowledge breadth.

Fewer backlogs drives multi-learning; multi-learning enables fewer backlogs. They are mutually reinforcing. Therefore, the number of backlogs itself is an important lever - have one backlog by creating a real cross-functional and cross-component feature team.

What do we mean by multi-learning? The backlogs are based on functions and components here, thus, we do cross-functional and cross-component learning.

What are the techniques enabling cross-functional and cross-component learning? Below is a list of well-known techniques, and many of them are in LeSS guides:

  • specification by example
  • collective code ownership
  • pair/mob programming
  • communities of practice (both functions and components)
  • component mentor
  • current-architecture workshop
  • multi-team design workshop

In summary, separate backlogs for functional and component teams are created for higher efficiency, but they create unintended negative impact on the overall e2e cycle time, and even worse, overall efficiency itself. Multi-learning enables fewer backlogs, while fewer backlogs in turn drives multi-learning and improves delivery capability.

Number of backlogs and multi-learning 1) see the backlogs

(Originally published by Lv Yi on June 8, 2019)

This is the first article in a series about “number of backlogs and multi-learning”. It introduces three common team structures in product development organizations.

Goal for Agility

Let’s first set the stage for our analysis by clarifying the system optimizing goal. The goal is to optimize for agility. Agility is delivering the highest customer value in an uncertain environment. With uncertainty, the ability to deliver is not sufficient. We need the ability to inspect and adapt in order to deliver the highest customer value. We may inspect and find that the market has changed. We embrace the change and make the necessary adaptation, then we can deliver value. We may deliver our initial idea, then, we inspect the feedback, then adapt by acting on the feedback.

Here is the essential cycle to illustrate.

Inspect-Adapt-Deliver cycle
  • Inspectability

    The ability to inspect is the ability to learn. Learn from the market and customers, learn from feedback, and analyze to gain the insights.

  • Adaptability

    The ability to adapt is the ability to change direction. Embrace the change and decide the next appropriate step - either refine it or make a pivot.

  • Deliverability

    The ability to deliver is associated with end-to-end cycle time. Deliver customer value now; or deliver to learn now so as to deliver more value later.

To optimize for agility, we optimize for either of them or all of them.

Backlogs with various teams

There are various team structures in product development organizations. Let’s see different backlogs associated with them.

1. Functional team and component team

Functional team is responsible for functional work such as analysis, design, implementation, testing. Component team is responsible for the implementation of various components, such as component A, B and C. Each team has its own work and priority, thus, its own backlog. For the value delivery, it requires the work in multiple backlogs, and they are dependent on one another.

Functional and Component Teams

In the above picture, each box is either a functional team or a component team, and each team has its own backlog (i.e. 6 backlogs in total). In the second article, we shall analyze its impact on overall agility and find the lever to optimize for agility.

2. Feature group

A feature group is also called a feature project. This is directly connected to the structure of functional team and component team, thus, more as a variant. A project group is formed to deliver value for a specific market or customer segment. It consists of people from various functional and component teams. Each member has its own work and priority, thus its own backlog. Similar to the first structure, for the value delivery, it requires work to be in multiple backlogs, and they are dependent on one another.

Functional and Component Members

The above picture is actually the same as the one for functional and component team, except each box now is either a functional member or a component member, and each member has its own backlog (i.e. 6 backlogs in total). It is likely that multiple members may share one backlog for some functions or components, but the structure remains the same. In the third article, we shall revisit the dynamics within the functional team and component team, and see how much similarity and difference a feature group has with them, in terms of its impact on the agility and the lever.

3. Specialized feature team

A feature team is responsible for delivering customer value from end to end. There is only one backlog associated with value delivery, i.e. the whole team shares the work and one priority. However, for the organization, there are multiple feature teams, each having their own backlog. They are responsible for different customer domains, hence specialized feature teams. Work items in different backlogs are independent from one another.

Specialized Feature Teams

In the above picture, each box is a feature team, and each team has its own backlog (i.e. 3 backlogs in total). In the fourth article, we shall analyze its impact on the agility and find the lever to optimize for the agility.

Here are all four articles in this series:

  1. see the backlogs (this one)
  2. functional and component team
  3. feature group
  4. specialized feature team

Number of backlogs - the ultimate lever

(Originally published by Lv Yi on Sep 22, 2018)

The number of backlogs is the ultimate lever for agility.

This is the insight we gained from the systems modeling exercises in my recent CLP course. I used to think of two main designs from LeSS: 1) one product backlog, and 2) feature team. I realized that these two were just different applications of the same lever, which is the number of backlogs. Please note that backlogs here include all kinds: product backlog, team backlog, individual backlog, etc. Some are explicit and others maybe be implicit.

How many backlogs do we have in an organization? Does one product have one backlog? Does one team have one backlog? Or, does one person have one backlog? When all teams in the same product share one priority, there is only one backlog for the whole product. When every member in the same team has its own priority (e.g. his priority follows his speciality), there are actually many backlogs even for one team.

When we actively look for backlogs, we will find plenty.

Effects on agility

When we have many backlogs, there are two kinds:

1. Parallel/independent backlogs

Feature teams specialize in customer domains

This is the case when each feature team specializes in one customer domain and has its own backlog. What if there is an increased demand from one of those customer domains? As other teams have their own backlogs, we won’t be able to adapt based on shifting demand and maximizing the customer value.

The more parallel/independent backlogs, the less adaptiveness.

2. Sequential/dependent backlogs

Feature teams specialize in customer domains

This is the case when each component team specializes in one technical domain and has their own backlog. What if the feature requires a change in all those technical domains? As each team has its own backlog, chances are that not all of their work will be in sync, thus the end-to-end cycle time will increase.

The more sequential/dependent backlogs, the longer the cycle time. Eventually it harms the adaptiveness.

Agility means adaptiveness. In short, the more backlogs, the less agility.

Constraints from specialization

Why do we create many backlogs? We want specialization. Why do we create a backlog for each customer domain? We want specialization in the customer domain. Why do we create a backlog for each technical domain? We want specialization in the technical domain.

The more specialization, the more efficiency and the higher quality. It must be good, right? However, it becomes a constraint over time, and harms our agility. When this happens, is it our conscious decision? Most likely not, it is just based on our fast thinking. Instead, we should do more slow thinking here, so as to see the consequences.

Having everyone able to do everything is a sufficient, but not a necessary condition to enable one backlog for a team. Similarly, having every team able to work on any feature is a sufficient, but not a necessary condition to enable one backlog for a product. The key is, there should be no constraints when we say that people or teams have one backlog. When we can not adapt to maximize customer value, we are over-specialized.

How do we reduce the constraints? We learn, and we cross-learn. When we are less constrained by our specialization, we are more agile. Learning effectiveness should become our focus in order to reduce the number of backlogs and to achieve agility.

LeSS or less

How much specialization is over-specialization? It depends on our need. How much agility do we need? It depends on our capability. How much broad learning provides the right amount of challenge for our people?

LeSS provides a reference point for our consideration, which is for roughly 50 people, we want to strive for one product backlog with multiple feature teams. Feature team means that we do not create separate backlogs for each technical domain/component; while one product backlog means that we do not create separate backlogs for each customer domain.

What if this step is too big for us? Our first step could be to combine backlogs for two technical domains/components, or for two customer domains, therefore, have one less backlog. That is the minimum step we could take.

When we reduce the number of backlogs, we increase agility. Indeed, the number of backlogs is the ultimate lever.