Deane Banker

Every software team needs to unify, although that can be hard in the wake of disorganization. Perhaps that’s why Takeuchi and Nonaka chose the name Scrum for their new management methodology in 1986. The name is from rugby, where teams bunch together as a self-organized unit to get the ball. In today’s world of rapid product development, this approach is necessary; whereas the out of date phased planning approach works like a marathon; out of shape competitors fall behind. 

During my time at Champlain College, I learned first-hand the importance of this more Agile approach, working under deadlines of a week or a month. These “sprints” did not always yield perfect results, but a product was always developed. My emphasis as a manager is on: self-organizing teams, overlapping development phases, workflow visualizations, & constant optimization. This same approach turned Toyota into the giant that it is today. In the same way, new software companies such as: Uber, Airbnb, & Snapchat have come to dominate the digital world.  I believe that this approach is necessary in the innovation driven, fast-paced software market of today.  My experience delivering products in a deadline driven environment with Scrum & Kanban is my greatest asset as a young manager, striving to do more with less.