Agile Vs Traditional

I have been hearing about 'Agile' in relation to Project management. I understand from dictionary that Agile means "able to move quickly and easily". Very well said and extremely desirable for business success under VUCA and what not!!

Further search informs that this concept was coined in 2001 and mainly for managing software development projects.

I read the menifesto:
*Manifesto for Agile Software Development*

"We are uncovering better ways of developing
software by doing it and helping others do it.
Through this work we have come to value:

- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools,
- Working software over comprehensive documentation,
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation,
- Responding to change over following a plan."

I could not understand much and so looked for commentary. I read:

"Agile is an iterative approach to project management and software development that helps teams deliver value to their customers faster and with fewer headaches. Instead of betting everything on a "big bang" launch, an agile team delivers work in small, but consumable, increments. Requirements, plans, and results are evaluated continuously so teams have a natural mechanism for responding to change quickly."

Am I wrong if I conclude that unlike waterfall (traditional methodology) there is no method in this madness? Does this methodology suggest there is no need to develop basic user requirement document and no need to plan or plan on daily basis in stand up meetings?

I read there is an associated concept of 'Sprint' as opposed to traditional way of developing detailed plan and execution. Does Sprint mean changing plan on daily basis? Is there a recommended shortest period for Planning without change? I learnt there was specification of few days to a month. Is it that the nature of product will decide period for which one Sprint will last?

There are experts in this broadcast group and in IT field. I will be obliged if you can help me understand this methodology. 

I believe and I may be out of date, there is difference between agility, dynamism and parkinson's disease. Organizations can not be dynamic to the extent of loosing stability. 

Humane Doctor

I have heard about Doctors (Physicians and Surgeons with different specialisations) espousing values true to Hippocratic oath and have been previleged to have met some. This one belonging to the latter group and therefore difficult to find, is a relative, borne and brought up under the same roof.

We share same genes and therefore all those genetic characteristics, and I do not refer to scientific meaning of the term lest the Doctor points out the mistake. I refer to the meaning attached to the term colloquially, like external toughness, height, body structure, candid and no-nonsense opinions, selective in relationships, extreme likes and dislikes, tender at heart but shy of expression, above average intelligence, learners, good at languages etc.

He is a voracious reader and prolific writer. He has eidetic memory, an eye for art and love for literature. He is an ace in diagnosis and because of that sought out by wealthy and powerful. I rate him ten on ten on empathy when it comes to poor, underserved and suffering. He is extremely compassionate.

He is a fitness freak and can be spotted on the road anytime between 4 am and 8 am, running or cycling at places as far as 50 kms from his house, stopping on way to observe, empathize with and feed those unfortunate sleeping on the footpath.

All these qualities combined with strong bias for written as opposed to verbal communication (though he is an eloquent speaker when he opts to or is compelled to speak), results into his frequent posts shared with select group (I find similarity with me here).

I received this one and thought of sharing with you all. And I quote:

"He is a tough nut! Have seen him carrying his siblings and parents as passengers in his cycle rickshaw!

Today he was sitting all by himself with an unmistakable film of tears in his big white eyes!

For me hysterical sobbing is no draw but yes, the tears that have been steadfast in the eyes, not allowed to run down, must require great resilience and tenacity!

I did not ask him! Period! Question and answer is no conversation! Sitting in silence, putting my hand on his, must have said a lot!

He pointed at his great toe, swollen, nail sheared off, blood caked black!

I was reminded of the great story of the anthropologist Margaret Mead!

Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.

But no. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.

A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said.”

We are at our best when we serve others. Be civilized.

I motioned him to get up, he barely could! I motioned him to remain still where he was!

Non verbal communication was creating more empathy than “oh poor little boy! What happened? How?“ it would have been such an average mundane morning encounter!

I got home, changed transport to car, reached where he was sitting, motioned to him to sit in the car!

We did not speak a word! In any case, pain demands to be felt and grief borne out of pain reveals us to our self! His poise through silence was remarkably impressive!

We went home!

One of the reasons, surgery was never a draw for me was my left handedness! I hate dressing wounds and the elaborate deliberate process is quite tedious and of course the other prerequisite for surgery was almost shutting down the cognitive process of thinking!

Yet, his hope and expectations were the driving force for me!

Cleaned, dressed and looking squeaky clean and new, the foot looked like it belonged to someone else!

Finally he tied a huge cross of trust around my neck! When I asked whether he believed I would return and fetch him, he just nodded in affirmative.

I must have given him the reason for him to exercise his rights over me, asking me for a pain killer tablet!

He managed a big smile as he walked away hastily wiping a lone tear with a swish of his hand!

When I looked at the final outcome of my wound dressing, I needed no further reason for not becoming a surgeon!

But who the hell cares!

His wound healed in three dressings!"

Short term Goals

I am lucky. I get good, creative, positive ideas in the form of questions, early in the morning before others ask me.

Today's question was "what next?". Not that I had accomplished a milestone (which my partner will do, come April she will complete 75 years) except that we had listed, procured, collected, packed and couriered a few items to children across all seas.

And that set in motion thoughts about processes and systems I have observed, at times helped in developing and implementing, over 55 years of work life.

And I asked that question to my Partner who is normally occupying the rocking chair next to mine twice a day for two hours each. And before the answer could come I had dived into the sea of knowledge, Google first and ChatGPT recently, has made available. Since I think logically and find and arrange search words Google likes, I get most appropriate results on first page.

I knew I was thinking about Milestones, Goals and Short term goals in particular and therefore necessarily SMART goals. You all know SMART here stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant (to age in my case), and Time-Bound.

I am convinced for long now that time will pass evenif I do not do anything. But that will mean I will exist and not live. For meaningful existance I need to have purpose and therefore goals for life. I have experienced and hence agree with that quote "You need a plan to build a house. To build a life, it is even more important to have a plan or goal." – Zig Ziglar

And I found extremely informative articles written to help Seniors, as they call them in west, help themselves and for caregivers who support such seniors.

I came across a website of an organization providing support to seniors. The approach includes design for SMART goals for seniors. Such goals are categorised as under:

The care givers suggests:

"The best goals will touch on one (or more) of the mind, body and spirit approach to total wellness. Here are examples of SMART. goals for seniors that address each of the total wellness areas.

Intellectual – sharpen your brain

• Try a new computer program or download a new game on your tablet or smartphone.
• Spend time researching a person, place or historical event and present your findings.
• Start brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand or performing a familiar task in reverse order.

Social – enhance friendships and meaningful connections

• Sit at a different table with people you don’t know at lunch or dinner.
• Set up monthly Zoom calls with a friend or family member you don’t know as well as you’d like.
• Take someone (or yourself) out on regular dates.

Emotional – stay happy or content

• Write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal every day.
• Commit to complimenting someone regularly.
• Share your feelings if you’re feeling sad, lonely or just out of sorts.

Spiritual – Connect to your higher power

• Watch inspirational videos on YouTube from people of different religions and spiritual backgrounds.
• Create faith-based discussion groups with your peers.
• Read or recite a different prayer each day.

Occupational – maintain or improve lifelong skills

• Work on strengthening your balance.
• Use a stress ball to strengthen your hand grip and dexterity.
• Reintroduce yourself to daily tasks you used to enjoy but no longer do (even if it’s dusting knicknacks).

Physical – move your body

• Invite a good friend into your activity routine to enhance accountability.
• Set a walking steps goal or chair exercise goal and meet it daily.
• Ask for an extra serving of vegetables in place of dessert a few times a week."

I have an idea, and that prompts me to this request. My goals, necessarily for shorter terms (not more than three months) should be directed in helping others and not helping myself. I will appreciate if any one or more (all will be best) can suggest some goals which I should plan to achieve which will help you all. You may write them down in comments. I will sincerely try to achieve as I have normally done.