Musashi


I use the Musashi quotes to start off my one-day workshops introducing agile development. At first, it seems strange to use samurai quotes to understand software development, but then later it becomes so obvious how much his writings have in common with modern software development.

I highlight three of his motifs:

  • Waste no movement.

  • Learn each tool's strength; don't become attached to any one tool.

  • Reflect and adapt.

The one difference to resolve between Musashi's writings and software development is that Musashi keeps referring to killing the opponent. Who or what is the opponent in software development?

I was shocked in one organization when someone answered, "The users!" Looking for other opinions, I asked another person, who said, "The other specialists, like the database administrator!" Another person tried to clarify: "Sometimes you have to take out one of the other people on your team in order to get your work done."

Just in case you are tempted to make a similar response, I wish to stress that your teammate is not the opponent, nor is the user, your manager, or the sponsor.

The "opponent" is the problem you are trying to solve, the obstacles to delivering the system. "Killing the opponent" is solving the problem, delivering the system. Your situation will throw enough obstacles in your way that you don't need to consider your teammates as opponents.

Remember: "There's only us."



Agile Software Development. The Cooperative Game
Agile Software Development: The Cooperative Game (2nd Edition)
ISBN: 0321482751
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 126

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