At XpDays Benelux, we used some Core Protocols like the perfection game, click, click rewind. The Core Protocols are seen by some as the future of agile and by others as the for-fathers of agile. Although maybe technically they are not part of the agile movement, I know lots of agilist, who love to use them to enhance teams. When last week so many people learned about the power of the core at XPDays, I thought it could be a good idea to have this weeks Agile Thursday Quiz about the Core Protocols.
That is why Vickie Gray, who was one of my trainers in The Core Protocols, and author of Creating Time an upcoming book about the core protocols, created questions about the Core Protocols. Here are her questions.
1. What are the two main steps you MUST take if you Check Out?
a. Say “I’m checking out” and then physically leave the group.
b. Say nothing and then physically leave the group.
c. Say “I’m checking out” and tell everyone why.
d. Say “I’m checking out” and either stay or leave – it’s your choice.
e. Say “I’m checking out” and put your earphones on to listen to some music to relax.
f. Say nothing and stay in the group but just don’t participate in anything – saying something about being checked out would just distract the group.
2. What is the first of the Core Commitments?
a. I will speak always and only when I believe it will improve the general results/effort ratio.
b. I will use teams, especially when undertaking difficult tasks.
c. I commit to engage when present.
d. I will offer and accept only rational, results-oriented behavior.
e. I will never do anything dumb on purpose.
f. I will disengage from less productive situations.
3. What is the one protocol that you cannot Pass on?
a. Check In
b. Personal Alignment
c. Perfection Game
d. Decider
e. Ask for Help
f. Investigate
4. Which of the following statements is TRUE of the Ask For Help Protocol?
a. The best time to Ask For Help is when things are going well.
b. You shouldn’t Ask For Help from someone who is busy.
c. You should only ask for help from someone you know has the answer.
d. If you get asked for help it’s important to be polite and give whatever help the asker needs even if you don’t want to help.
e. Never leave the team to Ask For Help when the team is really busy and time is running out.
f. You should always withhold help from someone who asks a lot because they’re probably just being lazy.
9 comments on “Agile Thursday Quiz: about the Core Protocols”
1.a 2.c 3.d 4.a easy !
This is easy as I just read the protocols today to find an answer about some specific detail of the PG…
I love synchronicity.
1.a—you can’t stay with the group after checking out. you can’t stay and not participate as that would violate
2.c—your 1st commitment that you’d be engaged when present.
3.d—you need to participate in a Decider.
4.a—when you’re already in trouble you waited too long to ask… but taken out of this context (as you did with the answer above) it sounds a bit extreme to me:-)
Thanks, Yves, for doing this quiz series…
Olaf
nice quiz!
What do you do when you think someone needs help, but doesn’t ask for it?
a. nothing
b. ask them if they would like help
c. either a or b
d. just start helping
@jim mccarthy my answer is “a. nothing”. If I feel that one person needs help, this is a rescue.
However, if this person is working on a task I perceive as relevant for the team and the product, and I can see way to improve it, I would ask if I can do a perfection game of what he is doing. I can imagine that the fact he ask for help to other team members (including me) would be listed as a way to reach 10/10.
Ooh, Jim, good question. That one comes up a lot.
I pick b.
A rescue is when you start from the assumption the other person can’t or won’t do for themselves what you think they should do, so you do it without their agreement – you force them into a position of inferiority to you. But it’s not a rescue if you offer help and accept both yes and no for an answer. Offering help is just good teamwork, especially if you have time and energy and could contribute to shipping the product. Not offering if you could and want to help would be doing something dumb on purpose. However, if they decline your help, you must accept that without judgment.
c. either a or b. It depends. If I clearly understand the goal of the persons from what I observe and think my help could be immediately effective, I will ask if they would like help. If I don’t understand their goal or feel they are stuck, *I* will ask for help.
@jim McCarthy
b) Ask them if they would like help using the “Ask for Permission” Protocol, starting with “May I…” and accepting “No” as an answer.
e. g. “Jim, may I help you with X”