Agile practices promote ongoing team learning, but aren't necessarily as effective for new team members since they focus on reducing the "run time", not the "setup time". Understanding the different learning needs of new team members and addressing them directly with specific onboarding practices is a skillset lost by some teams as they move away from traditional "heavy" management approaches. And yet, the reason that companies implement induction programs for new hires persists. How effective is the one you have for your project? ThoughtWorks trainer and coach, Pat Kua maintains that rolling new team members on to projects can be organised without being difficult.
Kua applies ideas from the world of Lean process, and briefly explains how to use strategies like: preparation email, sharing the "big vision, and maintaining "visible architecture" and "transparent project debt". And he advises:
Kua applies ideas from the world of Lean process, and briefly explains how to use strategies like: preparation email, sharing the "big vision, and maintaining "visible architecture" and "transparent project debt". And he advises:
Try "Letting Go" - Give each new team member enough space to make mistakes in a safe environment. Some lessons are more effective if they learn it themselves.Read Patrick Kua's InfoQ Article: A Leaner Start: Reducing Team Setup Times