Introduction to the Core - Core Series Part 1

Pétur Orri Sæmundsen — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:18:22 GMT

We have been implementing the idea of a working agreement within teams when we do Scrum consulting. The team develops a list of principles which the team members agree not to break. Popular principles include things like "Respect each other", "Don't be late" and "Say what you think". The working agreement defines a social contract that help people work together. When I was introduced to the idea of a working agreement I immediately liked it since I saw it as a good way for team members to connect better with each other. But that was about it.

More than 6 months ago my Sprettur partner Daði introduced us to the Core by sending a video featuring Jim McCarthy from Agile 2008. I found out that the Core is a system to support a shared vision within a team. It is a working agreement that has been in development for over 10 years and is in version 3.02. Listening to Jim talk about the Core made me realize that the working agreement is the most important aspect of teamwork because it supports a shared vision (even more important than the right development method :) ). I already knew that a shared vision is crucial if a team is to succeed but always had vague ideas about how to get there.

We, the Sprettur guys, have now been using the Core for 6 months now and its power is amazing. Always when we run into trouble in our teamwork it's because we are not using the Core enough or we find out we didn't fully understand how to use it. The Core is so powerful that I have started using it at home with my family :)

The Core defines 11 commitments and 11 protocols. The commitments are similar to the working agreement discussed before but the protocols are procedures to support the keeping of the commitments (more on the protocols later). Following are the 11 commitments which should be read "I promise, X ":

I commit to engage when present.
I will seek to perceive more than I seek to be perceived.
I will use teams, especially when undertaking difficult tasks.
I will speak always and only when I believe it will improve the general results/effort ratio.
I will offer and accept only rational, results-oriented behavior and communication.
I will disengage from less productive situations
I will do now what must be done eventually and can effectively be done now.
I will seek to move forward toward a particular goal, by biasing my behavior toward action.
I will use the Core Protocols (or better) when applicable.
I will neither harm—nor tolerate the harming of—anyone for his or her fidelity to these commitments.
I will never do anything dumb on purpose.

In this series I will go through all the commitments and the protocols and describe how we, the Sprettur guys, have been using them and failing with them.

Agile smagile! - The Core

Introduction to the Core - Core Series Part 1