Agile Principle #9 – Focus On Technical Excellence And Solid Design

Part 9 in a 12-part series. This post covers technical excellence and solid design.

In part eight of this series, Blake McMillian wrote about A Sustainable Pace For All. He challenges us to expand the context to consider how sustainable pace goes beyond just the people creating the product.

In this post, we’re looking at technical excellence and design.

Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.

Principles behind the Agile Manifesto

For me, technical excellence and solid design cannot be separated. They go together like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Not like a peanut butter and ham sandwich. Although, that might be a combination somewhere in the world.

So, what does technical excellence look like? Or even better, what is good design?

The standard consulting answer is, “it depends.”

Maybe there are better questions we should be asking. Notice, “continuous attention . . . enhances agility.”

What could be removed? How can this be simplified? Can we streamline this workflow?

The questions above, to me, seems to focus attention to enhance agility.

Technical excellence and solid design

In researching for this post, I found two websites worth reviewing.

As a car guy, I’ve referred to Toyota and Porsche in past posts. In this instance, I’ll note them again. This time based on Agile Principle #9.

First, Lexus and its design award. Since 2013, Lexus (a Toyota Motor Company brand) has sponsored the award and the entries are inspiring.

Lexus Stories webpage

As “Stories” on the Lexus website, you can look at the source page by clicking here.

Second, Porsche Design which is a lifestyle brand. It takes the inspiration from Porsche automobiles and extends it to other products.

Porsche Design U.S. homepage

Click here for the Porsche Design website.

Two approaches that build on the concepts of this blog post. Both building on their histories around their products. How did Lexus and Porsche get to where they are today?

I assess it is continuous focus on technical excellence. They didn’t lose sight of their product and service technical or design aspects.

Neither should we.

You can learn more about Agile Principles in Part 10 of this series: Simplicity is not easy.

Principle 1, Principle 2, Principle 3, Principle 4, Principle 5, Principle 6, Principle 7, Principle 8, Principle 9, Principle 10, Principle 11, Principle 12


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