Lessons from the Therapy for Mgbánwè Journey
By blending product development principles, user experience strategies, Lean methodology, and the Scrum framework, I was able to overcome significant challenges in the creation and distribution of Therapy for Mgbánwè. This approach enabled me to systematically remove impediments, reduce waste, and iterate rapidly, ultimately creating a more refined and accessible product for a diverse audience.
Therapy for Mgbánwè: Weekly Sprints and Customer-Centric Development
Sprint Cycle Outcomes:
Enhanced User Experience: Regular feedback loops enabled the book production and book release teams to adapt the book’s features to better meet the audience’s needs.
Agile Responsiveness: The structured 1-week Sprint approach allowed the book production team to quickly pivot and address emerging challenges without losing momentum.
Barging In vs Being Respectful
Whether it’s through MS Teams, Facebook, WhatsApp, showing up in-person, or phone calls, it’s crucial to respect people’s time instead of interrupting them without notice.
Research by psychologist Gloria Mark shows that it takes 23 minutes to refocus after an interruption, a fact I’ve used when coaching leaders with Scrum teams.
Therapy for Mgbánwè: Problem Identification and Decision-Making Process
Decision-Making Outcomes:
Cognitive Dissonance Management: By finally recognizing the “mental block” as a form of cognitive dissonance, Onyedika broke free from it and moved forward with the product’s release.
Incremental Delivery: This approach allowed for iterative product improvements, reducing waste and creating value for both academic and general readers in subsequent editions.
Enhance Your Organization’s Cultural Competence
If your organization—from small startups to large enterprises—wants to improve cultural competence and embrace a more inclusive approach, we’re here to help. Schedule a free 30-minute Team Assessment and Improvement consultation with Upgrading Self, and let’s work together towards building a more culturally aware and effective team.
Case Study 9: Enhancing Team Self-Management and Collaboration with AI Assistants
In a technology company, a culturally diverse team that was intended to be self-managing struggled under a Subject Matter Expert (SME) who micromanaged team members and criticized their self-management capabilities. After observing the team’s interactions for a month and comparing them with more self-managing teams, Upgrading Self identified the SME’s micromanagement as a critical issue. The introduction of AI assistants as a survey tool provided valuable feedback, which helped coach the SME and significantly improved team collaboration, cultural cohesiveness, productivity, and innovation.
Case Study 6: Increasing Contractor Productivity and Minimizing Operational Waste
A small-scale manufacturing company was losing $5,000 monthly due to ineffective contractor supervision when the chief engineer was absent. Upgrading Self analyzed the contractor management practices, introduced a comprehensive training program, and implemented Agile best practices with checklists. As a result, the company eliminated the $5,000 monthly waste, increased contractor productivity, and improved overall operational efficiency.
Case Study 4: 213% Increase in Velocity through Scrum Values Promotion
A private organization with a diverse Agile development team needed to boost production velocity and improve team cohesion. Upgrading Self promoted Scrum values and Agile practices, which led to a remarkable 213% increase in production velocity and enhanced team dynamics within the first month.