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.

Therapy for Mgbánwè: Trademark Violation and Swift Rebranding

Rebranding Outcomes:
Proactive Impediment Removal: By prioritizing the rebranding in a focused Sprint, the book production team removed the impediment of the trademark issue without delaying the event for the book release team.
Customer Trust: Offering the updated edition for free built customer loyalty and demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering value.

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.

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 8: Driving Operational Efficiency in a Manufacturing Organization

A medium-sized manufacturing company was facing significant delays in production due to inefficient processes and poor resource management. Upgrading Self conducted a comprehensive workflow analysis and implemented lean management techniques to streamline operations. As a result, the company saw a 25% reduction in production lead times and a 15% increase in output.