by Improve It

While at a client’s site, I was thrown into a schedule of endless agile meetings! Daily stand-up meetings, sit-down meetings, lunch meetings (Seriously, these meetings do really work!)

Lots of productive meetings. This is a good sign. This is one of the reasons why Agile is becoming  “the way to go“  in software development and implementation. More open communication leads to better understanding of the requirements of the product , fast resolutions of the issues resulting to more energized commitment to work as a team.

But one thing I love with Agile is how every member has embraced the idea of “less documentation in words” but more of “documentation in visuals, graphics and drawings“.  This made the white board, sketch pads, post it, markers the most loved  tools in every meeting.  Since I am very visual person, I prefer the graphical representation of stories, process, methods ( or anything you can translate to drawings).
 

 
So what has camera got to do with this post?

Since I find it hard to listen and write at the same time, I found that bringing a digital camera  in any Agile meeting is also “the way to go..”

Here’s what I do :

• I take snapshots of the whiteboard or story board
• Print the photos for easy viewing
• Upload the photos in the Project Management software

Advantages of using camera:

• Since I started this new meeting habit, I found myself more productive.
• I can participate intently in all the discussions first, then capture the diagrams later.
• There is 100% accuracy in the details compared to copying the same by hand.
• Indeed, a picture is worth a thousand words.
• And need I say, it is also more fun !!!

From that day on, my QA Tool Kit won’t be complete without a small, simple, reliable digital camera.

Don’t take my word for it, just try it !  Cheers!

Tess Rupprecht