Stefan Wolpers

CORE

Agile Coach at Berlin Product People GmbH

Berlin, DE

Joined Oct 2015

https://age-of-product.com

About

Professional Scrum Trainer with Scrum.org, agile coach, and Scrum Master based in Berlin. Stefan also curates the weekly ”Food for Agile Thought” newsletter on best posts on agile practices, product management, and innovation—with 35,000-plus subscribers. (See @AgeOfProduct.) Also, he hosts the Hands-on Agile Slack community with more than 12,000 peers.

Stats

Reputation:	7163
Pageviews:	1.6M
Articles:	106
Comments:	15

Expertise

Agile

Methodologies

Articles
Comments

Articles

How Scrum Teams Fail Stakeholders

In this article, we uncover typical ways in which Scrum teams fail stakeholders, from overpromising results to poor risk communication to neglecting feedback.

March 26, 2024

· 767 Views · 2 Likes

Continuous Improvement as a Team

The top ten continuous improvement actions for teams, from scrum values to stakeholder inclusion to continuous learning.

March 19, 2024

· 2,694 Views · 5 Likes

Sprint Anti-Patterns

This article covers the three Scrum accountabilities (formerly roles) and addresses interferences of stakeholders and IT/line management with this crucial Scrum event.

March 12, 2024

· 2,858 Views · 2 Likes

Navigating the Agile Job Crisis

This article outlines actionable strategies for thriving in challenging times, emphasizing that growth and success are achievable.

March 7, 2024

· 1,764 Views · 1 Like

Scrum Anti-Patterns GPT

Scrum Anti-Patterns GPT: Find out how an early draft of the Scrum Anti-Patterns Guide book performs as a custom-made GPT.

February 26, 2024

· 1,575 Views · 2 Likes

Dysfunction Mapping

Discover the concept of dysfunction mapping, a tool developed over years of trial and error aimed at a way to find, theme, and solve organizational dysfunction.

February 13, 2024

· 1,966 Views · 1 Like

Getting Hired as a Scrum Master or Agile Coach

In this article, discover four simple steps of proactive research to avoid disappointment as you consider a new Scrum Master or Agile Coach job.

February 7, 2024

· 4,293 Views · 2 Likes

Could a Scrum GPT Challenge Scrum Masters?

This article answers if Scrum Masters change from essential practitioners to a niche role.

January 24, 2024

· 2,005 Views · 1 Like

Sunsetting Scrum Masters

In this article, discover the signs that a Scrum Master's journey is coming to a close and learn how to detect them.

January 16, 2024

· 2,544 Views · 5 Likes

Humble Planning: Maarten Dalmijn at the 57th Hands-On Agile Meetup

Maarten introduces the concept of humble planning and why it’s crucial for succeeding with an Agile way of working and building products of exceptional value.

January 8, 2024

· 2,314 Views · 2 Likes

Successful Scrum Masters

Do you match the seven success criteria?

December 11, 2023

· 2,835 Views · 2 Likes

A Guide to Missing Sprint Goals

Why succeed when you can fail?

December 4, 2023

· 3,866 Views · 7 Likes

The Scrum Trap

In this article, take a look at what practices and tools for collaboration and team building are not helpful when used with Scrum.

November 27, 2023

· 2,162 Views · 4 Likes

Escaping the Feature Factory

Refocusing from output to income. The feature factory fate is not inevitable; there is hope to avoid becoming a mere cog in the machinery. Learn how!

November 21, 2023

· 2,035 Views · 2 Likes

Overcoming Product Backlog Management Traps

During the 54th Hands-on Agile meetup, David Pereira shared tried and tested practices to avoid the feature factory fate.

November 13, 2023

· 1,926 Views · 1 Like

The Illusion of Velocity

In this article, I explore the pitfalls of ‘The Illusion of Velocity’ in Agile contexts, peeling back the layers of traditional metrics as leadership tools.

November 6, 2023

· 3,371 Views · 1 Like

Scrum Team Failure

This is the third of three articles analyzing the 183 anti-patterns from the upcoming Scrum Anti-Patterns Guide book. Let's dive in!

October 30, 2023

· 3,241 Views · 3 Likes

Saying No as a Product Owner or Product Manager

In this post, learn how to maintain a harmonious balance between driving Product Goals and nurturing professional relationships with your stakeholders.

October 23, 2023

· 2,268 Views · 3 Likes

An Agile Coach’s Guide To Storytelling [Video]

In this interview, Bob Galen shares his experience coaching an Agile coach struggling to connect with a development manager.

October 16, 2023

· 3,292 Views · 3 Likes

Should We Change Scrum?

Or is it blasphemy to tweak the "immutable" framework to accommodate our teams’ and organizations’ needs?

October 10, 2023

· 4,803 Views · 7 Likes

Minimum Viable Library Part 3: Agile Leadership Edition

Explore a series of carefully curated collections of essential books, newsletters, podcasts, and tools to elevate your Agile expertise.

October 2, 2023

· 2,334 Views · 3 Likes

Lost in Communication and Collaboration

Learn more about ineffective collaboration at the stakeholder level, often resulting in an unsuited reporting system based on misaligned metrics.

September 26, 2023

· 2,233 Views · 3 Likes

Wild West to the Agile Manifesto [Video]

Wild West to the Agile Manifesto — Jim Highsmith on the evolution of agile product development at the 52. Hands-on Agile Meetup.

September 25, 2023

· 1,967 Views · 2 Likes

Resistance to Agile Transformations

Stakeholders often revert to resistance to Agile transformations: Learn about ten reasons and five proven practices to help.

September 11, 2023

· 2,308 Views · 4 Likes

SAFe®: Despised, Yet Successful?

In this article, learn more about SAFe® and discover nine reasons for this unexpected development, from risk management to evolution.

August 28, 2023

· 2,074 Views · 2 Likes

Minimum Viable Library 2: Product Owner Edition

Explore a series of carefully curated collections of essential books, newsletters, podcasts, and tools to elevate your Agile expertise.

August 21, 2023

· 2,727 Views · 4 Likes

Adherence to Legacy Systems, Processes, and Practices

The first article in this series will address communication and collaboration issues at the team and organizational levels.

August 14, 2023

· 1,541 Views · 1 Like

The Minimum Viable Library for Scrum Masters

Explore a series of carefully curated collections of essential books, newsletters, podcasts, and tools to elevate your Agile expertise.

August 7, 2023

· 1,963 Views · 2 Likes

Scrum Anti-Patterns Taxonomy

In this article, find out more about the big picture of why Scrum fails at a personal, cultural, structural, or organizational level.

August 4, 2023

· 5,613 Views · 2 Likes

Product Discovery for Agile Teams

Scrum Tools, Part 2: From Design Thinking to Lean UX to User Story Mapping.

August 1, 2023

· 2,940 Views · 2 Likes

Comments

The Uncomfortable Truth of Scaling ‘Agile’

Jul 08, 2023 · Stefan Wolpers

Thanks for the Kudos! Best, Stefan

The Three Daily Scrum Questions Won’t Die

Mar 08, 2023 · Stefan Wolpers

I agree, Alan. As so often, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

A ChatGPT Job Interview for a Scrum Master Position

Jan 10, 2023 · Stefan Wolpers

I would like to train a support chatbot to help with everyday questions when no other support, for example, from the community is available. Also, I would be interested in a sparring partner to get a better understanding about a specific topic or thought.

20 Sprint Planning Anti-patterns

Apr 27, 2022 · Stefan Wolpers

Explain what?

How to Sabotage a Scrum Master

Dec 16, 2021 · Stefan Wolpers

https://age-of-product.com/scrum-anti-patterns/

Scrum: 16 Stand-up Anti-Patterns

Aug 18, 2020 · Stefan Wolpers

"Valet" — I like the coining!

Scrum: 16 Stand-up Anti-Patterns

Aug 17, 2020 · Stefan Wolpers

I was referring to the moment when people wait in-line to share with others. The newer version of the article can be found here: https://age-of-product.com/stand-up-anti-patterns/

27 Sprint Anti-Patterns Holding Back Scrum Teams

Jun 05, 2017 · Stefan Wolpers

Thanks for the kudos! You might be interested in downloading the Scrum Anti-Patterns Guide (free PDF) as well. Next post in the coming week is the sprint retrospective.

Scrum: 16 Stand-up Anti-Patterns

Apr 13, 2017 · Stefan Wolpers

What makes you believe that? Could you be more elaborate?

Agile Metrics: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Jan 08, 2017 · Stefan Wolpers

I disagree, your opinion contradicts my experience as shared in the post.

Agile Metrics: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Jan 07, 2017 · Stefan Wolpers

And how is that helping the team to get better?

Agile Metrics: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Jan 06, 2017 · Stefan Wolpers

You're referring to these “72% accomplished” metric?

10 Proven Stakeholder Communication Tactics During an Agile Transition

Aug 04, 2016 · Stefan Wolpers

Totally agree, particularly on sprint review part. On some projects, they feel more like an extended version of the daily reporting routine — aka daily scrum –. And I am as well still searching for the golden key… :)

10 Proven Stakeholder Communication Tactics During an Agile Transition

Aug 03, 2016 · Stefan Wolpers

Tobias, I agree. Anything that you would add?

How to Run User Tests Successfully: The ‘Why’ Question

May 10, 2016 · Stefan Wolpers

Ouch! Thanks for pointing at it! #fixed