Shu Ha Ri

In the Earth Book, Musashi describes rules for learning the art of strategy. They apply equally to the art of software development:

1. Do not harbor sinister designs. Think honestly and truthfully. 
2. The Way is in training. One must continue to train. 
3. Cultivate a wide range of interests in the ten skills and ten arts. Then one can definitely find the benefits of hyoho and develop oneself. 
4. Be knowledgeable in a variety of occupations, and learn the thinking of people who work in them. 
5. Know the difference between loss and gain in worldly matters. 
6. Nurture the ability to perceive the truth in all matters. It is important to build up an intuitive judgment and understand true values. 
7. Be aware of those things which cannot be easily seen with the eye. Develop intuitive judgment and a mind that freely controls one's body. 
8. Do not be negligent, but pay attention even to the smallest details. Keep them in mind all the time, so as to avoid unexpected failure. 
9. Do not engage in useless activity. Do not argue about useless things. Concentrate on your duties.

I'll discuss each of these in separate posts.

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• Tags: Agile, Books, Musashi's Nine Rules

I'm going to recommend a second book for anyone using Agile techniques, espeically if you've been reading the Agile Samurai; it's "The Book of Five Rings" by Miyamoto Musashi. 

OK, so now you're wondering what a book about winning sword fights has to do with Agile. In fact, the book concerns strategy in general and is more relevant to software development than any Prince2 book. I'll take as an example the "ground book," in which Musashi compares a master carpenter to a military commander:

"The master carpenter distributes the work among his men according to their levels of skill. Some are floor layers, others makers of sliding doors, thresholds and lintels, ceilings and so on. Those of poor ability lay the floor joists, and those of even lesser ability can carve wedges and do such miscellaneous work. If the master knows and deploys his men well the work will progress smoothly and the result will be good.

The master carpenter should take into account the abilities and limitations of his men. Circulating among them, he can know their spirit and different levels of morale, encourage them when necessary, understand what can and cannot be realized, and thus ask nothing unreasonable. The principle of strategy is like this."

This relates directly to the way a SCRUM Master needs to help organise the Agile Team. Team members contribute according to their ability and nothing unreasonable is asked of them. Over time, through team work, cross skilling can occur and everyone can acheive better general skills, but if you have someone who is naturally good at thinking like a client, they need to be wearing the business analyst hat for a lot of the time.

Anyway, for a book written a good few hundred years ago it's remarkably relevant.

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I'll begin the blog with a book recommendation. The Agile Samurai isn't about Japanese warrior who can do flips; it's a really good source of real world advice on Agile software development. It's a great way to get started and it's an entertaining read.

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• Tags: Agile, Books