Given at Lean Agile Scotland, 11 September 2014
This talk was a real high wire act: using a subject of passionate, vociferous (and yet strangely civilised) debate to talk about organisation change. Fortunately, nobody lynched me!
[bs_tabs] [bs_tab title=”Abstract”]A hugely interesting outcome of the Independence Referendum has been the growth in interest in questions that previously only attracted political geeks of the wide staring eyed variety.
The rise in political interest has allowed us to reimagine what kind of country should Scotland be, and how closely should it be adapted to its context, and a conscious seeking of models that might serve as inspiration to what Scotland could be, regardless of the referendum outcome.
- How should society be structured?
- What aims should we pursue?
- How is power legitimised?
- How is policy developed and implemented?
And above all
- Where should sovereignty be located?
Similarly, the growth of Agile has significantly raised the awareness of current state in delivery organisations, and along with a deep seated urge for ’better’ an outward quest to find heuristics that might support greater insight and better practise in our organisations.
How well can models developed for other contexts be applied to ours?[/bs_tab]
[bs_tab title=”Slides”]

Sketchnotes from my Lean Agile Scotland 2014 talk by Stuart Young.
@BadgerTaming @MartinBurnsSV actually his swedish is really good.
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) September 12, 2014
Government health warning from @MartinBurnsSV – I can't vote, don't lynch me, I'm not trying to guide you.
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
Agile is political – hence it was called the Manifesto.@MartinBurnsSV #Lascot14 pic.twitter.com/12fvx3Egr5
— (((Marc Burgauer))) (@somesheep) September 12, 2014
When you're talking about Lean and Agile, you're being political. Agile is politics. @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) September 12, 2014
Things start getting better when we treat them as they are not how we would like them to be @drunkcod quoted by @MartinBurnsSV at #lascot14
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
@MartinBurnsSV you can't get away from politics in work – trying to make changes/improvements IS a political process. #lascot14
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
Power originates from and resides in the team ~ @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) September 12, 2014
@MartinBurnsSV hierarchy of power sharing #lascot14 pic.twitter.com/kXVeWI0q72
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
#mascot14 @MartinBurnsSV pic.twitter.com/SwaTF9wf1l
— Ursparven (@Ursparven) September 12, 2014
When you play Game of Thrones – you win or die. And they're the experts at it. @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14 Pick your moment carefully
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
Truly wonderful, oblique, talk from @MartinBurnsSV on politics and change #lascot14
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) September 12, 2014
Try to control the debate to the areas where you are strong – and beware details obscuring the bigger picture @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
Anyone that claims change is the only risk, is not paying attention. ~ @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) September 12, 2014
For changing organisation: recognise "yes there are risks. We have the capability to face them and overcome" @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
The secret of freedom lies in education people, whereas the secret to tyranny is keeping them ignorant. @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) September 12, 2014
To counteract propaganda – educate, discuss, inspire @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
If you make your walls very thick, you can't break out @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
Be more than a campaing. Be more than a commuity. Be a movement! ~ @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) September 12, 2014
Be more than a campaign, be a community,be engaged, be patient, build trust, be a movement @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
Agile is Politics@MartinBurnsSV #LASCOT14
— Naveed Khawaja (@morphilibrium) September 12, 2014
People want to disengage your from reality to make you believe in twisted overlay of the reality @MartinBurnsSV #LASCOT14
— Naveed Khawaja (@morphilibrium) September 12, 2014
Don't let the fight be the point ~ @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Tobbe Gyllebring (@drunkcod) September 12, 2014
Think positive.
Work as if you are in the early days of a greater nation @MartinBurnsSV #LASCOT14— Naveed Khawaja (@morphilibrium) September 12, 2014
Don't let the politics hijack the discussion, don't confuse the the debate with the purpose @MartinBurnsSV #lascot14
— Ian Brockbank (@BadgerTaming) September 12, 2014
@MartinBurnsSV well delivered Martin – congratulations on surviving!
— Garry C Marshall (@GazCMarsh) September 12, 2014
Brilliant and inspiring talk from @MartinBurnsSV on Independence, Devo-Max and Centralisation. pic.twitter.com/wBWQjJNX9R
— Kevin Austin (@kev_austin) September 12, 2014
@MartinBurnsSV beautifully researched and presented Martin! 🙂
— David J Anderson (@lki_dja) September 19, 2014
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- SAFe RTE Class Review - November 22, 2018
Lean Agile Scotland talk: Independence, Devo Max – Agile and the Politics of Change by Martin Burns is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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