How techniques from the world of agile software development can be used to manage democracy in harmony choruses (and other non-profit organisations)

1. Equality, Freedom and Trust in Harmony
Choruses
using techniques
from the world of
Agile Software
Development

2. I dreamed a dream…
I want to sing in a
group where
everyone is equal…

3. I dreamed a dream…
…and everyone can
contribute to creating
the music…

4. I dreamed a dream…
…and everyone
shares in the
decisions

5. It should be easy to belong…
…even if you
have other
commitments

6. I imagined three core principles:

7. But I had a lot of questions…
How can this possibly work?
It'll never work!

8. …so I did a LOT of thinking…

9. …and found some answers at
ThoughtWorks

10. How can we learn
to trust each other?
• through leading by example
• by showing our members
they are trusted
• by being transparent

11. How can we ensure we're all on the same
page?
By creating Our Vision
and Our Values together

12. How can we make sure we all have an equal
opportunity to be heard?
• We can discuss things first online.
• We can have management meetings on
demand,
• with an agenda set by the participants,
• who can attend in person or online,
• with decisions made by voting
• after time-boxed discussions.

13. How can we structure our creativity?
We can provide a structure
for song proposals

14. How can we structure our creativity?
We can collaborate on song interpretation

15. How can we drive the work
required to run our group?

16. How can we drive the work
required to run our group?
We can
motivate
our
members
with awards

17. How can we make it easy to join our group?

18. How can we ensure our quality improves?
We can teach good feedback
by analogy

19. How can we ensure our quality improves?
we can recognise members who
give and receive feedback well

20. How can we ensure our quality improves?
We can record
our songs so
its easy for
members to
practice at
home against
the latest
interpretation

21. What if it doesn't work?
we can review
our process
regularly

22. So where are we now?
• We have a website
• We have a Facebook page
• We have a Meetup
• We have some Trello boards
• We have some singers!
• 7 other choruses are
interested in our practices
• We're kicking off on February 9
• Come join us!

23. I have another dream…
• there are thousands of choruses around the
world
• many belong to large umbrella organisations
like Sweet Adelines International and the
Barbershop Harmony Society
• I want democracy to spread within these
groups…
• …and outside them, to other kinds of non-
profit organisations

24. A question for you…
Do you think this can
work for companies?

25. Thank You!
Thank you ThoughtWorks, for having faith in me, giving me
wonderful opportunities, and
funding our inception venue
Thank you Matt, for introducing me to Trello and Design
Charrettes, and helping with our logo
Thank you Scott, for helping solve some
technical issues with our website
Thank you Kelly, for planting the seed in my brain
Thank you David, Josie and Tim for being
eternally loving and supportive

26. About Me
• I have 20 years experience in the
software industry, working for 10
different organisations
• I have 10 years experience as a
singer, singing with 10 different
groups (up to 5 simultaneously!)
• I am currently working with
ThoughtWorks Australia in Sydney
• Contact me regarding software
development practices
• Contact me regarding Our Chorus

27. References
• Fast Feedback
• Lean Coffee
• Card Walls
• Retrospectives
• Design Charrettes
• Gamification