Agile Toybox

Description:

In traditional project management we are all taught to toss up as many barriers to change as we can. Change is something to be feared and avoided; it is the killer of projects. Whereas in agile adapting and responding to change is at the root of each framework. In today’s modern agile environments, conditions, requirements, tools and even the overall goals can change overnight. Fear of change is often at root resistance to change. This game helps teams practice embracing change in a fun, safe space.

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Fluxx is the card game with ever changing rules that often leave the game teetering on the edge of chaos, which makes it the perfect fun analog for an agile project.

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Instructions:

1. Set the stage.

 

Introduce the concept of change in an Agile setting. Include  specifics for your organization, team or situation. You can use the above presentation or create your own. If your team is new to change you might consider adding a discussion of the Satir Change Model.

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2. Play the Game.

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Place the Basic Rules card in the center of the table, shuffle the deck, deal 3 cards to each player, and let the team self organize and decide who goes first. It all begins with one basic rule: Draw one card, Play one card. Add the card you drew to your hand, and then choose one card to play, following the directions written on your chosen card. As cards are drawn and played from the deck, the rules of the game change from how many cards are drawn, played or even how many cards you can hold at the end of your turn. Continue until someone meets the most recently played Goal that player wins immediately, regardless of whose turn it is.

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Turn Order:
1) Draw card(s)
2) Play card(s)
3) Discard cards down to the current Limit (if any).
4) Discard Keepers/Creepers down to the current Limit (if any).

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3. Retrospect

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Use your favorite retrospective technique to debrief. This is a great time to talk about how the change made the group feel. How different team members reacted to the change. What patterns emerged out of the team for dealing with the change.

 

4. Variations 

A. Game Rotation:

If you have more than 6 team members you can split into groups and have a separate deck for each new team. If appropriate you can have members of each group switch places in the middle of the game (with or without their cards). This opens up discussions about how changing the team effected the group, and how you can make team changes more smoothly.

B. Cooperative Fluxx

Players play with open hands. Each turn the group discusses which actions should be taken. The winning in this scenario is to reach a goal (any goal) as quickly as possible. (This can be played as a second iteration to a standard game to work on developing cooperative vs. competitive teams)