April 18, 2004
Agile is a Learning Pattern
One of the biggest influences on my work has been David A. Kolbs Circle of Learning which is a model for Adult Learning.
It is a continuous circle of the following:
1. Concrete observation.
2. Reflection.
3. Modelling.
3. Testing of Model.
5. Back to 1.
To my mind, Agile enables companies to apply this pattern of learning to projects and the organisations themselves. Agile methodologies focus on the importance of automated tests so that the organisation / system does not lose knowledge previously learned, even if key individuals on the project leave. Agile also refactors the methodologies through retrospectives which are an organisational form of learning by reflection. Finally, Agile Methodologies encourage testing of software in "real" environments rather than developing models (UML etc.). i.e. Learn through concrete observation.
Posted by chrismatts at April 18, 2004 3:21 PM