Comments on: 9 Signs of Bad Team Spaces http://agilefocus.com/2010/02/15/9-signs-of-bad-team-spaces/ A group weblog for and about Agile software development Wed, 08 Jun 2011 03:55:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Decreased Productivity in Open Floor Plan vs. Scrum and Agile « Spare Cycles http://agilefocus.com/2010/02/15/9-signs-of-bad-team-spaces/comment-page-1/#comment-757 Decreased Productivity in Open Floor Plan vs. Scrum and Agile « Spare Cycles Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:59:32 +0000 http://agilefocus.com/?p=270#comment-757 [...] William Pietri commented recently on one of the top signs of a poorly functioning scrum space is people wearing headphones. I think that people wearing headphones is a direct result of team members trying to combat noise [...] [...] William Pietri commented recently on one of the top signs of a poorly functioning scrum space is people wearing headphones. I think that people wearing headphones is a direct result of team members trying to combat noise [...]

]]> By: William Pietri http://agilefocus.com/2010/02/15/9-signs-of-bad-team-spaces/comment-page-1/#comment-754 William Pietri Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:48:50 +0000 http://agilefocus.com/?p=270#comment-754 @CTheB: Thanks for the comment. Regarding headphones, I think it depends on the kind of work you're doing. If you don't need to be in touch with the people around you, by all means listen to music. But this being a blog about Agile software development, which is a team-oriented approach, I believe that not needing to be in touch with the people around you is often a sign of a problem. That's not to say one should never do it. Sometimes people really need to do a bit of solo work. In which case, sure, wear headphones. Or, better, go somewhere else for a bit. But as a general rule, people not being present in the team room is a bad sign, whether that's physically or just mentally. @CTheB: Thanks for the comment.

Regarding headphones, I think it depends on the kind of work you’re doing. If you don’t need to be in touch with the people around you, by all means listen to music. But this being a blog about Agile software development, which is a team-oriented approach, I believe that not needing to be in touch with the people around you is often a sign of a problem.

That’s not to say one should never do it. Sometimes people really need to do a bit of solo work. In which case, sure, wear headphones. Or, better, go somewhere else for a bit. But as a general rule, people not being present in the team room is a bad sign, whether that’s physically or just mentally.

]]> By: CTheB http://agilefocus.com/2010/02/15/9-signs-of-bad-team-spaces/comment-page-1/#comment-753 CTheB Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:25:14 +0000 http://agilefocus.com/?p=270#comment-753 Number 1 is wrong as a sign of a bad space. It presupposes that people don't listen to music while they work because they enjoy it or for any reason other than to tune out some distraction(s). While it may be true that some people listen to music to tune out distractions, whether all or some of the time, that doesn't mean that that's the case with everyone or all the time. What the point should say is that one should identify whether or not there is something negative causing people to listen to music and if there is one (or many) to deal with them. I tend to spend an hour or two a day, sometimes more, listening to music while I work. Why? Well, mostly because I enjoy listening to music. That's why I have it. Sometimes it's because I'm preparing for a set and having it playing in the background helps me get more familiar with it. Every now and then it's because something is distracting or annoying me. The rest I agree with. Number 1 is wrong as a sign of a bad space. It presupposes that people don’t listen to music while they work because they enjoy it or for any reason other than to tune out some distraction(s). While it may be true that some people listen to music to tune out distractions, whether all or some of the time, that doesn’t mean that that’s the case with everyone or all the time. What the point should say is that one should identify whether or not there is something negative causing people to listen to music and if there is one (or many) to deal with them.

I tend to spend an hour or two a day, sometimes more, listening to music while I work. Why? Well, mostly because I enjoy listening to music. That’s why I have it. Sometimes it’s because I’m preparing for a set and having it playing in the background helps me get more familiar with it. Every now and then it’s because something is distracting or annoying me.

The rest I agree with.

]]> By: William Pietri http://agilefocus.com/2010/02/15/9-signs-of-bad-team-spaces/comment-page-1/#comment-752 William Pietri Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:56:31 +0000 http://agilefocus.com/?p=270#comment-752 Excellent point, Rick. Now that you mention it, I've seen that pattern, too. Excellent point, Rick. Now that you mention it, I’ve seen that pattern, too.

]]> By: Rick Tonoli http://agilefocus.com/2010/02/15/9-signs-of-bad-team-spaces/comment-page-1/#comment-751 Rick Tonoli Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:49:28 +0000 http://agilefocus.com/?p=270#comment-751 How about: Excessive tea/coffee/smoke breaks - I've found a correlation between frequency and duration of "breaks", and general morale of the team. How about: Excessive tea/coffee/smoke breaks – I’ve found a correlation between frequency and duration of “breaks”, and general morale of the team.

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