Just a few months in the past I had the good pleasure to satisfy Marcus Hammarberg in individual, when he got here to my firm’s workplace for a chat referred to as ”The Bungsu Story”. This is an inspirational presentation how agile and lean ideas saved a hospital in Indonesia. The speech was based mostly on his experiences which might be additionally lined within the guide, that I’m now about to evaluate: Salvation: The Bungsu Story
The guide has six elements, 21 chapters and 326 pages. The subtitle is: ”How Lean and Kanban saved a small hospital in Indonesia. Twice. And might help you reshape work in your organization.”
Content
”This guide is just not based mostly on a real story – it’s a true story.”
We enter the story proper after a serious catastrophe occurs to the hospital. During the rain interval the partly renovated roof has fallen in. By all means every part is in danger from this second on. Marcus and his small group from the Salvation Army steps as much as the problem to assist the administration group of the hospital. But first he digs in, actually, cleansing up after the catastrophe with the roof. Theory of Constraints is used to enhance the method, when the buckets are given up for rice baggage (to do away with the particles).
Part II known as ”The rebuild”. Now the work begins to save lots of the hospital utilizing agile and lean. Example of issues which might be launched:
- The Not List (to maintain focus throughout dialogue)
- Limit WIP (reduce the variety of concurrent work within the course of to allow circulate)
- Three levels of teaching.
- Definition of Done -> Gives widespread understanding.
Things begin to transfer in the correct course, however not as swift as anticipated, however a motivation speech (totally lined in chapter 5) takes care of that!
”Measure to be taught – not punish!”
In half III, named ”The backsliding” the momentum from the beginning results in the inevitable plateau or decline. The warfare cry from mob programming: ”Turn up the nice” is among the instruments used to push ahead. At one level Marcus jokingly says: ”If solely there was one other emergency for us to deal with. That can be nice for morale!” You must be cautious with what you would like…
Circumstances operating a hospital in Indonesia forces the administration group to decrease the revenue concurrently rising the fee, it’s time to get all the way down to enterprise once more for Marcus and his group.
”What is the smallest step you possibly can take to see in the event you’re shifting in the correct course?”
Visualizations are used all through the entire story in Bungsu. Marcus recommendation is to not overdo the board, hold it easy to let the visualization evolve over time! Chapter 18 known as ”Trust, Transparency, Accountability”. Here the beautiful story of Ibu Elsye is advised (she is the General Manager of the hospital, taking good care of every part else however well being care and finance on the hospital). She is completely wired over her state of affairs, however with some encouragement and steering she makes wonders…
Recommendation
I can completely suggest this guide! Here are my primary explanation why:
- This guide is genuine (see the primary quote above), it exhibits that lean and agile ideas works even in a hospital (a context exterior of IT)!
- This guide is the proper sequel to ”Kanban in Action” (which Marcus co-wrote along with Joakim Sundén), which is extra theoretical.
- The chapter with the story of Ibu Elsye (that alone is definitely worth the cash shopping for this guide)!
I had the massive honor to assist Marcus out as a beta reader for this guide, and it was actually rewarding to revisit the textual content when 100% accomplished!
All the very best,
Tomas from TheAgileist