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Getting big things done is important. We praise big accomplishments, but those involved can usually point to the small decisions and actions along the way that made it all possible. Structuring teams, projects, systems, and processes to embrace smallness enables the big things to evolve and succeed. This talk will cover ways in which the teams behind TripCase have succeeded and failed while making big things happen one small step at a time. Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/FG3w/
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The video titled "In Praise of Smallness," presented by B.J. Allen at the Big Ruby 2014 conference, highlights the importance of focusing on small, manageable contributions within teams to achieve significant accomplishments. Allen discusses how big changes and systems within organizations often stem from a series of smaller decisions and actions. He emphasizes that while achieving big goals is necessary, understanding and valuing the small steps taken along the journey is crucial for sustained success. Key points discussed include: - **The Nature of Growth**: Organizations begin with small teams and ideas but tend to grow rapidly, which brings added complexities like enterprise governance. - **Feedback Culture**: Drawing from experiences at TripCase, Allen underscores the necessity of frequent, low-stakes feedback to promote team learning and reduce stress. He compares project settings to education environments, advocating for regular, small feedback loops to prevent overwhelming scenarios akin to high-stakes exams. - **Agile Revival**: The reformation of stand-up meetings at TripCase demonstrates how structured feedback and productive communication can enhance team dynamics. By implementing scorecards for meeting effectiveness, the team improved overall morale and performance. - **Incremental Upgrades**: Allen shares lessons from managing the transition to more advanced Ruby versions, emphasizing that gradual changes prevent chaos during upgrades. He encourages breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps to mitigate risk and ensure smoother progress. - **Deployment Practices**: Highlighting the importance of distinguishing between deploying code and releasing it to users, he advocates for the use of feature toggles and frequent deployments to minimize anxiety and build confidence in team capabilities. In conclusion, Allen asserts that embracing small, incremental changes can foster a productive working environment, lead to continuous improvement, and ultimately contribute to larger successes. He encourages engineers and teams to prioritize small wins to facilitate a culture of learning and flexibility, enhancing both individual and collective outcomes.
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