Episode 238: Linda Rising on the Agile Brain

Experimentation

Linda Rising emphasizes the importance of adopting an experimental mindset within software development teams. She suggests that instead of merely proposing action items during retrospectives, teams should view these as opportunities for experimentation. This approach encourages continuous retrospection and leverages the unconscious mind to generate innovative ideas 1. Linda shares a practical example of experimenting with standing desks to improve team productivity, highlighting the need for concrete objectives and repeatable trials 2.

Experiments, wow. And along with that is what I call the real-time timeline. So instead of waiting to the retrospective to do the timeline, we do it as it happens.

--- Linda Rising

By fostering a culture of experimentation, teams can explore small, incremental changes that lead to significant improvements.

   

Empirical Evaluation

Rising challenges the reliance on common practices in software development, advocating for empirical evaluation through scientific methods. She argues that many practices are accepted based on common sense rather than evidence, likening this to historical medical practices like using leeches 3. Linda proposes randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as a means to objectively assess the effectiveness of practices like code inspections 4.

We have a bunch of common practices and we move from one set of common practices to another and we say all along, well, this just makes sense, it's just common sense.

--- Linda Rising

This scientific approach could transform software development into a more evidence-based discipline.

   

Neuroscience Insights

Despite lacking formal credentials in neuroscience, Linda Rising integrates insights from cognitive neuroscience into software development. She believes that understanding the brain can enhance personal cognition and team dynamics, making it crucial for developers to stay informed about the latest research 5. Linda's interest in neuroscience stems from its technical advancements, which she finds more compelling than traditional psychology 5.

I try to connect everything with the latest research in neuroscience. And I do that for a number of reasons. One, because there is a lot of research in cognitive neuroscience, and it's very difficult for people who don't have as much time as I do to keep up with it.

--- Linda Rising

By bridging these fields, she aims to make neuroscience applicable to software practices, offering a fresh perspective on improving cognitive processes.