Scrum Values: How Devices Erode Commitment to Scrum Goals
Two thirds of companies globally have used Scrum, a framework within which people can address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value. In the previous post we covered how our always-on lives affect our ability to live the Scrum values of courage and focus. In this post we will discuss the costs of device use on commitment.
Commitment
People personally commit to achieving the goals of the Scrum Team
When we commit to a goal, we make a decision to prioritize and focus on the tasks which will allow us to achieve it. But research from Stanford shows that those who regularly multitask have trouble filtering out irrelevant information and that having too many choices can prevent us from achieving our goals.
Commitment requires us to use our executive attention, driven by the prefrontal cortex. It helps us to ignore anything not relevant to achieving our goal. However, in performing this function, the prefrontal cortex consumes a lot of fuel, and over time our ability to remain focused gets depleted. Think of a phone as a constant stimulus that triggers our prefrontal cortex to make a decision: do I check my social media (or email, or text messages) or not? With a phone in sight — even if notifications are off — we continuously make these decisions. And each one, large or small, takes the same toll on our prefrontal cortex. As we get closer to achieving a goal, these constant choices we have to make can hinder our commitment to achieve it.
Willpower is a limited resource that gets depleted as you exercise it. But you can set up an environment to foster positive behaviours, at work and at home. Strategies to improve commitment to achieving the goals of the scrum team:
Use a single screen and single tab when working, paying special attention to hide email and chat windows and notifications. This will reduce the number of decisions you are making as you work and lighten the load on your prefrontal cortex.
Use a productivity app for your phone or your computer. This can prevent you from using certain apps or simply make you aware of how much time you are spending on your phone. The Center for Humane Technology provides a list of tools to help.
The next post in this series will discuss the Scrum values of Respect and Openness and how they are impacted by the technology we use in the workplace.
