Continuously Deploying Points of View
Applying continuous deployment thinking to ideas and perspectives: publishing thinking iteratively rather than waiting for the perfect article. The case for continuous intellectual deployment.
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Agility Beyond Software
Empiricism and flow are not software-specific. Apply agile principles to shorten cycle times in R&D, marketing, and operations.
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Empiricism and flow efficiency apply universally. Below, I map out how to structure short validation cycles for physical products, agile marketing campaigns, and biotech R&D.
Start here · Cornerstone read
Iterating Beyond Software - Applying Agile/Evidence-Based Management in Consumer Goods, Food & Beverage, Pharma/BioTech and Beyond
Agile principles aren't software-specific. Applying empiricism, flow, and outcome-focus to marketing, biotech R&D, consumer goods, operations — and the whole organization.
Read the full articleDone Increments
What does a "Done" increment mean when you aren't writing software?
A common stumbling block when applying agile outside of IT is the definition of a "Done" increment. In domains like hardware, biotech, or chemical engineering, we have to decouple the Sprint cycle from final product releases.
Instead of shipping a finished product, the Sprint becomes a focused learning and validation cycle. The increment is designed to test high-risk assumptions through prototypes, lab results, or targeted customer feedback loops.
Agile Marketing & Ops
How do you build a high-performance agile marketing system?
Agile marketing moves away from massive, rigid annual campaigns. We apply Kanban diagnostics to visualize the flow of creative work and limit WIP during campaign planning, reducing context-switching and burnout.
By running low-cost campaign validation experiments, marketing teams can gather early data and steer priorities based on actual customer journey metrics, improving ROI and responsiveness.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can you use Scrum in biotech or physical manufacturing?
Yes, but you must decouple the sprint cycle from production. Focus on the sprint as a validation cycle: what high-risk assumptions can we test and validate in the next 2-3 weeks?
How do you manage dependencies when teams cross departments?
Use shared Kanban boards to visualize cross-functional flow. Limit WIP across the board to expose where work is queuing, and hold cross-functional briefings to align intents.
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All Agility Beyond Software Articles
Browse the complete archive of articles and case studies related to agility beyond software.
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Continuous Deployment - Vanity or Transformational Capability?
Continuous deployment is often pursued as a vanity metric rather than a flow enabler. The conditions under which it genuinely transforms delivery vs when it creates false confidence.
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Searching for Products in the Healthcare Provider World
Applying product thinking in healthcare provider organizations: finding the products, defining the customers, and adapting agile principles to a highly regulated, patient-safety environment.
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Iterating Beyond Software - Applying Agile/Evidence-Based Management in Consumer Goods, Food & Beverage, Pharma/BioTech and Beyond
What does 'working software' mean when you're not building software? How Done Increments and empirical delivery apply to consumer goods, pharma/biotech R&D, and any domain where the output isn't code.