An Amplio Learning Journey
Amplio Development Masterclass
Workshop description
This class rotates to enable people to start anytime. But the next rotation start February 27, 2023. Selected recordings and materials from earlier workshops are available.
This workshop is equivalent to a 2-3 day workshop but is taught in increments over 4 months and is part of a year long learning journey. It takes experienced Agile coaches and turn them into experts as well as take those somewhat new to Agile and give them the experience it normally takes someone years to acquire. It does this by having three phases:
First 4 months: The Amplio Development Master class (ADM). 12 lessons with Q&A are delivered over a four-month period. All sessions are recorded.
Next 4 months: Value Stream Coach workshop (separate tuition for this). Can also retake the ADM for review or to watch missed sessions. One lesson every other week.
While most workshops are one-and-done, this program provides learning over time, time to get questions asked and answered, and a considerable number of virtual collaboration tools along with coaching on how to convey the concepts learned.
The Amplio Development Master Class is an advanced workshop that educates participants on how to lead teams to create value for their stakeholders. Its scope ranges from single teams to groups of teams of up to 90 people. It is an alternative to advanced team workshops, Scrum-based scaling approaches, and Essential SAFe.
The workshop takes participants through a series of problem-solving methods. This teaches them how to identify challenges their teams are likely to face and how to solve them. By using the latest learning methods, Amplio Development creates a foundation for participants to continue extending their abilities to work with teams after the workshop. It uses over a dozen virtual collaboration whiteboards (Miro) to do this. These are all provided to the participants to use in their work during and after the workshop.
Contrasting the Amplio Development Master Class with an Advanced Scrum Master Workshop
Amplio Development Masterclass’ cutting-edge training method creates incredible opportunities for accelerating becoming an expert coach.
Compare the ADM with Scrum Master training. There are three key differences:
- Learning is greatly enhanced due to the feedback cycles available. This is both between the coach and their team and the coach and the instructor. Scrum Masters take so long to become competent because they don’t have anyone to help them learn
- Amplio coaches are given a dozen Miro boards to use. These function both as templates and as collaboration tools with their teams.
- By being in a learning journey for an entire year Amplio coaches get to continue learning and being exposed to advanced topics.
Prerequisite
Some Familiarity with Agile
Duration
Workshop: 4 months. 26 hrs instruction + 48 hrs Q&A. ADM lessons can be retaken. All lessons recorded.
Learning journey: 1 year.
Cost
$995 (5 for $3995)
Format
Virtual (Zoom)
Special Pricing
$795. If you are a US veteran or between assignments, contact us for possible discounts.
Audience
This workshop is primarily for coaches who want to transcend particular approaches and think for themselves using advanced practices and theories. It is also helpful for people in an organization responsible for their coaches’ effectiveness. Those new to Agile can also take this workshop but must be prepared to do extra work to keep up with the advanced themes.
The Amplio Development Masterclass is a different kind of workshop in several ways:
It is grounded in the science of learning and integrates coaching
- Taught in small increments over time to allow the adoption of what’s learned in the workplace
- Integrates coaching since participants must be able to convey what’s learned to the people they work with
- Presents a blend of theory and practice, which not only improves retention but enables participants to go beyond what is presented
It uses virtual collaboration whiteboards to present and learn concepts
- These boards enable a significant amount of learning
- They are provided to participants to use after the workshop in their work
- This enables asynchronous learning in both the workshop and when they are used in the participants’ workplaces
Mindset and practices
- Based on the theories of Flow, Lean, and the Theory of Constraints
- Includes several essential practices not taught in the popular frameworks
- Based on a pattern language enabling it to be simple to start, but richer as needed, and tailorable to the people using it
The workshop is just the beginning
- Eight-month program provides for after-workshop support
- Tools used to teach participants are made available to them to use in their workplace
- Q&A sessions enable participants to ask experts for real-time advice as needed
Grounded in the science of learning and integrating coaching
It has been well-established that intensive training over 1-4 days is very ineffective. Over 80% of the information presented is lost in just a few days. It’s why no college teaches this way. People learn best in little chunks and where they can apply it between sessions. Amplio Development is presented as 12 lessons over four months. All the sessions are recorded with open weeks every three lessons to enable participants to catch up. This accommodates the busy professional’s schedule.
Amplio’s approach is based on Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise and Seeing what others don’t: The Remarkable Way We Gain Insights. “Peak” tells us that it’s essential to stretch people’s skills a little on an ongoing basis. Presenting concepts in patterns instead of just practices makes the material more applicable and creates the foundation for continued learning. “Insights” provides methods to enable people to connect the dots of the advanced concepts presented. These two approaches manifest each week based on a virtual board that participants use to see a problem and learn how to solve it. This not only trains participants in needed skills but these virtual boards can also be used in their workplace.
Great information has little value if it can’t be conveyed in the workplace. Amplio Development, therefore, integrates coaching methods in each lesson.
Workshop uses collaboration boards (Miro virtual boards) to present and learn concepts
One or more boards are used each session. Each board is oriented toward identifying challenges and showing how to solve challenges.
The challenges board
This starts the workshop off by identifying the challenges participants are having. It sets the stage for how to solve them.
First principles and factors for effective value streams
Amplio is based on Flow, Lean, and the Theory of Constraints. When these are understood, many complex problems become much more straightforward.
Feedback on feedback
Knowledge work is mostly invisible until something is demonstrated. Eliminating waste is mainly accomplished by eliminating delays in feedback.
Agile requirements and using Minimum Business Increments
Agility is predicated on creating small items of value. This board facilitates identifying stakeholders’ values and writing up what can be quickly created and released.
Value creation structures
How people are organized has a big impact on how workflows.
Timeboxing or flow
This board helps participants be clear about when each approach is better.
Capabilities for a quick start
Although Amplio is incredibly rich in options, it can start as simply as Scrum. This board is used to create a quick, simple start for any situation.
Learn how to run Café Conversations
Cafe conversations are a great way to get 20-50 people to learn together about what they think is happening.
Do a pre-mortem
Take a little time to avoid some of the problems you will otherwise face
Two different After Action Review boards
These boards are useful to see how well you’ve done and how you can improve
Create an improvement backlog board
While the earlier “quick start” board is used to start an Agile transition, this board identifies what improvements are needed and the order to implement them.
Wrap up board and clean slate boards
The wrap-up board is a valuable reference, while the clean slate exercise is a way of clearing the air.
About our boards
Click below for more detail on these boards.
Mindset and practices
Amplio is based on the first principles of Flow, Lean, and the Theory of Constraints. This means that it can be contextualized to any situation. It provides a simple start that adjusts as the teams learn by providing a way to tell which of several optional practices would be an improvement.
It also includes several essential practices that aren’t in popular frameworks. These enable much better product management and workflow management.
The workshop is just the beginning
No workshop will transform a person alone. Even though Amplio facilitates learning in the workplace, more is needed. This is why after the first four-month offering, participants get an opportunity to review it (even if just for the Q&A session) and get enrolled in two sessions of the Value Stream Coach for free (a $790 value).
This gives participants access to senior Agile thought leaders for a year. They also get access to even more Miro boards and free updates.
All participants get a copy of the book on which the workshop is based: Amplio Development: The Path to Effective Lean-Agile Teams.
A follow-up train-the-trainer program is available for both independent consultants and those setting up internal training programs.
The course is a foundation for the consultant who wants to be able to train.
It is also the foundation for internal HR and Agile transition groups that want to grow their internal training organization at a low cost.
Instructor
Al Shalloway
Al Shalloway is the founder and CEO of Success Engineering. Al is a recognized thought leader in the areas of: Lean, SAFe, Kanban, Scrum, design patterns, Acceptance Test-Driven Development, Lean-management, value creation networks, Lean product management and more. He is the creator of the FLEX system that is the heart of the Disciplined Agile Value Stream Consultant workshop. He has co-written 5 books ranging from Design Patterns to Agile at Scale. He holds Masters degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Mathematics from MIT and Emory respectively. He is an international speaker. He is a former contributor to SAFe and SPC trainer.
Why you should take this workshop if you are a professional coach.
Most “coaching” workshops today are about how to follow a given framework. This workshop enables you to see what the people you are coaching needs based on their situation. Go beyond being a mere facilitator. Learn how to assist teams in working in better ways.