The bottom line to chapter 10 of Why Limit WIP: We Are Drowning In Work is simple (assuming you have been re-reading along); too much WIP interferes with learning. Without the time or inclination to experiment, the best scenario is learning by accident. In Chapter 10, the author discusses how knowledge workers learn. The model is:
- Doing
- Observing
- Experimenting
- Direction
- Adjustment
The takeaway from my most recent reading of the book is that every step is action-oriented. Learning to solve business problems requires more than watching YouTube videos or passive lectures. Learning for knowledge workers requires active participation. Individuals or teams that are maxed out or overloaded will not have the time to improve.
I am a ham radio operator (KA8ZNZ); I have not been on the air for several years and have forgotten the morse code. While I do not need to use morse to keep my license I would like to upgrade which would require being able to send and receive. I have started re-learning several times but have had to abandon the project several times due to other projects bumping it from the list. I have a WIP problem that is impacting learning.
Several more germane (but less personal) examples:
- People in workshops and/or training classes who jump in and out to deal with “emergency” work.
- Teams that either can’t find the time for retrospectives or to execute process improvements agreed upon.
- Development teams that do not maintain or trim technical debt because they have other “more valuable” work in their backlog.
Individuals, teams, and organizations make choices for a myriad of reasons – good, bad, or indifferent. Without control over work entry, a requirement for controlling WIP, learning becomes a real challenge. Mr. Benson says it states “overloaded people simply can’t develop the understanding necessary to affect thoughtful change.”
Next week the Epilogue, a few concluding notes, and the announcement of the next book in the re-read series (there is still time to vote). To vote: https://tcagley.wordpress.com/2022/05/24/pick-the-next-book-in-re-read-saturday-feature/
Remember to buy a copy and read along. Amazon Affiliate LInk: https://amzn.to/36Rq3p5
Previous Entries
Week 1: Preface, Foreword, Introduction, and Logistics – https://bit.ly/3iDezbp
Week 2: Processing and Memory – https://bit.ly/3qYR4yg
Week 3: Completion – https://bit.ly/3usMiLm
Week 4: Multitasking – https://bit.ly/37hUh5z
Week 5: Context Switching – https://bit.ly/3K8KADF
Week 6: Creating An Economy – https://bit.ly/3F1XKkZ
Week 7: Healthy Constraints – https://bit.ly/3kM8xqh
Week 8: Focus – https://bit.ly/3PkE0hg
Week 9: Awareness – https://bit.ly/3LBZfIl
Week 10: Communication – https://bit.ly/39Tji7Q
One last thing . . .help us choose the new few books in the Re-read series at https://bit.ly/3GGX8Cc
