the ‘bee log

A few days back I was reminded of Shuhari. It’s a concept originating from Japanese martial arts that describes a three stage self-development process where a student progresses from novice to expert to master.

Perfection is a pervasive theme in the larger Agile community.  Scott Bellware makes an agreeable point saying we should focus on the verb, not the noun; Dave Nicolette has a pragmatic take on adoption of Agile methods; Alistair Cockburn brought the term Shuhari to the Agile vernacular.

I have in my mind’s eye a particular scene from The Last Samurai. At one point the camera pans over a rural village where the town’s folk are engaged in their various activities of daily living. Captain Algren observes:

From the moment they wake, they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they pursue — I have never seen such discipline.

Is the action is the actor’s raison d’être? Yes, but there’s more to it than one person and their craft. There’s an interdependence between the villagers. The group dynamic creates an environment of healthy peer pressure that ingrains, supports, and reinforces the discipline required to pursue perfection. I depend on my neighbor, a potter, for my earthenware. My neighbor depends on me, a farmer, for my vegetables.

Committing to the Agile way is a decision to pursue perfection. Discipline is flat-out, straight-up, and without a doubt the most fundamental ingredient in advancing on the path. Everyone involved in an Agile project or organization needs to hold discipline up as a precondition to continuous improvement. Customers, developers, managers, executives… everyone. Improve your craft, exercise self-discipline, and expect your team to do the same.