When starting Agile or Scrum, or when encountering obstacles in practice, you are likely exploring books and online articles in search of ways to achieve better team building.
In this article, we introduce books that support effective team building for "Developers (Engineers and Programmers) within a Scrum Team."
Table of Contents
A new edition of the landmark guide to the self-directed work team revolution, one of the best-selling books on teams ever published. Updated to reflect the realities of modern team-based organizations, it explains the fundamental shift from traditional supervisor to team leader.
Invaluable for managers transitioning from hierarchical to participatory structures, this volume is packed with practical examples, research, tips, and case studies. It has been used and praised by experts at Motorola, M.I.T., AT&T, and many other leading organizations.
Co-founder of The Fisher Group, Inc. He has consulted with major corporations including Apple, HP, and Shell across North America, Europe, and Asia on high-performance management practices. He is a popular speaker on leadership and organizational design for global audiences.
J. Richard Hackman, one of the world's leading experts on group and organizational behavior, argues that teams perform best when leaders create conditions that allow them to manage themselves effectively. Instead of praising specific leadership styles, he introduces concise principles for various unique group situations.
Using compelling examples—from orchestras to cockpit crews—the book presents five critical conditions: a stable team, a clear and engaging direction, an enabling team structure, a supportive organizational context, and the availability of competent coaching. It provides a practical framework for launching teams on a trajectory toward effectiveness.
A pioneer in social and organizational psychology in the United States. He was a professor at Harvard University from 1986 and previously taught at Yale University. Throughout his career, he focused on the conditions necessary for teams to function at their best, and his 'Five Conditions' are widely adopted by organizations today.
In this leadership fable, Patrick Lencioni uses the power of storytelling to address the fascinating and complex world of teams. Through the story of a struggling Silicon Valley firm and its unexpected new CEO, he reveals why even the best teams often struggle with human behavioral issues.
The Five Dysfunctions to Overcome:
1. Absence of Trust
2. Fear of Conflict
3. Lack of Commitment
4. Avoidance of Accountability
5. Inattention to Results
The book outlines a powerful model and actionable steps to overcome these common hurdles and build a cohesive, effective team. It includes assessment tools to help leaders evaluate their own teams and provide specific hints on how to master the discipline of teamwork.
Founder and President of The Table Group, a firm dedicated to helping organizations improve their health and executive team effectiveness. He has worked with thousands of senior executives at Fortune 500 companies, high-tech startups, and non-profits. He is the author of 11 best-selling books, including 'The Advantage' and 'The Ideal Team Player'.
Meetings are not just opportunities to solve problems; they are chances to broaden perspectives and build the overall capacity of a group. This 3rd edition continues Sam Kaner's mission to empower teams by unlocking the transformative power of participatory values.
This fully updated edition guides readers through the struggle and satisfaction of effective decision-making. It features 60 pages of brand-new skills and tools, expanded sections on agenda design, and a new chapter on teaching group dynamics. It is an essential resource already embraced by business and community leaders worldwide.
Founder and Executive Director of Community At Work since 1986. Dr. Kaner is one of the world's leading experts on facilitation. His clients range from Fortune 500 giants like Hewlett-Packard and Visa to the California Supreme Court and various global non-profits. He is a frequent keynote speaker at major professional OD and facilitation conferences.
Effective teamwork is not just a group process; it is an individual skill set. This book teaches you how to develop the skills to succeed in any team, under any circumstances, by maximizing benefits for both yourself and the collective.
Stop complaining about being assigned to a 'bad team.' Drawing on 20 years of experience in R&D and high-tech environments, Avery provides thought-provoking essays and exercises to help you build responsible, productive relationships. It highlights personal accountability as the single most important factor for a successful team experience.
President of Partnerwerks and creator of the 'Being Powerful' seminar. He has consulted for companies like IBM, Motorola, and Nokia on leadership and team development.
Meri Aaron Walker is the principal of Between the Lines, a strategic communications consultancy based in Austin, Texas, and an associate of Partnerwerks.
Erin O’Toole Murphy is a consultant at Partnerwerks. She has conducted executive education and training for Sony in Japan and has led various other development initiatives.
An essential guide to 'Feature Teams' and 'Requirement Areas'—critical concepts for scaling Lean & Agile development. It analyzes how to organize Scrum teams to deliver end-to-end customer value in large-scale environments.
[PDF] Feature Team Primer (English)
[PDF] Feature Team Primer (Japanese)
Co-creator of LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum). An organizational design consultant who has led agile adoptions at BMW, Ericsson, and Xerox. He remains a hands-on TDD coach in C/C++ to stay connected with the reality of development.
Co-creator of the LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum) framework and a prominent author and coach in the agile/lean world. He coaches at three levels: organizational, team, and technical practices. Along with Craig Larman, he has authored foundational texts on scaling agile, including 'Large-Scale Scrum: More with LeSS'.
"A mismatch between skills and requirements does not mean that everyone in the team needs to be able to do everything. That type of binary thinking leads people to think there are only two choices: specialist or generalist."
−− Bas Vodde
In this insightful article, Bas Vodde explores the crucial balance between specialization and generalization within a team. He argues that achieving this balance creates a healthier team dynamic where learning happens organically.
Co-creator of the LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum) framework and a prominent author and coach in the agile/lean world. He coaches at three levels: organizational, team, and technical practices. Along with Craig Larman, he has authored foundational texts on scaling agile, including 'Large-Scale Scrum: More with LeSS'.
What is Certified Scrum Developer® (CSD®) Training?
■ Overview
A systematic education and certification program by Scrum Alliance® designed to develop individuals who can collaborate effectively as Scrum development team members. A Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®) evaluates whether your technical and communication skills meet global standards.
■ What You Will Learn
■ Learn more
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What is Certified Scrum Developer® (CSD®) Training?
Certified Scrum Developer®（CSD®）- Scrum Alliance®
■ Training Program
・Scrum Practices (Sprint Planning, Refinement, etc.)
・Technical Practices (Agile Design, TDD, CI, Refactoring, Legacy Code Improvement, etc.)
■ Certification Process
By completing the 5-day course (2 days of Scrum foundations + 3 days of technical training) and demonstrating proficiency as an agile developer, you earn the right to apply for a 2-year certification.
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