BONUS: Mastering Remote Work in Agile Teams | Antony Marcano

Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches

BONUS: Mastering Remote Work in Agile Teams With Antony Marcano

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In this BONUS episode, Antony, co-founder of RiverGlide and Head of Engineering at Ford Digital, joins us to share his experiences and insights from 30 years in software development, including 25 years in Agile practices. As a technical practitioner, leader, and consultant, Antony reflects on navigating remote work, overcoming challenges, and setting up successful remote software teams, while exploring future trends in the industry.

The Shift to Fully Remote Work

Antony reflects on his first fully remote software project, which took place during the pandemic when everyone was forced to work from home. While his team had been working together for 12 months, they struggled with traditional video conferencing tools that lacked the ability to support pair programming or mob programming effectively. This is when Antony and his team discovered Tuple, a tool that allows for seamless control sharing and a co-located pairing experience.

"Switching to Tuple was a game-changer for us in making remote pairing feel as interactive as in-person collaboration."

Overcoming Challenges in Remote Collaboration

The biggest challenge Antony identifies in remote work is the loss of serendipitous moments—those random watercooler conversations that often lead to innovation. To address this, Antony encourages teams to create opportunities for these moments by structuring time for informal interactions and fostering a safe and open communication culture.

"You can’t recreate the watercooler, but you can create opportunities for innovation by encouraging open-door policies and setting up shared virtual spaces."

Building Effective Remote Teams

For Antony, real collaboration is critical to the success of remote teams. He grew up on XP (Extreme Programming) and believes in the power of pairing and mob programming. Antony emphasizes the importance of maintaining good practices from in-person work, such as prioritizing mental well-being, while adapting to the unique needs of remote teams.

"Collaboration is not just about tools—it’s about mental well-being, trust, and giving the team what they need to succeed."

Keeping Teams on Track with Clear Goals

Antony shares his approach to ensuring that teams remain aligned with clear goals and progress tracking. His teams focus on delivering small, incremental slices of work and using techniques like limiting Work In Progress (WIP). Rather than viewing user stories as a list of tasks, Antony encourages teams to focus on the user benefit and desired outcomes.

"It’s about the ‘why,’ not just the ‘what.’ User stories should focus on the goal, not just be a list of tasks."

The Future of Remote Work in Software Development

Looking ahead, Antony predicts that tools will continue to evolve, with AI playing a more significant role in software development. He discusses the possibility of having AI participants in pairing sessions and shares his concerns about the convergence of tools that may lose focus over time. Antony encourages developers to experiment with new technologies and remain open to change.

"AI is the next frontier in software development, and we need to embrace how it can enhance our remote work experiences."

Recommended Resources for Mastering Remote Work

Antony notes that while many resources on remote work are often too generic, there are valuable tools and practices software teams can adopt. He recommends regularly rotating hosts during remote pairing sessions and setting aside time for retrospectives and discussions about the bigger 'why' behind the work.

"When pairing, rotate roles, reflect regularly, and always focus on the bigger ‘why’ to keep your team aligned and motivated."

About Antony Marcano

Antony is the co-founder of RiverGlide and Head of Engineering at Ford Digital. With 30 years of software development experience, including 25 years in Agile practices, he is a respected leader, coach, and consultant. Antony has contributed to books and journals and is a keynote speaker at global conferences and universities such as Oxford and McGill. He is also the co-creator of 'PairWith.Us,' and remains a hands-on technical practitioner, specializing in Agile development and leading teams to excel in agility.

You can link with Antony on LinkedIn visit RiverGlide.com, or check out RiverGlide TV on YouTube.