Task 0 - Investigate 'Precise Communication'

From: https://www.csfieldguide.org.nz/en/chapters/software-engineering/software-processes/

Communicating clearly with other software engineers and customers is essential for software engineers. In this activity, you get to practice communicating as precisely as possible!

SPRINT A

1. Divide up into pairs, with one creator and one builder in each pair. Each person needs a set of at least 10 coloured building blocks (e.g. Lego blocks). Make sure that each pair has a matching set of blocks or this activity won’t work! Take one of a pair of matching AGILE LEGO bags, e.g. a 1A / 1B.

2. The two people in each pair should not be able to see each other but need to be able to hear each other to communicate. Put up a screen between the people in each pair or make them face in opposite directions. Now, the creator builds something with their blocks. The more creative you are the more interesting this activity will be!

3. When the creator has finished building, it’s the builder's turn. His or her aim is to build an exact replica of the creator's structure (but obviously without knowing what it looks like). The creator should describe exactly what they need to do with the blocks. For example, the creator could say "Put the small red block on the big blue block" or "Stand two long blue blocks up vertically with a one block spacing between them, and then balance a red block on top of them". But the creator should not describe the building as a whole (i.e. don't say "make a doorframe.").

4. When the builder thinks they are done, compare what you built! How precise was your communication? Which parts were difficult to describe for the creator / unclear for the builder? Switch roles so that you get to experience both sides!

SPRINT B

5. Try the activity again (swap bags with another team, e.g. AGILE LEGO 2A / 2B), but with this time only communicate with written instructions, you can use text and/or images. Compare what was made. Which modes of communication helped most?