The Mountain Goat Software Blog

Blog articles

Article artwork for Overcoming Four Common Problems with Retrospectives.

Overcoming Four Common Problems with Retrospectives

Boring retrospectives or ones in which people are afraid to speak the truth are just two of the most common problems with retrospectives.

Article artwork for How to Estimate Story Points With Multiple Teams.

How to Estimate Story Points With Multiple Teams

Establishing a common baseline allows multiple teams to estimate consistently with story points.

Article artwork for 4 Steps to Persuade a Product Owner to Prioritize Refactoring.

How Product Owners Can Evaluate Refactoring Work

Learn how product owners can evaluate refactoring when user-visible benefits are indirect.

Article artwork for 25 Questions that Will Help You Know Your Teammates Better.

25 Questions that Will Help You Know Your Teammates Better

Use questions to build trust, connection, and stronger collaboration across agile teams.

Article artwork for Entry-Level Scrum Masters: Seven Tips on How to Get Your First Scrum Master Job.

Entry-Level Scrum Masters: Seven Tips on How to Get Your First Scrum Master Job

Get practical steps for landing a first Scrum Master role.

Article artwork for Ten Tips for More Effective Daily Scrums.

Ten Tips for More Effective Daily Scrums

Use practical tips to make daily scrums shorter and more useful.

Article artwork for Job Stories Offer a Viable Alternative to User Stories.

Job Stories Offer a Viable Alternative to User Stories

As useful as user stories can be, they’ve never been right for every team. An exciting alternative for some teams is the job story.

Article artwork for Why you should consider stopping sprint reviews.

Why you should consider stopping sprint reviews

For many teams, the sprint review has run its course and it’s time to stop doing them. Blasphemy? Maybe, but hear me out.

Calendar showing an added buffer during sprint planning.

Managing Sprint Interruptions by Tracking Buffer Use

Track buffer use to understand and manage interruptions during a sprint.

Article artwork for Overcoming Four Common Objections to the Daily Scrum.

Overcoming Four Common Objections to the Daily Scrum

Do Scrum long enough and someone will suggest stopping the daily scrums. Here’s how to reply.

Article artwork for Story Point Estimates Are Best Thought of as Ranges.

Story Point Estimates Are Best Thought of as Ranges

When estimating in story points, teams should think in terms of ranges and rounding up. Here’s why.

Article artwork for Five Reasons Why Batman Would Be a Great Scrum Master.

Five Reasons Why Batman Would Be a Great Scrum Master

Batman would make the perfect Scrum Master. Once he eliminates crime in Gotham City, I plan on offering him a job. Here’s why.