InfoQ Book Review: The Responsibility Virus

Deb - this obviously sounds like a very interesting book - thank you for the review!

I suppose I will learn the answers to these question by reading the book - but until then:

It sounds like success ultimately resides in the individual. Each individual must use and learn about these tools. Is my reading accurate?

If so, does the book suggest how to do so? All the successful teams I've seen (Agile or not) had great individuals that new how to work together and get things done. Is this a learned ability or an inherited talent?

"How to implement" is in the 7-step approach mentioned in my review with a link to the book's website that explains a little further.

But how does one start using the Responsibility Virus tools? I'd suggest a book study group, where people can discuss how it applies in their own context, exchange stories about their use of the tools and celebrate/commiserate as appropriate :-)

How to run a book study? Ah, I'm glad you asked!

Joshua Kerievsky of Industrial Logic created the original "Design Patterns" book study groups, in which a group lays out a set of meetings (could be a weekly meeting, lunch, supper) in which they will cover the whole book, and they take turns leading the discussion each week. His approach is inspired by the classical method of seminars conducted at schools like Oxford and St John's College. There's more to it, he documented how to do the whole thing in his Knowledge Hydrant [pdf] patterns (the image is one of drinking from a fire hose, I believe :-)

For real examples of how others have run book reading groups, have a look at the sites for these book studies: Design Patterns, and Fearless Change.

Learning this way does more than build knowledge - it builds teams and fosters collaboration. It's all good.

Oh, and: yes, application of the solution to the Responsibility Virus is at the level of the individual. However, the author indicates there is synergy to be had in doing it as a group - it helps create a new language for talking more neutrally about responsiblity (rather than just pointing the finger, in the comical image above :-)

Deb - very thorough review, thanks!
It sounds as if the tools rely on NLP (visualizing, re-framing, etc). Do they?

Hi Kevin. NLP isn't mentioned, but I will ask the author if he answers my outstanding email message :-)

From the end of the review, above:

The Responsibility Virus produces hopeless failures resulting from extreme mismatches in capabilities and responsibilities, which leads to cover-up rather than learning. Failures under the new set of governing values - I predict - will be failures at the margins of our capabilities... from this failure we will be able to learn immensely, because our analysis and reflection won't be circumscribed by fear. [Martin, p.269]

This is how I attempt to live my life and I have found it an enjoyable way to live it. I try as best I can to aim for tasks that are at the edge of my capacity as a person and therefore embody a reasonably high probability of failure. I think that this approach has helped me get better and has been enjoyable even in failure. An example would relate to our recent success in attracting Richard Florida to the Rotman School and getting major funding for a new research institute. Accomplishing this was at the absolute margin of my capabilities. I kind of know that for sure because I tried it about four years ago and failed – then I got Richard on board with the idea but couldn’t get the Ontario research funding apparat to come along. It was a very painful failure. But it taught me the things I needed to know to succeed this time.