This Article 
   
 Share 
   
 Bibliographic References 
   
 Add to: 
 
Digg
Furl
Spurl
Blink
Simpy
Google
Del.icio.us
Y!MyWeb
 
 Search 
   
Appreciating Lessons Learned
July/August 2010 (vol. 27 no. 4)
pp. 72-79
ASCII Text
x 
 
Anders Baaz, Lena Holmberg, Agneta Nilsson, Helena Olsson, Anna Sandberg, "Appreciating Lessons Learned," IEEE Software, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 72-79, July/August, 2010.
 
 
BibTex
x
 
@article{ 10.1109/MS.2009.198,
author = {Anders Baaz and Lena Holmberg and Agneta Nilsson and Helena Olsson and Anna Sandberg},
title = {Appreciating Lessons Learned},
journal ={IEEE Software},
volume = {27},
number = {4},
issn = {0740-7459},
year = {2010},
pages = {72-79},
doi = {http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/MS.2009.198},
publisher = {IEEE Computer Society},
address = {Los Alamitos, CA, USA},
}
 
 
RefWorks Procite/RefMan/Endnote
x 
 
TY - MGZN
JO - IEEE Software
TI - Appreciating Lessons Learned
IS - 4
SN - 0740-7459
SP72
EP79
EPD - 72-79
A1 - Anders Baaz,
A1 - Lena Holmberg,
A1 - Agneta Nilsson,
A1 - Helena Olsson,
A1 - Anna Sandberg,
PY - 2010
KW - lessons learned
KW - postmortem evaluation
KW - software process improvement
KW - appreciative inquiry
KW - retrospectives
VL - 27
JA - IEEE Software
ER -
 
Anders Baaz, Ericsson AB, Gothenburg
Lena Holmberg, Apprino, Gothenburg
Agneta Nilsson, IT University, Gothenburg
Helena Olsson, IT University, Gothenburg
Anna Sandberg, Ericsson AB, Gothenburg
Although lessons-learned activities aid software process improvement, few IT industry organizations regularly and adequately conduct them. Recent studies explain why, identifying 19 barriers for conducting lessons learned. The Postmortem Evaluation theory proposes that organizations almost only focus on what went wrong. 4ALL, a new lessons-learned method based on the appreciative inquiry approach, aims to facilitate learning. It was developed and evaluated in close collaboration with Ericsson. Through attentive moderating and careful timing, the 4ALL method emphasizes the importance of balancing excellences and challenges. It radically increases the identification of excellences and how to learn from what went right, enhancing participants' pride, and significantly increasing the appreciation of lessons-learned workshops at Ericsson.

1. A. Birk, T. Dings⊘yr, and T. Stålhane, "Postmortem: Never Leave a Project without IT," IEEE Software, vol. 19, no. 3, 2002, pp. 43–45.
2. K.C. Desouza, T. Dings⊘yr, and Y. Awazu, "Experiences with Conducting Project Postmortems: Reports versus Stories," Software Process Improvement and Practice, vol. 10, no. 2, 2005, pp. 203–215.
3. V. Kasi et al., "The Post Mortem Paradox: A Delphi Study of IT Specialist Perceptions," European J. Information Systems, vol. 17, no. 1, 2008, pp. 62–78.
4. A.J. Nolan, "Learning from Success," IEEE Software, vol. 16, no. 1, 1999, pp. 97–105.
5. W. Humphrey, Introduction to the Team Software Process, Addison-Wesley, 1999.
6. D.L. Cooperrider and D. Whitney, Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Revolution in Change, Berrett-Koehler, 2005.
7. L. Mathiassen, "Collaborative Practice Research," Information Technology & People, vol. 15, no. 4, 2002, pp. 321–345.
8. L. Holmberg et al., "Appreciative Inquiry in Software Process Improvement," Software Process Improvement and Practice, vol. 14, no. 2, 2009, pp. 107–125.
9. N.L. Kerth, Project Retrospectives: A Handbook for Team Reviews, Dorset House Publishing, 2001.
10. E. Derby and D. Larsen, Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great, Pragmatic Bookshelf, 2006.
1. M. Avital, R.J. Boland, and K. Lyytinen, "Introduction to Designing Information and Organizations with a Positive Lens," Information and Organization, vol. 19, no. 3, 2009, pp. 153–161.
2. E. Derby and D. Larsen, Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great, Pragmatic Bookshelf, 2006.
3. N. Napier and L. Mathiassen, "Appreciative Inquiry into IT Project Management: Understanding Win-Win Contracts," Proc. Int'l Conf. Information Systems, 2008.
4. N.L. Kerth Project Retrospectives: A Handbook for Team Reviews, Dorset House Publishing, 2001.

Index Terms:
lessons learned, postmortem evaluation, software process improvement, appreciative inquiry, retrospectives
Citation:
Anders Baaz, Lena Holmberg, Agneta Nilsson, Helena Olsson, Anna Sandberg, "Appreciating Lessons Learned," IEEE Software, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 72-79, July-Aug. 2010, doi:10.1109/MS.2009.198
Usage of this product signifies your acceptance of the Terms of Use.