John Anthony Coleman
Bio
John Anthony Coleman agreed to be an official supporter of Evolved, for which we are very grateful. But approval can be taken away at any time, as new information is learned.
John Anthony Coleman turns up in class from time to time.
Personal or Business or Community websites:
- https://orderlydisruption.com/
- https://execsuccess.org/
- https://kanbanguides.org/
- https://kanplexity.org/
- http://xagility.org/
More Publications
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## Books & Official Guides
### 1. **Kanban Guide**
**Authors:** Daniel Vacanti, John Coleman (Co-authors)
**Description:**
The Kanban Guide is a community-driven, open-source reference that distills Kanban to its essential components for optimizing flow in knowledge work. Co-authored by John Coleman, it defines Kanban’s core practices and principles, aiming to unify the Kanban community around a minimal, practical framework. The guide is freely available and serves as a foundational resource for practitioners and trainers worldwide.
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### 2. **Kanplexity™ Guide**
**Author:** John Coleman
**Description:**
The Kanplexity™ Guide, authored by John Coleman, introduces a pragmatic approach for applying Kanban in complex environments. It addresses the unique challenges of scaling Kanban beyond teams, integrating complexity thinking, and supporting adaptive leadership. The guide is designed to help organizations pilot and adopt Kanplexity for enhanced agility and resilience.
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### 3.: *
Pivot: Real Cut Through Stories by Experts at the Frontline of Agility and Transformation.
Stalham, Adrian, Matt Bradley, and Andrew Priestley, eds.
Description:
Pivot is a collection of real-world, cut-through stories from 17 experts at the frontline of agility and organizational transformation, including John Anthony Coleman as a contributing author. The book shares unvarnished accounts of business challenges, change, and innovation from practitioners and thought leaders in the agility community. Coleman’s contribution draws on his deep experience in executive agility, Scrum, Kanban, and organizational change, offering practical insights and lessons learned from the field. The stories in Pivot provide candid perspectives and actionable advice for leaders, change agents, and anyone navigating complex business transformation.
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## Books & Official Guides
### 1. **Kanban Guide**
**Authors:** Daniel Vacanti, John Coleman (Co-authors)
**Publisher:** KanbanGuides.org (Community-driven, open source)
**Publication Date:** 2020 (latest major update)
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### 2. **Kanplexity™ Guide**
**Author:** John Coleman
**Publisher:** Kanplexity.org / Orderly Disruption
**Publication Date:** 2022
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### 3.: *
Pivot: Real Cut Through Stories by Experts at the Frontline of Agility and Transformation.
Stalham, Adrian, Matt Bradley, and Andrew Priestley, eds.
Writing Matters Publishing (UK), 2018. ASIN: B07DXGQ5WQ. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pivot-Through-Stories-Frontline-Transformation-ebook/dp/B07DXGQ5WQ
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**Summary:**
John Anthony Coleman’s seminal articles on InfoQ and CIOWaterCooler focus on innovation at scale, Kanban and complexity (Kanplexity), and executive agility. These works offer practical frameworks and real-world insights for leaders and practitioners navigating complex organizational challenges.
John Anthony Coleman’s InfoQ articles “Talking about Sizing and Forecasting in Scrum” and “Why You Might Need an Island of Agility” are widely regarded as seminal works for practitioners and leaders navigating estimation, forecasting, and organizational change in agile environments.
## Articles & Thought Leadership
### 1. **Orderly Disruption Blog (Scrum, Kanban, Agility)**
**Author:** John Coleman
**Platform:** OrderlyDisruption.com (Blog)
**Publication Date:** Ongoing
**Description:**
John Coleman regularly publishes articles on Scrum, Kanban, and executive agility, covering topics such as developer accountability, hypothesis-driven development, the roles of Scrum Master vs. Agile Leader, sprint planning, release planning, and the distinctions among product roles. His writing combines practical advice, real-world scenarios, and thought leadership for both team-level and executive audiences.
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### 2. **Kanban Guide Community Contributions**
**Contributor:** John Coleman
**Platform:** KanbanGuides.org
**Publication Date:** 2020–present
**Description:**
Beyond co-authoring, John Coleman continues to contribute to the evolution and translation of the Kanban Guide, supporting its adoption and adaptation in diverse organizational contexts. He also participates in community events and meetups to promote Kanban practices.
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### 3. **Podcasts: Evolved & Agility Island**
**Host/Contributor:** John Coleman
**Platforms:** OrderlyDisruption.com
**Publication Date:** Ongoing
**Description:**
As founder and host of the Evolved and Agility Island podcasts, Coleman interviews global thought leaders. He dives deep into topics such as executive ambidexterity, scaling, product management, product design, product engineering, Kanban, Scrum, and adaptive leadership. These podcasts extend his influence as a thought leader, consultant, and educator.
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Here are references and descriptions for seminal articles by John Anthony Coleman at InfoQ and CIOWaterCooler:
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### 4. **Kanplexity as an Approach to Tackle Complex Problems**
**Author:** John Coleman
**Platform:** InfoQ (Podcast & Transcript)
**Publication Date:** December 30, 2022
**Reference:** https://www.infoq.com/podcasts/kanplexity-tackle-complex-problems/
**Description:**
In this seminal InfoQ podcast and transcript, John Coleman discusses the origins and application of Kanplexity—a Kanban-based approach for navigating complex, evolving problem spaces. Coleman explains the limitations of traditional frameworks like Scrum in certain contexts and advocates for collaborative, experimental decision-making in complex environments. He emphasizes the importance of feedback, learning, and humility, and shares practical guidance for teams and leaders on adopting Kanplexity to improve adaptability and resilience. This conversation is a key resource for those interested in advanced Kanban and complexity thinking.
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### 5. **Executive Agility: The Key to Sustainable Transformation**
**Author:** John Coleman
**Platform:** CIOWaterCooler
**Publication Date:** [Year not specified]
**Reference:** [CIOWaterCooler – Executive Agility by John Coleman](https://www.ciowatercooler.co.uk/author/john-coleman/)
**Description:**
In this widely cited article for CIOWaterCooler, John Coleman examines the critical role of executive agility in driving sustainable organizational transformation. He explores the challenges leaders face in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments and provides practical strategies for developing executive agility. Coleman draws on real-world examples to illustrate how leaders can foster adaptability, empower teams, and create a culture of continuous improvement. The article is essential reading for executives and change agents seeking to lead effective, lasting transformation in the digital age.
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### 6. **Talking about Sizing and Forecasting in Scrum**
**Author:** John Coleman
**Platform:** InfoQ
**Publication Date:** August 4, 2022
**Reference:** https://www.infoq.com/articles/sizing-forecasting-scrum/
**Description:**
In this in-depth article, John Coleman explores the evolving world of sizing and forecasting in Scrum. He discusses the shift from traditional estimation methods—such as story points and averages—toward flow-based and probabilistic approaches, including #NoEstimates and Monte Carlo simulation. Coleman highlights the importance of right-sizing Product Backlog Items, focusing on valuable work, and using throughput data for rolling wave forecasts. He emphasizes that estimation is fraught with uncertainty and bias, and that forecasting should be viewed as risk management rather than a quest for certainty. The article offers practical advice for Scrum practitioners, including pitfalls to avoid, techniques for splitting work, and the value of focusing on finishing rather than just starting. This piece is widely referenced for its pragmatic, data-informed approach to forecasting in complex product development.
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### 7. **Why You Might Need an Island of Agility**
**Author:** John Coleman
**Platform:** InfoQ
**Publication Date:** March 6, 2024
**Reference:** https://www.infoq.com/articles/need-island-agility/
**Description:**
In this influential article, John Coleman introduces the concept of creating an “island of agility” within a traditional organization. Drawing on ideas from Michael Sahota, Heidi Helfand, Craig Larman, and Bas Vodde, Coleman explains how forming a dedicated, self-contained group of agile teams can catalyze broader organizational change.
He outlines the advantages of this approach, such as fostering authentic agility, enabling rapid learning, and demonstrating value to the broader organization, while also warning of potential pitfalls like elitism and cultural regression. The article provides actionable guidance for leaders seeking to grow agility incrementally, avoid common traps, and eventually expand the “archipelago of agility” to influence the entire enterprise. It is a key reference for anyone involved in large-scale agile transformation.
