Doc Norton
@docondev.bsky.social
Founder: https://www.docondev.com
Author: https://www.docondev.com/escape-velocity
Grandfather, Fitness Enthusiast, Software Product Excellence Enabler
Author: https://www.docondev.com/escape-velocity
Grandfather, Fitness Enthusiast, Software Product Excellence Enabler
Small, simple wins compound into big results. #SimpleSteps
Create simple things in small steps — Doc Norton & Associates
Simple Things When I say simple, I don’t necessarily mean easy. And I certainly do not mean crude in form or incomplete. Simple indicates something that does not have superfluous parts or multiple responsibilities,...
buff.ly
November 7, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Small, simple wins compound into big results. #SimpleSteps
Smaller releases mean smaller risks. #ReleaseOften
Release ridiculously often — Doc Norton & Associates
The seventh behavior, “Release ridiculously often,” is usually met with nods from half of the crowd and raised eyebrows from the other half. The nodders want to know why it isn’t higher on the list...
buff.ly
November 6, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Smaller releases mean smaller risks. #ReleaseOften
Sprint commitments too often shift focus from solving problems to meeting promises.
November 4, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Sprint commitments too often shift focus from solving problems to meeting promises.
Before building solutions, build shared understanding of the problem.
buff.ly/LRHPKgn
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving
buff.ly/LRHPKgn
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving
Know the problem you are solving — Doc Norton & Associates
“Know the problem you are solving” is about knowing the specific problem and for whom this problem exists. It isn't about knowing what solution a persona lacks but about truly understanding a…
buff.ly
November 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Before building solutions, build shared understanding of the problem.
buff.ly/LRHPKgn
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving
buff.ly/LRHPKgn
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving
Most teams focus on “how much work is left.” But the real insight is in how work moves through the system. That’s where Cumulative Flow Diagrams shine. buff.ly/3XlK7HQ
#MakeTheWorkVisible
buff.ly/3D8RdZa
#MakeTheWorkVisible
buff.ly/3D8RdZa
October 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Most teams focus on “how much work is left.” But the real insight is in how work moves through the system. That’s where Cumulative Flow Diagrams shine. buff.ly/3XlK7HQ
#MakeTheWorkVisible
buff.ly/3D8RdZa
#MakeTheWorkVisible
buff.ly/3D8RdZa
If your strategy is just copying others,
you’re not leading—you’re following.
Differentiation requires courage, creativity, and experimentation.
#Leadership #ExperimentationMindset
you’re not leading—you’re following.
Differentiation requires courage, creativity, and experimentation.
#Leadership #ExperimentationMindset
October 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
If your strategy is just copying others,
you’re not leading—you’re following.
Differentiation requires courage, creativity, and experimentation.
#Leadership #ExperimentationMindset
you’re not leading—you’re following.
Differentiation requires courage, creativity, and experimentation.
#Leadership #ExperimentationMindset
Shipping every story isn’t the goal.
Solving the right problem is.
If half the backlog becomes irrelevant, that means you’re learning.
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving #SoftwareDevelopment
Solving the right problem is.
If half the backlog becomes irrelevant, that means you’re learning.
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving #SoftwareDevelopment
Know the problem you are solving — Doc Norton & Associates
“Know the problem you are solving” is about knowing the specific problem and for whom this problem exists. It isn't about knowing what solution a persona lacks but about truly understanding a…
buff.ly
October 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Shipping every story isn’t the goal.
Solving the right problem is.
If half the backlog becomes irrelevant, that means you’re learning.
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving #SoftwareDevelopment
Solving the right problem is.
If half the backlog becomes irrelevant, that means you’re learning.
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving #SoftwareDevelopment
In complex domains, optimizing steps often accelerates waste, not progress.
October 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM
In complex domains, optimizing steps often accelerates waste, not progress.
Understanding the problem is the first step toward crafting effective solutions.
buff.ly/V8vg06k
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving
buff.ly/V8vg06k
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving
Know the problem you are solving — Doc Norton & Associates
“Know the problem you are solving” is about knowing the specific problem and for whom this problem exists. It isn't about knowing what solution a persona lacks but about truly understanding a…
buff.ly
October 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Understanding the problem is the first step toward crafting effective solutions.
buff.ly/V8vg06k
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving
buff.ly/V8vg06k
#KnowTheProblemYouAreSolving
Reposted by Doc Norton
VP of Delivery @docondev.bsky.social shares reflections on what bug bashes reveal about the underlying system. https://docondev.com/blog/2025/9/25/bug-bashes-are-a-smell
October 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
VP of Delivery @docondev.bsky.social shares reflections on what bug bashes reveal about the underlying system. https://docondev.com/blog/2025/9/25/bug-bashes-are-a-smell
It is easier
to write an
incorrect program
than
understand a
correct one.
~ Unknown
to write an
incorrect program
than
understand a
correct one.
~ Unknown
October 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
It is easier
to write an
incorrect program
than
understand a
correct one.
~ Unknown
to write an
incorrect program
than
understand a
correct one.
~ Unknown
Don't let your tools become your process.
October 9, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Don't let your tools become your process.
Great teams are less like awesome machines and more like awesome organisms. - Team of Teams
October 7, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Great teams are less like awesome machines and more like awesome organisms. - Team of Teams
Stop obsessing over velocity. Focus on flow. Good flow makes velocity both informative and unnecessary.
buff.ly/g9ewEUP #EscapeVelocity
buff.ly/g9ewEUP #EscapeVelocity
Escape Velocity — Doc Norton & Associates
Michael Norton (Doc) is a software delivery professional working to make the world of software development a better place. His experience covers a wide range of development topics. Doc declares…
buff.ly
October 6, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Stop obsessing over velocity. Focus on flow. Good flow makes velocity both informative and unnecessary.
buff.ly/g9ewEUP #EscapeVelocity
buff.ly/g9ewEUP #EscapeVelocity
Leadership is giving people the space to decide and the safety to act.
October 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Leadership is giving people the space to decide and the safety to act.
In complex domains, doing tasks faster doesn’t necessarily mean creating more value.
September 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM
In complex domains, doing tasks faster doesn’t necessarily mean creating more value.
I’ve noticed sprint commitments leading to blame and pressure, not partnership and progress.
September 29, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I’ve noticed sprint commitments leading to blame and pressure, not partnership and progress.
Good automation is living documentation. #FavorAutomation buff.ly/gBX0wsh
Favor automation over documentation — Doc Norton & Associates
Favor automation over documentation is, to a great extent, about reducing friction - reducing the cognitive load and minutia required to get the work done, allowing you to focus on the value being…
buff.ly
September 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Good automation is living documentation. #FavorAutomation buff.ly/gBX0wsh
Every release is a chance to learn. #ReleaseOften buff.ly/2KZTMir
Release ridiculously often — Doc Norton & Associates
The seventh behavior, “Release ridiculously often,” is usually met with nods from half of the crowd and raised eyebrows from the other half. The nodders want to know why it isn’t higher on the list…
buff.ly
September 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Every release is a chance to learn. #ReleaseOften buff.ly/2KZTMir
Feedback isn’t one-time—it’s continuous. #ValidateBeforeDuringAfter buff.ly/mNw9ldP
Validate Before, During, and After — Doc Norton & Associates
To validate is to confirm something has the quality of being well-grounded or correct. Validate before, during, and after is a reminder that teams should be confirming along the way.
buff.ly
September 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Feedback isn’t one-time—it’s continuous. #ValidateBeforeDuringAfter buff.ly/mNw9ldP
Well-composed systems invite change, not fear it. #CompositionMatters buff.ly/W0vAE3Z
Be Meticulous about composition — Doc Norton & Associates
Composition refers to the way in which something is put together. Composition is a key element in many of the things humans create. Whether it be a musical piece, a painting, a garden, or a building,…
buff.ly
September 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Well-composed systems invite change, not fear it. #CompositionMatters buff.ly/W0vAE3Z
Big bang releases are big gambles. #SimpleSteps buff.ly/5fW6dlH
Create simple things in small steps — Doc Norton & Associates
Simple Things When I say simple, I don’t necessarily mean easy. And I certainly do not mean crude in form or incomplete. Simple indicates something that does not have superfluous parts or multiple…
buff.ly
September 15, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Big bang releases are big gambles. #SimpleSteps buff.ly/5fW6dlH
Sharing problems builds shared solutions. #WorkTogether buff.ly/0y3ZGUe
Work Together — Doc Norton & Associates
When I say, “work together”, I mean just that. Do the actual work together. Every aspect of the product lifecycle is an opportunity for collaboration - Identifying problems to solve, user and market…
buff.ly
September 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Sharing problems builds shared solutions. #WorkTogether buff.ly/0y3ZGUe
Visibility creates accountability and alignment. #MakeWorkVisible buff.ly/YOK4PSj
Make the work visible — Doc Norton & Associates
A lot of teams have a backlog of some sort and some form of Kanban board — whether it is Jira, Trello, Monday, Asana, MS Project, or a bunch of post-its on a wall. These are all ways of making the…
buff.ly
September 11, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Visibility creates accountability and alignment. #MakeWorkVisible buff.ly/YOK4PSj