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Michael MancusoProduct & technology executive
Projects & case studies

Complex work.
Concrete results.

Product launches, operating-model changes, and complex AI-enabled builds. Explore the business problem, the decisions I led, and what changed.

Built with agents

Product strategy and a repository-based second brain.

Phase 3 Benefits brings eight health, commuter, and wage-law account types onto one payment card. I built a repository-based second brain—product strategy, specifications, verified facts, and agent memory—to keep AI development aligned.

Specification-driven development at platform scale.

Shared FHIR-based contracts coordinated parallel development across clinical, operational, and financial workflows.

Leadership case studies

Showing 6 of 38

Wendy's

Organized a LEGO4Scrum workshop for Wendy's leadership, resulting in a practical understanding of Scrum concepts, improved collaboration, and increased engagement with Agile practices.

01

Challenge

Wendy’s leadership needed a hands-on, engaging way to understand Scrum concepts and the experience of working on a Scrum team. The goal was to enhance their understanding of Agile principles and improve their support for Agile practices across the organization.

02

Action

To address this challenge, I organized and led an Agile workshop using the LEGO4Scrum methodology. Key actions included:

  • Workshop Planning: Designed a comprehensive workshop using LEGO4Scrum to teach Scrum principles and practices in a hands-on, interactive manner.
  • Engaging Leadership: Invited Wendy’s leadership team to participate in the workshop to ensure they gained firsthand experience of working within a Scrum framework.
  • Hands-On Learning: Facilitated the workshop, guiding participants through various Scrum ceremonies such as Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives using LEGO bricks to simulate project tasks and workflows.
  • Real-Time Feedback: Provided real-time feedback and coaching to participants, helping them understand key Agile concepts and how to apply them effectively.
  • Interactive Exercises: Included interactive exercises that demonstrated the importance of collaboration, iterative development, and continuous improvement within a Scrum team.
03

Results

The LEGO4Scrum workshop led to a significant improvement in leadership’s understanding and support of Agile practices at Wendy’s:

  • Enhanced Understanding: Leadership gained a practical understanding of Scrum concepts and what it feels like to work on a Scrum team, fostering better support for Agile initiatives.
  • Improved Collaboration: The workshop promoted collaboration and teamwork among participants, highlighting the benefits of Agile methodologies.
  • Increased Engagement: Leadership became more engaged with Agile practices, leading to greater alignment and support for Scrum teams within the organization.
  • Practical Insights: Participants left the workshop with practical insights and actionable knowledge they could apply to support Agile transformations and improve project outcomes.

Questions

How were Scrum concepts taught using Lego at Wendy's?

A hands-on Agile workshop used Lego building exercises to teach Scrum concepts including Sprint Planning, estimation, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives in an engaging, interactive format.

Why use Lego to teach Agile?

Lego provides a tangible, visual medium that makes abstract Agile concepts concrete. Participants experience the sprint cycle physically, making learning more memorable and immediately applicable.

What Scrum ceremonies were covered in the Lego workshop?

All core Scrum ceremonies were simulated using Lego: Sprint Planning with estimation, Daily Stand-ups during builds, Sprint Reviews with stakeholder feedback, and Retrospectives for identifying improvements.

How many leaders participated in the LEGO workshop?

The workshop was designed for Wendy's leadership team, providing them with firsthand experience of Scrum team dynamics so they could better understand and support Agile practices across the organization.

What follow-up actions did leadership take after the workshop?

Leadership gained practical understanding of Scrum concepts and what it feels like to work on a Scrum team, leading to greater alignment with and support for Agile initiatives across the organization.

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