Ward's 1995 paper, Episodes 
presents a pattern language for software development that became the foundation for Extreme Programming (XP) and the Agile Mindset.
In this paper he introduces the concept of Episodes:
We are particularly interested in the sequence of mental states that lead to important decisions. We call the sequence an episode.source
An episode builds toward a climax where the decision is made. Before the decision, we find facts, share opinions, build concentration and generally prepare for an event that cannot be known in advance.
After the climax, the decision is known, but the episode continues. In the tail of an episode we act on our decision, promulgate it, follow it through to its consequences.
We also leave a trace of the episode behind in its products. It is from this trace that we must often pick up the pieces of thought in some future episode.
Episodes have a different character than Sprints that are used in Scrum. Sprints have a defined period (called a "timebox") in which a team commits to efficiently deliver components of a solution (called "stories") to others.
While the core value of the sprint – a project management practice – is primarily externally defined, the core value of these episodes is initially internally defined, as a creative learning journey.
The "climax" of this journey is not the end-point where the work product is shared or released, but when the team gains critical insight – Eureka Moments – that allows for a new solution to be possible. The actual development of the work product for others is an epilogue to this epiphany.
Each episode, then, has the characteristics of a Hero's Journey:
A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.wikipedia
Documenting and sharing these "ultimate boons" from these "mysterious adventures" is essential for an organization and, arguably, critical to unleashing the full potential of Agile.
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