Values and Principles of Samman Coaching

Samman coaches recognize the need for human engineering expertise in order to achieve high quality software.
Samman coaches work with whole software development teams rather than individuals.
Samman coaches adapt to what the team needs to achieve an outcome rather than follow a pre-determined syllabus.
Samman coaches aim for outcomes that will continue to happen long after they have left the team, through the technical practices the team continues to use.
Samman coaches teach both theory through exercises and by teaching/mentoring in the production code - the combination is important to achieve lasting outcomes.
Samman coaches communicate actively with sponsors and other stakeholders during the coaching and explain how their work supports the desired outcomes.

We coach and teach Technical practices

Describing the specific challenges the coaching will address belongs to the team and the Samman coach’s sponsors (sponsors pay for the coaching), while deciding which specific technical practices to teach belongs to the coach.
Samman coaches teach named technical practices from named experts and which we have experience of.
A technical practice is one which developers use in their work which directly affects the content and quality of the software they create. People need engineering skills to apply technical practices appropriately.
Other practices (less technical) may be relevant to teach at the discretion of the coach.
Samman coaches learn about and adapt to new technology, both in what we teach and how we teach it.

The team agrees to the coaching and can withdraw at any time (irrespective of financial implications).
Samman coaches teach technical practices that we believe will benefit the team, the individuals in the team, and the wider system in which they work. We do not teach practices which we believe will help one of those at the expense of the others.
Samman coaches learn from and teach one another and actively seek to do so.

These values and principles were officially adopted at the Samman Society general assembly in October 2026