Agile Transition is a widely used buzz word.
I’ve been to so many organizations where it is just another label. It is and could be much more. Let me describe to you what a successful agile transition is.
I am working for about three months on an agile transition that started three years ago. There is still a lot of change that needs to happen, but they are on their way. The organization is a top fortune 500 company, and has been in business for over 50 years. The principle of its founding father is “Do it right the first time”. While some teams struggle with this, and transparency, agility is becoming a corporate culture.
One of the things this organization has done correctly, is not deciding on a single framework that is to be used by all. Getting Agile understood was the goal early on, not a particular framework. So, you find some teams doing Kanban, and others doing Scrum. This is a collaborative environment, where both managers and teams work together to reach the organization’s goals. The commitment of its leaders can be seen through out this rollout.
The second thing they did, was to communicate the reason behind moving to Agile. The “why” behind it all. What was the goal? Their reason was the same as many other organizations. They need to be nimble, and quickly adjust to the market.
To help individuals grow both personally and as team members, resource managers are there to support them. Frequent one on ones to check how they are doing. Training is quickly offered to those who feel they need it. Capability matrices consider how agile functions, and reviews are moving to team assessments.
Courtesy of ManagingAmericans.com
They ensured teams would have an en environment that increases communication, and team formation. As you walk into to the Scrum floor, you can observe row after row of scrum pods. Each team has their name on the outside of the pod. They also have a tv screen to effectively communicate with offshore teams.
As I mentioned earlier, they still have challenges ahead, but leadership has embraced agility, increasing the odds of success. Going out the door, these teams have been set for success.
You know the drill, share with us. How has your organization transitioned to Agile? Can you see leadership’s commitment?
“It is not a bolt to be tightened into place, but a seed to be planted and to bear more seed toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea.”
Seeding The Landscape....Agility For Agile Minds 