Agile Galaxy: September's Insights and More!
Hard Yards
We empower business leaders and organizations to be more effective, innovative, and transformative.
As the season begins to shift, so do the landscapes of our professional journeys. In this issue, we delve into the intricate world of Agile methodologies, exploring the advantages and disadvantages of popular scaling approaches. From the Yoda-like simplicity of LeSS to the Jedi Council-style teamwork of Nexus, we'll guide you through these methodologies, helping you navigate the galaxy of Agile with a keen eye on choosing the right path for your organization. Plus, we share a thought-provoking reflection on the invaluable art of conversation and its role in Agile transformations—a reminder of the power of genuine human interaction in a digital age. So, join us on this journey through insights, inspiration, and a touch of magic as we unlock the doors to Agile excellence and beyond.
In this month’s newsletter:
ALIGNING STRATEGY AND EXECUTION: LISTENING TO PROGRESS
Hard Yards coached a financial firm’s enterprise services leaders through quarterly (or Program Increment (PI)) planning this past month.?We focused on connecting the organization’s strategy to PI Planning so teams could align lower-level objectives to higher-level priorities.?How did we know to focus on the connection between strategy, planning, and execution??Simply stated…we listened.?Ten different teams provided feedback on the PI Planning process, and we’ll meet quarterly with these teams to continually improve the organization.??
Interested in learning more?
BATTLE OF THE BLOGS
We’re bringing you a showdown like no other! In one corner, we have Doug, the Agile Wizard, whose recent blog explores the magic of effective communication in Agile transformations.
And in the other corner, we have Mark, our Jedi Master of Agile methodologies, drawing inspiration from the Star Wars universe. Mark's blog delves into the epic journey of scaling Agile, akin to the adventures of our beloved Star Wars heroes.
领英推荐
As these two formidable forces face off, we'll dive into their blogs to discover the strengths and weaknesses of popular Agile scaling methodologies as well as the magic of connecting people within organizations to collaborate and solve complex challenges. Who will emerge victorious in this Battle of the Blogs?
THE POWER OF INTEGRATED PRODUCT TEAMS
A fundamental component of any Agile framework is the compact, cross-functional team. Often praised for their effectiveness, especially in software development, when applied to broader "product" development, we encounter Integrated Product Teams (IPTs). These IPTs consist of cross-functional groups comprising representatives from diverse disciplines and stakeholders involved in product development, production, or management. Unlike Scrum teams, IPTs typically have a more extensive organizational reach. They may encompass multiple cross-functional Agile teams and involve various stakeholders, spanning multiple projects or initiatives within an organization. IPTs resemble the scaling of Agile practices, emphasizing collaboration, customer focus, and iterative development. They offer an effective way to introduce Agile-like practices into organizations where they are not yet established.?
Interested in learning more?
I recommend reading Good Strategy / Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters by Richard Rumelt. Published in 2011, Rumelt calls “the kernel” consisting of “three elements: a diagnosis, a guiding policy, and coherent action” as a good strategy.
First, Rumelt describes why organizations create bad strategies before describing how a company’s sources of power can contribute to the “kernel” of a good strategy. Rumelt shares his consulting engagements as examples of how different companies created strategy. These stories reinforce the main learning points and enable the reader to move quickly through the book.