Agile Value Pipeline - Are we focussing on the right priorities?

Introduction

As agile coaches, our work involves working with teams in transitioning and transforimg the Ways of Working (WoW) to agile and helping teams achieve Agility. However, most of the focus is in Transitioning and very less of time is actually spent in the transformation piece. In this article I try to talk about the Shift Left / Shift Right strategy for agile coaches using the classic S-Curve as a metaphor.

S-Curve of Agile Coaching Focus

The above picture represents the typical value stream from a Product valuation perspective. In most of the Agile Coaching engagement, an Agile Coach spends a majority of the time (roughly 85% To 90%) in Zone B (Value Generation / Creation).

The activities typically involved in this zone are:-

• Training team members in Agile
• Coaching Scrum Masters & Team Facilitators
• Ensure as a Gatekeeper of the Agile Ceremonies and events
• Identify Low hanging fruits / Quick Wings towards agility
• Impediment remover on a priority

These steps, although it gives immediate results and quick wins, is not a long sustaining proposition for an agile coach. These activities would only result in the initial transition from a traditional way of working to an Agile Way. However this in no way is Transformation. As coaches we should not really be working in this Zone B for more than 20% of our time.

We need to put our thinking caps on and bring about real transformation value to our stakeholders. One way I think can where we can contribute is by adapting the Shift Left, Shift Right strategy with respect to the above S Curve. Our focus has to move from Zone B To Zone A & Zone C.

Shift Left Approach

As coaches, we bring real value by working closely with our product teams and executive leadership in facilitating Business Value Identification, Prioritization & funding quantification. This is the zone where I feel we should be spending between 35% To 40% of our time (if not more). Over a period of time, our focus should move from Zone B To Zone A

Shift Right Approach

As coaches, we also need to work with our stakeholders to validate the product value defined in Zone A with its actual realization in Zone C. Over a period of time, our focus/priority should move from Zone B To Zone C.

Typical activities we should be working on here include facilitating conversations & coaching around

1.    Validating the monetized business value

2.    Ideating around enhancing the existing realized value

3.    Value Refinement through feature enhancement / feature optimization

This is the zone again, where I feel we should be spending between 35% To 40% of our time (if not more).

The real icing on the cake in any Agile transformation is how the correlation is established between agile principles, processes & ceremonies (followed at Zone B) with the business value definition, prioritization and realization (Zone A, C). This though is not easy and as coaches we can expect resistance at the boundaries between these zones (Refer the cracks in the picture above). The real skillset for an agile coach is to fork these resistances and bring out a premium value to their Agile Transformation story.

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