SEACON 2023 - sharing the secrets to agility??5/10
So full disclosure, I already did spill the secrets to agility internally in my organisation a couple of weeks ago but only this morning it clicked to me... why not spreading the joy with our wider community #OpenAgile #SoftwareDevelopment
For those of you that hear about it for the 1st time I'd highly encourage you to check out the website here https://www.seacom.online/ TL;DR it's like COMICON but for Agile at scale it takes place 1 a year and brings together top leaders from Agile, Product & Software development.
Special thanks to Owen Gardner and team for organising yet another brilliant event
This year the conference had over 30 speakers across 3 different tracks
An interesting highlight was the Agile Leadership Track which had a variety of speakers outside the sphere of software development but with many applicable learnings. I found that quite refreshing.
If anyone is curious about industry insights, fresh expertise and strategic thinking you can check it out below. A range of topics covered from what we can do to generate engagement and buy-in as well as discussions on systems thinking, adaptive leadership and even some culinary tips on how to bake a change
Target audience: You as a leader (it doesn't matter how senior or junior you are, this is for leaders at all levels in all roles)
Shattering Silos: Embracing the Project to Product Movement ??
In this session we've heard from Jeev Chugh and wow it was such a great value adding deep dive
Intro
Jeev discussed the project to product movement, which aims to break down silos and improve collaboration between teams in order to deliver better products. He emphasized the importance of focusing on outcomes rather than outputs and highlights the benefits of adopting a product-centric approach.? In the dynamic landscape of organizational agility, the transition from project-centric to product-centric models has become a crucial paradigm shift. The session delved into lived experiences, strategies, and key takeaways from the journey of project to product transition, drawing insights from real-world examples.
History
We've heard a quick story on Boeing's program in the early 90s which exemplified collaboration, customer centricity, and innovation. This departure from siloed methodologies to collaborative design with major airlines showcased the early embodiment of principles crucial in transitioning from project to product. The emphasis on collaboration, customer-centricity, innovation, and cross-functional openness set the stage for future organizational agility. This case serves as a historical testament to the essence of transitioning from project to product, emphasizing collaboration, customer-centricity, and cross-functional teamwork. These are the same principles/ethos that existed in the 90s that are gaining momentum in the project product movement today.
Breaking Down Silos in a Retail Challenge
Transitioning from project-centric to product-centric approaches addresses contemporary challenges. A retail client's experience highlights the hurdles of managing initiatives like loyalty programs, payments integration, and customer insights in isolation.
Recognizing the limitations of this siloed approach, the CIO sought transformation. Collaborating with UST consulting team, they initiated project-to-product transformation focused on establishing modular, reusable technology capabilities as the foundation for product development.
Industry Progression: A Snapshot of the Last 5 Years
Examining the industry's progression into a product-centric operating model over the last five years reveals a gradual shift. In 2018, Gartner forecasted a shift toward product-centricity, with 85% of organizations considering adoption. However, by 2020, only 27% partially adopted this model, as reported by Forrester
IDC's insight in the same year highlighted a 35% reduction in operational inefficiencies for those embracing product-centric models so this approach holds value
Fast Forward McKinsey suggested many challenges such as aiming too high, unexpected obstacles, and overlooking cultural shifts, emphasizing the complexity of this transformative journey.
And in 2023 according to Planview only 8% of organizations have the foundations to adopt this model.
Lessons from a Public Sector Engagement - 5 Strategies to accelerate the project to product shift
Strategy 1 - Value Stream Mapping
The initial focus on understanding and visualizing value streams is paramount. Taking a public sector organization as an example, the seminar explored the importance of identifying accountabilities for end-to-end service delivery. The pivotal moment lies in recognizing the need for customer-centric end to end accountability for delivery and to drive efficiencies. Visualizing these streams with product taxonomy enhances transparency and organizational alignment.
Strategy 2 - Align delivery with business outcomes
The second strategy centres on aligning delivery with business outcomes. Using a retail client as a case study, in the session we discussed the challenge of translating a three-year strategy into actionable quarterly business outcomes. The focus shifts towards leveraging OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to create a clear line of sight from strategy to execution.
Strategy 3 - Harnessing feedback?
The third strategy emphasizes the importance of integrating and acting upon customer feedback loops. Using a retail client's example, the session detailed the transformation of a fragmented feedback system into a centralized repository. This centralized approach fosters collaboration, innovation, and quicker responsiveness to customer needs.
Feedback Centralization: The impact of consolidating feedback from various channels into a centralized repository.
Enhanced Collaboration: The unintended benefits of increased collaboration across the organization through a centralized feedback system.
It's important to have the right processes and tools in place to capture and act upon feedback, and to focus on platforms as the powerhouse of transformation.
Strategy 4 - Focus on the power of the platforms and build stable foundations for transformation?
In the midst of project to product transformations, the role of platforms is often underestimated. Platforms serve as the foundation, allowing products to plug into stable, reusable technology capabilities. Neglecting platform-centric strategies results in technical debt, hindering delivery and desired outcomes. Recognizing platforms as powerhouses in this transformation ensures a robust and sustainable shift from project to product
Strategy 5 -Visualizing Team Dependencies for Improved Transparency
The final strategy touches upon the importance of visualizing team dependencies. Drawing insights from a client engagement, in the session we discussed the complexity of dependencies often underestimated by leadership. It emphasizes the need for teams to proactively manage dependencies and reduce cognitive strain. Unanticipated dependencies can lead to bottlenecks and hinder value delivery. Tech and business leadership must be aware of these dependencies to avoid bottlenecks and ensure value delivery.
Book recommended: Team Topologies Framework
Conclusion
In conclusion, the journey from project to product is a multifaceted transformation that demands a holistic approach. By adopting these strategies, organizations can navigate challenges, foster innovation, and ensure a seamless transition to a product-centric operating model. The key lies not only in technological shifts but in cultivating a profound transformation in organizational mindset and structure.
Great recap of Jeev Chugh's session! We’re glad to hear you found the insights valuable.?
Enterprise Transformation - GSI @ Amazon Web Services
1 年Thank you for the fantastic summary of my talk! You captured the key insights so succinctly. It's rewarding to know that my talk resonated with you and potentially with others in our professional community. Looking forward to further discussions and collaborations on this topic!