Transformation Archives - Agile Authority

Book Review and Quotes: “Empowered Agile Transformation – Beyond the Framework”

Empowered Agile Transformation – Beyond the Framework, by Alexandra Stokes, 2023 What a great book! Alexandra Stokes has written the book many of us Agilists wanted to write. Her approach to Agile transformation is logical, empathetic, goal-oriented, and dare I say it "frameless". She includes over 30 personal stories of her Agile transformation successes and failures. One theme that really resonated with me was to [...]

Agile Authority2023-11-20T20:04:58+00:00Categories: SAFe, Transformation|

Making the Case for Value Stream Identification

We’ve all been there before, right? On one hand, we live in a classic siloed organization that is slow to respond to the market. Cross-org dependencies are the norm. The flow of value to the customer is slow. Painfully slow. Value stream identification is non-existent. On the other hand, we understand the power of “alignment to value” and its potential impact on the flow of [...]

Agile Authority2023-07-10T15:52:47+00:00Categories: SAFe, Transformation|

Rethinking Agile Transformations

Imagine. Let's start rethinking Agile transformations. What if Leaders would issue an “Agile statement of intent” instead of attempting another costly framework-driven transformation? How would our life at work be different? Can you imagine the agility innovation that this would spark? For example, what if a Leader made the following statement: “For our company to be successful, our teams really need to have a desire [...]

Agile Authority2023-06-11T00:22:07+00:00Categories: Team Greatness, Transformation|

SAFe vs. Simple Scaling

Leaders and Executives considering a “scaled Agile transformation” – you have a choice. You can fall in line with the masses and install a scaling framework such as SAFe. Alternatively, you can take a much more targeted approach, one that addresses your needs specifically, and that actually simplifies (de-scales) product development. SAFe vs. Simple Scaling. Let’s compare these two approaches in an attempt to outfit [...]

Agile Authority2023-09-22T21:55:55+00:00Categories: SAFe, Transformation|

The Case for Installing SAFe As-Is (well, not really)

Here I make the case for installing SAFe as-is. Note: Be sure and read to the end! The Case for Installing SAFe As-Is Installing SAFe as-is is appropriate when you have all of these situations: We need to “scale Agile up” to levels higher than Team-level Each team needs consistency of using ScrumXP or Kanban XP practices are needed to improve the quality of the [...]

Agile Authority2024-06-08T15:56:45+00:00Categories: SAFe, Transformation|

Frameless Approach to Agility Improvement

As an Agile coaching community, we have gone astray. We have become obsessed with installing frameworks. We lead with frameworks instead of empathy. I'm not preaching, I'm guilty as charged. Now is the time for a great reset within the Agile coaching community. We need to stop leading with framework installations (SAFe, Scrum, LeSS, Kanban, etc.) and get back to the basics of Agile. Ivar [...]

Agile Authority2022-08-07T22:47:36+00:00Categories: Transformation|

Framework Installation vs Custom Agile Ecosystem

Framework installation vs custom Agile ecosystem - which is better? When we install a framework (Scrum, SAFe, LeSS, DAD, Kanban, etc.) without understanding what the team/organization truly needs, we are creating what Lean calls muda. Muda is waste. Muda in the form of unnecessary meetings, redundant practices, solving non-problems, additional low-value artifacts, new role confusion, change fatigue, ... the list goes on and on. [...]

Agile Authority2022-06-20T22:08:17+00:00Categories: Transformation|

Abby-Normal Agile Transformations

Ever wonder what the “Young Frankenstein” movie has in common with Agile transformations? Me neither. Until now. While channel surfing recently, I ran into the great Mel Brook’s classic movie. It still holds up today. In summary, some Agile transformations have an “abby normal” brain. Bear with me and I’ll try to explain... Situation - the Abby Normal Brain Dr. Frankenstein’s dimwitted assistant, Igor (pronounced [...]

Agile Authority2022-06-23T23:12:13+00:00Categories: Transformation|

Agile Approach Consistency – Good or Bad Idea?

As Agilists, we preach “We want empowered teams!” But we turn right around and tell the teams to use the Scrum (or Kanban) framework. Why? Because we require corporate-wide Agile approach consistency, and we want to make it easier for when people transfer into a new team. Stop for a moment and realize how utterly stifling this position is to team empowerment. In many ways, [...]

Agile Authority2021-12-29T19:29:35+00:00Categories: Transformation|

Your Agile Transformation is Doomed to Failure – 5 Red Alerts!

Wouldn’t it be great if there was guidance on how to know if your Agile transformation is doomed to failure? Perhaps a short set of leading indicators or “red alerts” that give us an early warning signal? If we have this, we could react and potentially turn the ship around before it hits the iceberg. It could save millions in cost, time, and effort. Caveat [...]

Agile Authority2021-10-05T23:28:13+00:00Categories: Transformation|