When it comes to seeking help for an Agile transformation, there are Agile Coaches and there are Framework Implementors. If you are considering launching an Agile transformation, you need to understand the difference.
Start by asking a potential Agile Coach this question: “How would you engage with us to kick off our Agile transformation?”
Real Agile Coach
A real Agile Coach will answer the above question using phrases such as:
- Business goal for the transformation
- Empathy
- Understanding
- Pain points
- Building relationships
- Historical perspective
- Meet you where you are
- Situational awareness
- How you deliver value
- After a good amount of the above, recommend lightweight fit-for-purpose Agile practices incrementally over time
- Adjust based on learnings
- Etc.
Agile Coaches are all about understanding the organization – its history, the business goals, the current situation, the “why” of Agile, and potential opportunities for leaning out the flow of value.
Framework Implementors
A Framework Implementor will answer the above question using phrases such as:
- Launch a train
- Daily standups
- SAFe implementation
- Iterative development
- Scrum
- Kanban
- PI Planning
- 2-week iterations
- New roles
- 10-week Program Increments
- Backlogs
- DevOps
- Essential SAFe
- Retrospectives
- Etc.
A Framework Implementor is all about finding a situation where they can recommend and implement a framework that they understand. Their understanding can be deep based on many years of experience implementing the framework, or it can be shallow based on attending a 2 to 4-day class and passing an online exam.
Immediately launching into a framework without truly understanding the situation can lead to disastrous consequences and significant waste.
The Bottom Line
Real Agile Coaches can also implement frameworks – and will do so if they believe it is a good fit. In my experience, out-of-the-box frameworks are rarely a good fit “as is” due to size, complexity, and generality.
The inverse is not always true – a Framework Implementor will rarely spend the time to truly understand and coach the situation. Why not? Because it could show the need for something other than their favorite framework.
You have been warned!
For more on SAFe, visit here. For more on what all is typically involved in an Agile transformation, visit here.