Transformation starts at the top. These articles explore what leaders need to do differently, how to move past lip-service support, and how to build a culture where teams can actually be agile.
Most executives treat Organizational Change Management as a support function, something you bolt on after the real decisions are made. This mindset has cost organizations millions and stalled transformations before they ever take root. The first 90 days are where the outcome is decided.
Most strategic initiatives fail not because the strategy was wrong, but because execution breaks down silently. Eric Cussen identifies the five fracture points and what it takes to close the gap.
By Bhavani Krishnan, Enterprise Business Agility Consultant at Agile VelocityCo-hosted with Gina Foster, Senior Director of Client Success at Agile Velocity The room was already humming when Gina and I took our seats at the front of zoom cameras.
Today's organizations are under pressure like never before. Global disruptions, rising customer expectations, shifting talent dynamics, disconnected workforce with the mix of in-person, hybrid, and remote options has increased complexity across the board.
In today's dynamic and fast-paced business landscape, organizations must be flexible, innovative, and resilient. Two foundational strategies that enable these capabilities are Business Agility and Agile Transformation.
Embarking on an Agile Transformation is more than just introducing new processes. It reshapes how your organization collaborates, delivers value, and adapts to change.
Selecting the right business consulting partner can be a game-changer for organizations striving to embrace sustainable agility. These setbacks often stem from poorly guided implementations, rather than Agile Practices failing to deliver.
Customer feedback is an invaluable resource for continuously improving your products, services, and processes. For many organizations, internal metrics take center stage, while customer insights remain overlooked.
Agile Transformation promises faster delivery, improved quality, and empowered teams. Yet many organizations find themselves frustrated when expectations aren't met.
Stepping into a leadership role at a new company is both an exciting and challenging endeavor--especially when your goal is to implement an Agile Transformation. You've experienced firsthand how Agile Methodologies drive value, foster innovation, and improve collaboration.
Agile has changed the way organizations operate, innovate, and deliver value in today's dynamic market. When organizations fully embrace an Agile Transformation, they introduce a philosophy that enhances adaptability and encourages continuous improvement.
Agile transforms organizational effectiveness by fostering flexibility, speeding up value delivery, and enhancing team collaboration. Industries are shifting from rigid practices to Agile's iterative, results-focused approach.
High-performing teams are the driving force behind consistent, efficient software delivery. However, persistent blockers often hinder Agile Development Managers from unlocking their teams' full potential.
Boosting team productivity often feels like solving a complex puzzle. You're moving the pieces--adjusting workflows, refining priorities--but the full picture can remain out of reach.
Accurate estimation is one of the key challenges faced by Agile teams. It's more than just guessing task duration--it builds alignment, enhances collaboration, and helps teams prioritize and deliver value consistently.
Diversity in Agile isn't just a buzzword--it's a catalyst for unlocking innovation, promoting operational excellence, and enhancing adaptability.
Agile adoption is essential for IT leaders who want to drive faster value delivery, boost team collaboration, and remain flexible. By embracing Agile Methodology, organizations can respond quickly to market shifts and deliver quality results.
Developing a strong Agile culture can redefine how organizations adapt, collaborate, and succeed. When nurtured effectively, this culture empowers organizations to adjust to shifting priorities, deliver customer value faster, and enhance employee engagement.
In today's financial world, banks face constant pressure to innovate and meet rising customer expectations. Traditional methods often fall short in providing the swift, personalized attention that modern customers demand.
IT Agility drives organizations to thrive in a fast-paced digital world. It's about creating a mindset that allows IT teams to quickly respond to change, deliver meaningful results, and support innovation.
Managing financial operations demands a balance of precision, compliance, and adaptability. With evolving customer expectations and technological advancements, finance teams are under increasing pressure to deliver value faster, without compromising on accuracy.
Organizational agility is not a passing trend--it's the engine of lasting success. In today's rapidly evolving market, businesses must adapt quickly to rising customer expectations, and shifting demands.
Many organizations aim to deliver innovative solutions, exceptional products, and seamless services. However, a significant obstacle often stands in their way: the presence of organizational silos.
Strategic agility has become essential for businesses aiming not only to survive, but also to thrive. The ability to make strategic, and sometimes large-scale pivots effectively in response to market shifts, disruptions, or evolving customer expectations is no longer optional.
In today's fast-paced, tech-driven world, Agile principles enable teams to quickly adapt to changes, deliver consistent value, and maintain high standards of quality. For professionals, an Agile certification can be a powerful way to stand out in this space.
In today's business landscape, leaders face increasing pressure to achieve profitability, improve operational efficiency, and stay competitive.
Agile learning is transforming corporate training.
Digital transformation demands balancing speed, quality, and adaptability in unpredictable environments. Rapid technological advancements and compressed delivery timelines heighten risks, potentially leading to costly setbacks.
Value stream mapping is a powerful technique that enhances collaboration between sales and operations, optimizes workflows, and strengthens organizational agility. In today's fast-paced business environment, efficiency and alignment are critical.
In the Scrum Agile framework, clear communication and collaboration are essential for achieving team goals, and at the heart of this is the Daily Scrum.
As Agile practices continue to thrive across various industries, preparing for Agile-related interviews is essential for your organization's growth.
For senior leaders navigating today's fast-changing markets, Agile Transformation is essential for maintaining adaptability and delivering value at speed.
In today's fast-evolving business landscape, unpredictability is the new normal for organizations across all industries.
In today's business landscape, organizations increasingly realize the necessity of becoming Agile to remain competitive. At the heart of this transformation lies organizational agility--the ability to adapt swiftly to shifting priorities, market conditions, and opportunities.
Agile methodologies are widely recognized for their association with improved project outcomes. Mastering Agile skills is not just beneficial--it's essential for sustainable success.
Organizations today must adapt quickly, deliver value consistently, and collaborate effectively to stay competitive. For technology-driven companies, Agile Transformation is key to achieving these goals.
In today's dynamic business landscape, organizations grapple with increasing complexity and swift changes. Traditional auditing methods often struggle to keep pace, leading to inefficiencies and delayed insights.
Change is the essence of progress, yet managing it effectively remains one of the most overwhelming tasks for leaders.
In the ever-changing landscape of Agile, teams must adapt quickly, take risks, and engage in open collaboration. Achieving these outcomes hinges on a less visible but crucial factor: Psychological Safety.
Engaging stakeholders effectively in Agile projects is paramount for ensuring project success and alignment with business goals.
Did you know organizations that successfully implement Agile Transformation practices can improve their project success rates significantly?
Balancing Lean management and Agile Transformation practices has become essential for organizations aiming to stay competitive and deliver value faster. Integrating these methodologies allows enterprises to enhance performance, reduce waste, and adapt swiftly to market changes.
Organizations today face relentless challenges, including rapid market evolution, shifting customer expectations, and disruptive technologies.
Agile Transformations can fail due to a number of reasons--cultural misalignment, resistance to change, and broken processes are all common culprits.
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations are constantly seeking ways to deliver value more efficiently and stay ahead of the competition.
An Agile-Friendly C-Suite embodies flexibility, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement. It's about embracing change and leading by example. Creating this environment starts at the top.
Agile Transformation is essential for organizations striving to enhance their agility and deliver exceptional value efficiently.
Decision Agility Organizations must be nimble in their decision making to remain competitive and deliver products and services that customers demand.
Sustaining an Agile mindset within an organization offers a transformative approach that empowers organizations to adapt quickly, innovate continuously, and achieve lasting success. But how can you harness the power of Agile to revolutionize your business?
Organizations are under immense pressure to deliver value more predictably, rapidly, and with higher quality than ever before. The ability to adapt quickly to market changes, customer demands, and emerging technologies is no longer a luxury--it's a necessity.
Staying ahead of the competition requires speed and adaptability. Embracing Enterprise Agile Planning can transform your organization, making it more responsive, efficient, and customer-focused.
Mastering stakeholder engagement in your Agile teams is essential for transforming products and achieving outstanding results. Agile teams often find themselves navigating the complexities of stakeholder relationships.
Are you struggling to implement Agile practices due to internal resistance? You're not alone. Organizations of all industries and sizes recognize the need for agility to stay competitive and deliver value faster.
Scaling Agile practices in large organizations can be challenging, requiring strategic foresight and robust planning to agile teams and business strategies effectively.
In a world where change is the only constant, the mantle of leadership is being reshaped by the principles of agility.
'There's nothing we can't do if we work hard, never sleep, and shirk all other responsibilities in our lives.'
In a business landscape that's evolving at breakneck speed, the ability of organizations to adapt and respond to change is more critical than ever.
In the fast-paced world of business, transformation initiatives are as ubiquitous as they are fraught with challenges.
In an ever-evolving business landscape, the need for organizations to adapt and improve is no longer a luxury--it's a necessity. Continuous improvement isn't just a buzzword; it's the pulse that keeps companies nimble, competitive, and forward-moving.
For a high-performing team and organization, the ability to provide feedback is critical but in this day in age, it can create anxiety and fear. Fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of looking foolish, and even fear of retaliation.
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, agility is more than just a trendy buzzword--it's a must-have competency.
In the dynamic world of business, leaders and teams face evolving challenges that demand innovative, flexible, and efficient solutions.
Psychological safety is crucial for the success and high performance of any team.
So how does Santa deliver millions of toys to everyone around the world? As a parent, my children have asked this question a couple of times and I've always resorted to the vague answer of 'Christmas magic'. As someone who hangs out with a lot of Agile coaches, I can't help but look at [...]
In a previous article, we explored the topic of measuring team health and morale. This article unpacks the links between key agile capabilities and team performance. Team Performance isn't just a buzzword--it's a critical factor in the success of any organization.
In this article, we dive into a transformative topic that could redefine the way you approach leadership--asking questions.
In today's crazy-fast business world, keeping up with the pace of change and making quick decisions is like trying to sprint on a treadmill. Why aren't businesses getting anywhere?
Ah, the virtual world of remote work, where Zoom and Microsoft Teams are our modern-day conference rooms, and turning on your camera has become the equivalent of facing the right way at a physical table.
We collected over 560 data points on the top Agile Transformation challenges from our Path to Agility community. Here are the most common challenges and 8 proven solutions to overcome them.
![The Importance of Articulating Value [Video]](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Fblog%2FScreen-Shot-2023-09-05-at-1.17.24-PM.png&w=2048&q=75)
Instead of prioritizing by unfounded estimates, it's time to review backlogs on a regular basis and have conversations about value and what can be delivered in shorter timeframes. This creates...
There are many ways to prioritize work... MoSCoW (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have) WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) HiPPO (Highest Paid Person's Opinion...not recommended but it happens).
I recently participated in a book club with colleagues to review and discuss This Is Beyond Budgeting by Bjarte Bogsnes. A few of us had heard of the concept, others were brand new to the party.
Before Covid, the top business outcomes we heard that leaders desired in their agile transformations were Speed and Predictability.
'I have some critical feedback for you that I'd like share. When would be a good time?' Feedback loops are a key part of working in an Agile way. Creating a feedback rich environment is a responsibility of the full team, and is a integral element in having a high performance Agile team. The way [...]
This past weekend I went to an Agile meetup and a particular question kept coming up in many variations, 'Whose agile is it?' And the answers equally had many versions-Some sided with 'software teams' and said, 'Agile only works for development teams'.
I was recently on a call with executives and the Chief People Officer asked how important stable teams are when looking for a more Agile way of working. Of course, my coach answer is 'it depends' but for the most part, they are pretty important.
Path to Agility, a leader in Agile transformations focused on helping organizations manage their Agile efforts, announced Path to Agility Navigator, a new software tool to help businesses undergoing transformations better manage their change journey.
Being a change agent can be tough. Whether you've been given the job or you're the one identifying the need for change in your organization and working to bring others along the Agile transformation journey, it can feel like an impossible mission.
https://youtu.be/RhiB59yrNu0 Path to Agility creator and Agile transformation coach David Hawks shares how the average Agile transformation has evolved from tech-only to full business agility over the past twenty years. The reality of organizational change is that it's hard.
https://youtu.be/4lZvsxqiqSQ In this video, Path to Agility Product Manager Seth Ely speaks at Agile2022 Nashville on what he calls the 'Yo-Yo Transformation' and how to make sustainable changes along your Agile journey.
https://youtu.be/eVUi_RMEm0c 'It is hard to fail but worse to never to have tried to succeed' - Teddy Roosevelt In the third installment of our unlocking innovation series, Path to Agility Facilitator, Erik Cottrell, discusses how failure relates to innovation.
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https://youtu.be/lIOlJ-3Lwoc In the first video of the series, Erik discussed Team Empowerment. Here, Cottrell discusses Agile Leadership and provides a delegation checklist leaders can use to unlock innovation in their organization.
If your organization is planning an Agile Transformation, you may be asking the question of what's the difference between a centralized and decentralized approach. Here we break down the pros, cons, and when to use each.
An Agile transformation is a major organizational shift requiring senior leadership to be deeply engaged. The truth is, people at the team level cannot make a lasting shift happen without leaders leading the change.
As teams learn how to work in new ways during an Agile transformation, an organization may consider adopting Agile values in departments outside of IT to support the initiative.
It's pretty hard to quit coffee... Especially when it comes with a dollop of advice, guidance, mentorship, and new perspectives. We're bringing back Coffee with a Coach!
The recent Harvard Business Review (HBR) article 'The Agile C-Suite'1 and Forbes article 'Agile Isn't New: What's New Is The C-Suite Embracing It' have prompted some good discussion around the Agile Velocity virtual water cooler.
Path to Agility® describes the activities and outcomes of implementing Agile and their impact on culture and business goals.
After reading the Gallup Group's article 'Remote Agile: Sustain Performance While Working Remotely' a few things floated up in my mind. To keep those things from bouncing around too much, I thought I'd write them down and share them out.
The leaders and change agents we meet are eager to ensure their Agile Transformation avoids hitting rocks or running aground. After all, nobody wants to experience a shipwreck.
We're living in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world. The global pandemic has accelerated the need for agility, making alignment on what agility means for an organization critical.
My previous post focused on the Harvard Business Review (HBR) article 'The Agile C-Suite'1.
In volatile times, leaders can have a tendency to focus heavily on tools and processes. There's also a danger that they head into micro-command-control mode through a desire to stay in the loop. In disruptive times, leadership skills focused on individuals and interactions matter more than ever.
As a person who has a high preference for in-person workshops, transitioning to a 100% virtual delivery and facilitation has been an experience to say the least. However, there are a few things I learned in the last few weeks that helped make our workshops more fun and engaging.
Co-hosts Andy Cleff and Erik Cottrell sit down with David Marquet to discuss his latest book, 'Leadership is Language,' covering six plays to change the way leaders show up and the impact that language has on organizational culture.
In the previous articles of this series, I covered the first and second antidotes to Zombie Agility, the regular and generous application of compelling Business Outcomes and ensuring your change agents aren't already infected.
Dear Agile Velocity Community, As a coach and trainer, I've had the privilege to partner with organizations to help them achieve some really big goals. As the CEO of Agile Velocity, it's been an honor to grow what was a company of one to multiple teams.
The Situation It's Monday morning. You've just come off a long weekend of work. You were up all night Saturday deploying the product and then had multiple configuration issues to address on Sunday. Now, it's Monday and you need to be in the office for an 8 AM meeting to hear what the new Agile [...]
Leadership Agility - Agile Leadership Fest 2019 from Agile Velocity What got you here as a leader is not going to get you to the next level. Faster rate of disruption and a new workforce dynamic are demanding leaders work differently.
Be The Change: Transform Your Organization Through Servant Leadership - Global Scrum Gathering 2019 from Agile Velocity 'Revolutionary Ideas do not change institutions. People change them.' - Robert K. Greenleaf. People over Process is the very first value in the Agile Manifesto.
I've found most executives genuinely want to know, 'How do I help our Agile transformation?' Becoming an agile company is new for leaders and teams. Yet, leaders are often left out while teams get the lion's share of the attention from Agile coaches.
Servant leadership is a term that's been around for decades. While it can sometimes feel overused or outdated, I believe the principles of servant leadership remain as relevant today as they've ever been.
At work, 'stuff' inevitably hits the fan-it's just a matter of when. However, there are things you can do to ensure important workplace relationships weather any storm, regardless of its fury.
Today's Agile leaders manage with a more complete arsenal of skills and techniques than leaders of the past who led fundamentally different teams.
While leadership may vocally support an Agile transformation, misconceptions about what it takes to implement Agile often present hurdles. Here are the top 3 skills modern Agile leaders need to succeed.
When considering scaling Agile, it is important to start small. Some of the various scaled Agile frameworks available can look incredibly complex, while others can look simplistic and incomplete at first glance. Relax. Don't over-complicate it.
We've discussed what a ScrumMaster is and what their main responsibilities are. We've even discussed the hard and soft skills needed to make a successful ScrumMaster (thanks, Leslie Knope). But, still, what does a ScrumMaster do anyway? What makes up an entire work day?
Spoiler Alert: Your Company Could Be Losing Millions For technology companies, the idea to 'release early and release often' is not new and the ability to ship product or product increments in a predictable and accelerated manner is core to Agile.
The Agile Manifesto was created over 15 years ago. Most of the focus in the Agile/Scrum world since then has been to improve product delivery; we have fixated on how we make the development of ideas more effective.
Going Agile causes a lot of change within an organization, from a process, strategic, and cultural standpoint. A side effect of the Agile adoption is the confusion regarding roles and responsibilities, particularly for middle managers.
In 2014, Rick Klau gave a seminar on OKRs at Google. He explained how the multi-billion dollar company started using this methodology as their internal grading system since they were a 40 man team.
The ScrumMaster role on the team is never static and takes on many forms. Their role is one of servant leadership; as the team needs, the ScrumMaster provides.
I was recently asked what in my experience was the most likely cause of gummed-up Agile transformations. I didn't hesitate in answering 'the frozen middle.' Top-level management buys into a transformation because they hear faster, better, and more predictable.
Sometimes I get emails from recruiters inquiring if we have open positions. The following is an example: Good afternoon, I was just wondering if you got any open spots for BA ( Financial ) or Network Admin.
Books like Khoi Tu's 'Superteams' and articles in the Harvard Business Review discuss what makes successful, high-performing teams. In the Agileverse¹, we talk a lot about self-organizing teams, transparency, servant leadership, and the power of cross-functional teams.
You may have seen them working on the couch in the common room or maybe you haven't actually met them at all. Perhaps you have only interacted with them via Slack, email, phone, or, their favorite, text. At this moment, they are between the ages of 22 and 34. They are either just entering the [...]
Trust is the foundation of building high performing teams. Here are 5 ways to build trust in the workplace.
The Scrum Master's job is to realize the full potential of Scrum by facilitating meetings including all of the Scrum ceremonies, removing impediments, and resolving conflicts. It's a good job, both in terms of financial, emotional, and intellectual gain.
Part 4 in our 10 Agile Transformation Pitfalls and How to Address Them To the change agents spearheading Agile transformations in their organizations, the benefits seem obvious. Why wouldn't everyone want their team, or organization, to be Agile?
Agile Velocity registers 52% growth in coaching and training revenue in the first half of 2015, driven by escalating demand for Agile transformation services.
Between 47% and 70% of agile transformations fail to deliver expected results. Most stall not because of process failures, but because the organizational change management side was never addressed. Here are five proven tips to get your transformation moving again.
David Hawks, CST, CSC, presented the Coach Role starts with Building Trust and Alignment at the Scrum Alliance's Scrum Gathering.
Keep Austin Agile Conference is coming soon! Agile Austin hosts the conference on Friday, May 8 at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin. Join Agile Velocity, the conference title sponsor, for a rich day of agile learning and networking, with several of our coaches presenting sessions.
Executive leadership plays an integral role in the success of an Agile adoption. Here are 5 ways leadership can affect the outcome, from managing changing priorities to improving team productivity and project visibility.
Are you successfully realizing agile benefits and effectively delivering software? David Hawks, CST, CSC, and CEO of Agile Velocity, demonstrates how our Technical Player-Coaches work with your team(s) and help organizations realize a 50% gain in productivity.
We asked Product Managers, Business Analysts, and Project Managers to identify their most challenging product development risks. See how these three professional groups ranked the risks. Business Analysts: Risks in Product Development 1. Product incompletely addresses the needs of targeted users 2.
Imagine you have 6 developers and 6 features to build, estimated at 1 month each. Leadership says they are all top priority. Traditional managers would optimize on individual efficiency and assign each developer 1 feature to focus with minimal interruptions.
The word 'team' in Agile Team is hugely important and something we rarely give much thought to. What really makes a good team player? Part of my personal journey is to improve as a member of my team. I look to these words for inspiration.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries is without a doubt one of the better entrepreneurial books I have read. The book claims to explain 'how today's entrepreneurs use continuous innovation to create radically successful businesses.'
Transitioning processes and cultures simultaneously is very difficult. A Successful Agile transition requires team ownership and engagement in developing the best process to fit your unique culture and environment.
18 questions. 4 minutes. See exactly where your organization stands across 9 Business Outcomes.
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