Agile Transformation

Designed for Predictability with Agile Methods and Lean Business Processes

Tailored to Your Organization's Business Goals

In today’s competitive business climate, most organizations are at some stage of an Agile Transformation. Mature teams are using Agile methods as their primary system of delivery and have most likely mastered the art of building things right and in short iterations. However, we’ve found that many of these teams still need help building the right thing. Many Agile teams are jeopardizing their success by working quickly and not understanding how to incorporate the appropriate amount of analysis to ensure they’re building the right, value driven solution.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, other teams are just dipping their toes in the Agile pool. For many, the idea of turning a long-term, waterfall project approach into 2-week sprints is unthinkable. These teams need help determining how they will successfully approach analysis and planning differently – not only in getting over the sprint hurdle, but also the idea of taking team members from a more traditional, role delineated environment to a team based, collaborative environment.

AgilityIQ's Seven Circles Agile Transformation Roadmap

While this is our standard recommendation, we understand that all organizations are at a different point in their transformation and this roadmap provides for maximum flexibility. AgilityIQ can tailor this approach to your specific organizational goals.

Step 1. Identify Transformation Goals

When helping organizations plan their transformation, AgilityIQ takes a holistic approach. Applying an agile approach to adoption, we work directly with cross-functional business and technology teams to establish a baseline, determine transformation goals, and prioritize program activities. By engaging with all stakeholders - from leadership to delivery teams - we help clients identify and achieve their short-term goals while laying down a foundation that will support future improvements and innovations.

Step 2. Develop the Target State

Many organizations overlook the most critical step of transformation, which is to establish the target state or end-state vision. A properly developed end-state vision does more than just provide a destination, it provides clarity to the entire organization on how deep and widespread the transformation will be. The end-state vision becomes the most critical component of the transformation roadmap. It tells us where we will start and provides the milestones we will achieve as we progress through the transformation.

Step 3. Train Leadership & Teams

Becoming an agile organization is a profound transformation that requires senior leaders, middle managers, and agile team members to change the way that they organize their work, manage that work, and measure the results of the work. Agile teams cannot do this on their own; they need help from the entire organization. The changes for all involved are profound, but so are the results when everyone's goals and ways of working are aligned.

Step 4. Execute Pilot

We believe that cookie-cutter solutions do not work, so we help you design an agile roadmap that fits your needs. We believe that the entire organization cannot be changed at once - it's a very risky, and expensive proposition. We focus on quick wins that bring quick results. This establishes confidence in the organization that the transformation will be successful. Our Pilot and Kickoff Programs help clients see those quick results and great value.

Step 5. Assess and Socialize Success

We recognize that an agile transformation causes stress to the organization. One of the most important ways to begin easing the stress and gaining support is by evaluating and socializing the success the organization is realizing from the transformation. Communicating quick wins is our recommended way to not only earn genuine support for agile throughout the organization, but also a way to begin measuring the return on investment.

Step 6. Extend to Portfolio & Governance

Shaping the organization's strategy to align with an agile system of delivery is no small task. We believe it is important to first establish stability with agile delivery, and then begin taking steps to becoming a truly Lean-Agile enterprise. Once agile delivery is stable, it is time to expand the transformation to include maturing the enterprise’s Lean Portfolio Management competency and anchoring the new approach into the governance model. This is a critical step that must be accomplished before moving into the sustain and improve phase.

Step 7. Sustain and Improve

Lifelong learning, relentless improvement, and establishing an agile mindset are the pillars of an agile organization. Building these attributes and behaviors into the culture of an organization is critical. During the Sustain and Improve phase of transformation, the focus turns to making sure the organization continues to mature and continues to lean out their processes to gain maximum efficiency in delivering value to their customers. This is the most important step toward true Business Agility.

Are You Ready?

Phone: (704) 773-8908 | Email: getagile@agilityiq.io