My organization, like many others, is continuing to look for ways to optimize the system development process and improve outcomes. Looking at how we can implement Agile thinking and practices across our development efforts has been a priority. We understood that realizing tangible outcomes, and getting buy-in across all stakeholders, was not going to be a simple task.
We spent a significant focus in 2022 laying the foundation by prioritizing Agile training and initial tool deployment (Jira). This was the “chicken or egg” dilemma. Do we get everyone up-to-speed on processes before deploying the tool, or do we deploy the tool and use it as a forcing function to drive process understanding and adherence? We chose the latter, and while we encountered many of the challenges you would expect, it helped us gain momentum and establish a common Agile vocabulary across Digital.
For 2023, we’re focusing on ways to further mature and demonstrate impact. The foundation of this effort, primarily focused on our Centers of Excellence (COEs), is the organization of project efforts into PODs (Product Oriented Delivery). These self-organizing teams, usually with eight to twelve individuals, contain expertise in various disciplines such as development, product ownership, business analysts, scrum masters, etc. The intent is to maintain these teams through multiple project efforts, so we avoid the knowledge loss and inefficiencies associated with dissembling and reforming teams on a project-by-project basis.
To be considered “Agile”, in the most basic sense, requires teams to adhere to the following “minimum viable” criteria:
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- Up to date in our Project & Portfolio Management tool, including Jira setup
- Active backlog
- Active sprint or active Kanban
Our goal for 2023 is to have 50% of our projects executed in this fashion. We’re currently at 37% and continue to make steady progress.
We recognize that these activities alone won’t make us Agile, and we will need to continue to mature our efforts. But as a wise individual once said…”with Agile, it’s more about the journey than the destination.”