Post on 22-Jan-2018
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
And why you don’t
need them
Why scaled agile frameworks exist
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
What are “scaled agile frameworks”?
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Frameworks which enable the organisation and management of Agile Software Development
across multiple teams and/or products, programs, projects and technologies
— i.e. frameworks to enable Agile “at scale”
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
LeSS (Large Scale Scrum) neil_killick
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Nexus
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Disciplined Agile Delivery
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Scrum of Scrums neil_killick
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Why do they exist?
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
They address three broad scenarios:
1. Business has one agile team, wants more
2. Business has many non-agile teams, wants “Agile”
3. Business has many agile teams, wants better results
Scenario 1
1 product (pipeline)
1 Agile team
Straightforward, works well
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ neil_killick
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Agile team
Business
Feature ideas
Customer
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
OK, now let’s SCALE!
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$$$$$ neil_killick
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Agile team 1
Business
Feature ideas
1 product (pipeline)
2 Agile teams
Much complexity added • decisions • team performance • coordination • prioritisation • autonomy/dependencies • technology
Customer
Agile team 2
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Strategic project idea 3
$$$$$$$
Strategic project idea 1
$$$$$$$
Strategic project idea 2
$$$$$$$
Portfolio/PMO
Strategic project idea 4
$$$$$$$
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$$$$$
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Agile team 1Business
Feature ideas
Customer 1
Agile team 2
Customer 2
$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$
Feature ideas
Agile team 3
Agile team 4
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Why you don’t need them
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
1 You can experiment with good ideas from any framework
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reservedneil_killick
“We are uncovering better ways of developing software…”
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
2 You don’t need to solve all problems Agile addresses in one go
Why might businesses want Agile? Beat competitors to market (reduce risk of disruption and/or losing first mover advantage)
Build right thing (reduce risk of over-investment in software which is not being used or realising value)
Build thing right (reduce risk of gaining a poor reputation for quality of product, and of spending time/$$ on failure demand and technical debt)
Happier customers (reduce risk of losing customers, or gaining a poor reputation for quality of service)
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Why might businesses want Agile? Tax benefits (increased potential for earlier and more frequent capitalisation of released software as an asset)
Early revenue/cost reduction benefits/ROI
Operational efficiency (aka “get more done faster”; higher capacity, throughput and revenue per worker)
Happier shareholders (more products and features = more return)
Happier workers (reduce risk of attrition)
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Example - “We want Agile because we want to beat our competitors to market”
OK
What currently stops you from beating competitors to market?
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Projects take at least 6 months, usually longer - we don’t identify MVP’s or MMF’s - we define all scope up front, then add to it as we discover more
Deploying is hard, takes time and can only be done by one person, so we don’t do it often
We have lots of approval steps to release anything to production, so we don’t do it often
Releasing is coupled with deploying - we can’t hide unfinished features, so have to finish everything
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
OK, what can we do to improve the situation?
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Pick a project, and identify MVP’s/MMF’s for Release 1
OK, what can we do to improve the situation?
Make it easier to deploy by establishing environments, automating scripts where possible, cross-skilling team members, opening up permissions, etc.
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Pick a project, and identify MVP’s/MMF’s for Release 1
OK, what can we do to improve the situation?
Make it easier to deploy by establishing environments, automating scripts where possible, cross-skilling team members, opening up permissions, etc.
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
OK, what can we do to improve the situation?
De-couple releasing (shipping) and deploying - enable frequent deployment of working product to a production-like environment which stakeholders can see/test but is not the “live” product
Pick a project, and identify MVP’s/MMF’s for Release 1
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Image credit: http://agadaenergyhealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/focus2.jpeg
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
3 They are based on established enablers for agility
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• Customer-focus — in how we decide and describe what we build, and execute
• Autonomous, self-organising “feature” teams — e2e delivery
• Limit WIP, small batches — focus, deliver continuous value
• Transparency — visualise work, create shared definitions, understanding
• Continuous feedback and improvement — experiment, learn, remove wasteful steps to value creation, get better
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved Image credit: Henrik Knibergneil_killick
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
What does “Agile at scale” look like?
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved Image credit: Henrik Knibergneil_killick
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved Image credit: Henrik Knibergneil_killick
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
What can I do TODAY to start enabling agile at scale?
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reservedneil_killick
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reservedneil_killick
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reservedneil_killick
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reservedneil_killick
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reservedneil_killick
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reservedneil_killick
neil_killickNeil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved
Thank you!
Any questions?neil_killick
Neil Killick, 2017, All Rights Reserved