Ways to drive the Transformation
Enterprises want to do agile, be agile. So how should they drive the change?
Mike Cottemeyer believes that a healthy culture emerges from a rational system.
Healthy culture and solid practices emerge from a rational system of delivery.
Mike Cottemeyer
Cottemeyer’s Theory of Transformation supports this view. He focuses on the structural goals of transformation, including: organizational alignment, smooth value flow, solid fundamentals, a rational system of delivery, and decoupled project teams.
Study Agile Thought
In the Agile Manifesto (2001), summarizing a half century of experience with iterative development, the authors emphasize individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration and responsiveness over rigid processes and comprehensive documentation.
The Agile Mindset
The Agile community presents Agile methodology primarily as a value system, supported by principles. Transformations can start from Culture, Structure, or Practices, but most Agile literature advocates change from a cultural perspective.
Different Drivers of Transformation
There are three main drivers of transformation.
- Culture
- Practices
- Structures
Ultimately the three drivers are mutually supportive and work together.
Drive Change with Culture
Steve Denning lists a continuous nurturing of the culture to be one of the major themes in non-bureaucratic organizations. Others even believe that culture should be the driver for change.
The culture should become the major force that propels the organization onward.
Scott Atkinson
For Cottemeyer starting with culture is not pragmatic, however. A 2013 survey supports his viewpoint, showing that culture change was recognized as the primary barrier to further Agile adoption. One must create new experiences and reward behaviors that embrace the unfamiliar, to transform the culture. The organization must critique old ways and try new things. Because it requires commitment and support from all levels of the organization, changing an established culture is difficult. Driving cultural change first is the “diciest way to go,” Cottemeyer says.
Drive Transformation with Practices
Even though Ashmore and Runyan focus on organizational culture, they do not advise shifting the culture directly. To them a change in practices drives cultural change. Such a change focuses on roles, ceremonies, and artifacts, stemming from the belief that agile is a process or way to work. By focusing on what needs to be done a practitioner MAY become more agile and flexible but not necessarily so.
Drive Transformation with Structure
Structure driven change focuses on forming teams and governing the flow of value. The focus is on organizational alignment. Culture and practices only emerge within a rational structural and planning framework. Similarly, the athlete builds agility by focusing on developing flexibility, power and proper body alignment. Without mastery of the fundamentals, the practitioner is unable to execute the proper forms and movements.
Culture, Structure and Practices – Mutually Supportive
Only action creates delivery systems. An athlete becomes agile through hours of training, not by thinking merely about principles. Change must be performed holistically – Culture, Structure and Practices support each other.
What do you think?
How are you driving your transformation? What works? What doesn’t? What would you do differently?
See also:
Agile Transformation… (1/4) – Theory of Transformation
Agile Transformation… (3/4) – The Fundamentals of Agile Transformation
Agile Transformation… (4/4) – Develop an Agile Transformation Roadmap
Are Entrepreneurial Organizations at Scale Possible?
References:
Ashmore, Sondra, & Runyan, Kristin, 2015, Introduction to Agile Methods
Atkinson, Scott, and Lines, Mark. (2012). Disciplined Agile delivery: A practitioner’s guide to Agile software delivery in the enterprise. Boston: IBM Press.
Beck, Kent et al, 2001, Manifesto for Agile Software Development
Cottemeyer, Mike, 29 October 2014, Why Agile is Failing in Large Enterprises & What You Can Do About It, Tampa Bay Agile Meetup presentation, hosted by Valpak Manufacturing Center, St. Petersburg, FL
VersionOne, 2013, 7th annual survey of “The State of Agile Development”, p. 9
Larman and Basili, 2003, “Iterative and Incremental Development: A Brief History,” IEEE
About Dan & Agile and Beyond:
Dan Feldman is the creator and host of the Agile and Beyond podcast. With Agile practitioners, design thinkers, team builders, organization designers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries, he explores the future of work, education, and society. With the digital age demanding greater collaboration, enhanced creativity, and heightened agility, he examines avant-garde, responsive, collaborative team and organization designs as well as the shifts in our individual and collective perception of experience and purpose. Tune in!
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