Agile and culture Ather Imran 2 nd Agile Conference Pakistan 14 November, 2015 Islamabad
Agile and culture
Ather Imran2nd Agile Conference Pakistan
14 November, 2015Islamabad
The golden circle
Why?
Culture Eats Strategy for
Breakfast
Why organizations?
culture
culture
Why is culture critical?
People are more loyal to Culture than to Strategy
or Process
Why is culture critical?
If you do not manage culture, it
manages you
Organization
CULTURE
STRUCTURES SYSTEMS PROCESSES
STRATEGY
Organizational culture
Agile organizations
Agile organizations are one that deal with:
•Uncertainty•Change•Complexity
What is Agile?
A framework to manage organizations and projects in a
collaborative and interactive way, such that they respond to Change, Uncertainty and
Complexity better.
Are agile & scrum same?Agile is a Framework defined by:
• Agile Manifesto• 12 Principles of Agile
Scrum is an implementation of Agile Framework
• A process with Roles, Structure, Meetings and Workflows
Agile manifesto
12 principles of manifesto
Agile organization?
An Agile organization is one whose Culture is based on these principles
It is NOT one that has adopted a particular Agile process like Scrum
Agile organization?
Agile defines a Target Culture for successful delivery of
Complex projects
Agile survey 2014
Agile survey 2014
Agile survey 2014
Agile is all about people
Agile is all about PEOPLE, and as such they will be the greatest impediment
Agile is all about people
Agile Failure is Pervasive
Conclusion
It is only through a Culture based on Agile
Manifesto and Principles that we can have a truly
Agile organization
How?
Organizational Inertia
Organizations are inherently
Resistant to Change
Adoption vs. transformation
Adoption is changing What We DoTransformation is changing Who We
Are
Adoption vs. transformation
Doing Agile is NOT the same as Being Agile
Agile transformation
Organizations try to become Agile by Adopting an Agile Process
Organizations can only become Agile by Transforming their
Culture
Agile transformation
Agile Transformation is about Manifesto and Principles It is NOT about adopting a
process and practices
Agile transformation
Agile is treated as a set of processes and practices,
where in reality it is about a Culture and Value System
Agile culture
Modeling a culture
Schneider model
Agile Schneider map
Agile Schneider map
Agile transformation
Adopting Process & Practices BEFORE transforming the Culture based on Agile Manifesto is likePutting the Cart before the
Horse
Agile culture – core components
• Focus on People• Daily Visibility and Transparency• Collaboration within a cross-functional
team• Self-organizing team • Face to face communication• Accepting Change as a normal and not as
an exception• Incrementing and Iterating• Continuous Learning
What?
Evolution not revolution
Evolution not revolution
Culture Transformation is a methodical, incremental and evolutionary process
(unless in extreme circumstances where it can
be a disruptive)
Agile culture
Two possible paths
Diagnose your Culture:•Culture Not Conducive for Agile
•Culture is Conducive for Agile
Culture not conducive
•Don’t Rush it (don’t run a marathon by getting off the couch)
•Adopt Practices before Values•Don’t be explicit about Manifesto•‘Sugar coat’ the changes•Management buy-in•Cellular Model
Cellular model
Culture is conducive
•Use Agile Manifesto and Principles explicitly
•Scrum is the best tool•May not always be easy e.g. a High Competence culture exists
•Incremental and Evolution