Agile Transformation Roadmap #2: Scaled agile framework roadmap

"If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you are doing."

W. Edwards Deming

We have covered what Scaled Agile Framework is before - check it out right here .

The SAFe implementation roadmap series consists of 12 articles, where each one describes a strategy and an ordered set of activities proven to be successful in the framework.

We will briefly cover each “critical move”, as described by Dan and Chip Heath , in a simple fashion.

Getting the start right

1. Otherwise known as the tipping point, step one is where visualization and realization come together. It is about implementing the need for change and the vision for change in one. Research shows that the tipping point is the beginning of the formation of a guiding coalition. 

2. In article two, the difficult journey begins. However, it doesn’t have to be hard. For step two, the leading agents are required to gather and set the way. There are three steps recommended to take for this: train the lean-agile agents, train executives and other managers, and charter a Lean Agile Center of Excellence (aka a working group). 

3. In article three, the training begins. This is because strong leadership is needed for any change to be visibly and successfully implemented. By making these three “critical moves”, the company is now on the path to success.

4. As noted in step two, the LACE now comes together in step four. LACE stands for Lean Agile Center of Excellence and refers to a small group of people who are dedicated to promoting the Lean-Agile way of working. John Kotter notes the size of the team depends on the size of the company - change starts with just two or three people.

Start scaling

5. Article five is about implementing SAFe. Now is the time to identify. Identify value streams and Agile Release Trains (ARTs). 

6. Now it is about making detailed plans. Article six covers the implementation of an organizational change and applying their new knowledge from training. 

7. So far, there have been value streams and an implementation plan. So article seven is a pivotal moment. It is the moment when there is the first launch for the ART. There are a number of steps to take in the lead up to the launch. Find out more on the SAFe website right here. 

8. The launch of the ART requires training of teams in article eight. Now the launch plan and stakeholders are trained, the real change can occur. Kotter says leaders must “shape the path”, in other words that requires training and time and effort. 

9. The first big events have been achieved. Now in article nine, the team is empowered. As the competency and potential are based on the team, now the agile teams must also be coached. If you want to know more about developing teams, check out our useful Ebook right now. 

After first adoption

10. In article ten, it is about producing more change and launching more ARTs. Imagine this article like a car picking up speed on the motorway in full gear. 

11. Nearing to the end, SAFe has been adopted. Article eleven focuses on the drive and the implementation of SAFe. Now is the time for the Lean Portfolio Management competency and being able to anchor the culture’s new approach to the company. 

12. The final article is highlighting the importance of constant change. Now they are to be congratulated after following all the steps! We are sure that progress has been made on this transformational journey and now is the time to accelerate the enterprise towards business agility. 

 

Agile Transformation Roadmap #3: Scrum @ Scale

"Complexity is death."

Gereon Hermkes

It is all about simplifying scaling. Scrum @ scale is about a single Scrum team that is able to deliver optimal value at a demonstrable rate. According to Scrum @ Scale , the process “helps an organization to focus multiple networks of Scrum Teams on prioritized goals.” 

So let us see the steps Scrum @ Scale takes in its repeatable pattern. What do they say? Rinse and repeat! Here are the ten steps simplified for you:

1. Step one is where Scrum Coaches develop a list of problems for the organization.

2. From there, they brief senior management about it and identify common goals etc. 

3. Step three is where an Executive Action Team (EAT) is formed, aka the leadership team of the transformation.

4. The next step is where a leadership team is selected to prioritize all work. In other words, the Executive MetaScrum.

5. Moving on with training to step five. This is where all team members, product owners, Scrum Masters and leadership etc. are trained by the EAT about who will work within the Agile Operating System.

6. Step six concerns the product owner’s backlog.

7. Step seven quickly moves on to one Scrum of Scrums with scaled daily scrums.

8. Step eight means to deliver early and frequently.

9. The last step is to expand the Agile Operating System to the next set of prioritisations before step ten...

10. Rinse and repeat!

 

Agile Transformation Roadmap #4: Product manager - a disciplined agile roadmap

“The Product Management process blade includes the acts of identifying and evolving your organization's business vision ”

PMI.org

Roadmaps in product management describe the visions for three timings: near term, intermediate term (3-12 months), and long term (one year). The roadmaps provide product managers to prioritize decisions as well as planning activities. Here are some other process factors to take into consideration:

1. Product owners want to provide products that will bring value to your organization.
2. Due to a limited budget, there is a limited amount of products, too - meaning there has to be prioritization.
3. The evolution of the roadmap is done by product management activities.
4. Features, also known as outcomes, epics, stories etc., need to be allocated to teams to be implemented.
5. The marketing of products to customers is taken on by the product manager to increase the chance of potential customers knowing about its existence.
6. Product managers monitor the success of their products by end user satisfaction, market adoption rates etc.

As you can see, this process is focused on building the right products at the right time to ensure people will use them. 

 

Agile Transformation Roadmap #5: Large-scale scrum

"Longing on a large scale makes history"

Don DeLillo

Unlike the other frameworks we discussed, at Large-scale scrum does not really give a roadmap. Instead, a Scrum product Backlog is produced by the product owner and team. Depending on how big it is, - it could take weeks or months - where analysis workshops, and estimation of first releases are identified. 

For an established product, there shouldn’t be extensive research for the next release as the product owner and team should be doing a Product Backlog every sprint. Thus, the continuous product development means there is no need for a roadmap as such.

Large-scale scrum, otherwise known as LeSS framework, starts with understanding one-team Scrum. For LeSS to take effect, agile development with Scrum has to require a deep organizational change to become agile.

Let’s put into practice this organizational design framework as a scaled up version of one-team Scrum:

LeSS oversees two different large-scale Scrum frameworks:

1. LeSS - eight teams
2. LeSS Huge - up to a few thousand people on one product

We will focus on the LeSS framework below.

1. Sprint planning part 1: Includes members from all teams - discuss where they belong and opportunities to find shared work.

2. Sprint planning part 2: Each team holds this independently, though sometimes two or more teams may hold it in the same room.

3. Daily scrum: Each team also holds this independently.

4. Overall Product Backlog Refinement (PBR): This is a meeting held by one product owner and all teams to increase alignment with the PO and teams. The purpose is deciding which teams will implement which items - selecting those items for later in-depth single-team PBR. 

5. Product Backlog Refinement: The difference between this stage and the previous one is the only requirement is one team at a time in LeSS, but a variation may be multi-team PBR where more teams are held in the same room for increased learning.

6. Sprint review: Includes people from all teams, not just the product owner. The purpose is inspecting the product increment and new items. Imagine it like this: Big room with many areas staffed with team members, where items developed are discussed and put on show.

7. Overall retrospective: Includes product owner, Scrum Masters, rotating representatives from each team. The purpose is to improve the system as a whole.

 

Conclusion: One Roadmap based on all the others

"The destination is more important than the journey" 

Less.works

From all the agile transformation roadmaps we have viewed, it is clear to see that there are some steps in common. So here is a roadmap for all based on the five common steps that should also be essential in your roadmap.

1. Vision: Without a vision, action cannot happen. As Kotter notes in his seminal book, Leading Change, vision and strategy enables a foundation of change to evolve. When a clear and compound vision is in place, people will understand why you are asking them to change. It may be difficult to begin with, but then the next step will lead to cooperation. A vision statement can easily carry the message of “why”. 

2. Preparing leadership: The motivation for others to take change is crucial in any cycle to be successful. Building a functioning team requires understanding and cooperation in leadership before anything else takes place. 

3. Organize around value: For initial success, you must organize around value. This means the evolution of the roadmap has core target figures - customer value streams - to lead its way. In order to implement any strategies, customer value must be at the center. 

4. Prepare your teams and develop them through ambassadors: Culture is one of the biggest challenges in scaling agile methods. In order to spread the vision and the agile way of working throughout the organization, strong teams must be developed. The point is not to create another organization, but to ensure that enough people in the organization are ready in teams for the change. It is important to keep in mind that you can never reach 100 % of employees. You reach the turning point when you reach the 30%, which has the greatest impact. These 30%s will accelerate the change of the rest of the team.

5. Regularly meet and iterate through retrospectives: There must be a structure for providing feedback. Thus, holding retrospectives and alike are always key at the end of a cycle to see what went well and what didn’t go well. It is also helpful to motor the success of a roadmap and to see how teams felt and if everyone is still aligned on the vision. Yes - you can and should even iterate on your vision!

By the way, to help you even more in building and developing successful teams, you are welcome to have a look at our post on 4 approaches to agile transformation. And then of course ...