Questions to be asked before embarking on Agile Transformation Journey

Here are two interesting questions for all those leaders who would like their organization to embark on an Agile Transformation journey:

1. What does your company value in terms of planning: Predictable delivery or the ability to adapt to change?

2. What do your customers value from a planning perspective: An emergent ecosystem or a convergent ecosystem?

It is crucial for leaders to reflect on these aspects before embarking on an Agile journey. Understanding the organization's values in terms of planning and the customers' expectations from a planning perspective can greatly influence the approach and success of Agile Transformation.

In terms of the first question, the choice between predictable delivery and the ability to adapt to change is a fundamental trade-off in Agile. If the organization highly values predictability, the focus will be on detailed planning, strict processes, and meeting commitments. This approach aims to minimize uncertainty and ensure that deliverables are completed as planned. However, it may limit the organization's ability to respond effectively to changing customer needs or market dynamics.

On the other hand, if the organization values the ability to adapt to change, the emphasis will be on flexibility, continuous learning, and iterative development. Agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, prioritize adaptability by encouraging collaboration, feedback, and frequent adjustments. This approach allows the organization to respond quickly to emerging opportunities or challenges but may introduce a certain level of unpredictability in terms of delivery timelines.

Regarding the second question, it explores whether the organization is more focused on understanding and responding to customer needs in an emergent ecosystem or meeting commitments in a convergent ecosystem. In an emergent ecosystem, the organization values ongoing discovery and learning from customers. This approach embraces experimentation, feedback loops, and continuous improvement, aiming to deliver value based on evolving customer requirements. In contrast, a convergent ecosystem emphasizes meeting commitments and fulfilling predefined plans, often driven by contractual obligations or fixed project scopes.

Agile transformations typically start with organizations operating in a predictive-convergence mode, where predictability and meeting commitments are the primary focus. Through Agile practices and methods, teams gradually mature and shift towards adaptive-convergence, where they gain more flexibility and responsiveness while still maintaining some predictability. Ultimately, the Agile transformation reaches its culmination in the adaptive-emergent mode, where the organization is highly adaptable and customer-centric, leveraging emergent opportunities and continually evolving to meet customer needs.

It's important for leaders to consider these questions and understand the different modes of operation as they embark on this journey. Agile transformation can bring significant benefits in terms of adaptability, customer focus, and continuous improvement when approached thoughtfully and aligned with organizational values and customer expectations.