A new pony, iPad, or driver would be great, but let's keep jolly old Saint Nick focused on agile.
I've interacted with companies large and small, and people from entry-level to the executive ranks about their agile intentions.
Here are the Top 5 'Agile Adoption' ideas that I'd like companies to consider in 2012 (let's call it an early Christmas present):
- Start small. Agile methodology doesn't need to be a scary, hairy, intimidating concept. Change is hard; yet there's a way to start with one project today.
- Ask around. More than likely there's a colleague in your office who has practiced scrum or Kanban in his/her professional career. Ask that person how he or she got started.
- Understand that 'lack of control' is a myth. If done right, agile adoption brings you, your team and your organization unparalleled visibility and transparency. Agile is not the Wild, Wild West. There are rules and best practices.
- Team first. Your teams will like the collaborative, communicative culture that agile introduces. With everyone 'in the loop,' you'll see high levels of performance.
- Fail fast. Agile methodology, or any process for that matter, DOES NOT encourage failure. Agile does, however, allow the team to iterate and get to the best way to solve a problem, while learning from those paths that don't meet objectives.
If you or anyone you know has an interest in starting an agile team or raising an existing initiative to a different level, seek out VersionOne. We can help.
Happy New Year!!
Yours in agile,
Dan Naden
