A summary of the lessons learned by INFLUENCE while helping clients adopt Lean, Kanban and Agile. This was presented to NFRUG (Jacksonville FL) on Feb 16th, 2010.

1. influence
influencing the understanding of agile philosophy, forces & dynamics
(c) INFLUENCE Contact: Siraj@sirajuddin.com (202-415-2138)

2. the agile influencer’s mantra
a unique opportunity for business in jacksonville!

3. today
✤ today’s goal = mantra =
influence your appreciation of
the philosophy, forces and
dynamics around Agile.
✤ philosophy of Agile adoption.
✤ forces influencing Agile
adoption.
✤ dynamics influencing the
success of the Agile
Influencers.

4. mantra
✤ what is the “mantra” for the
Agile Influencing team?
✤ mantra = man + tra = “mind” +
“liberation“ and “this moment
here and now”.
✤ the process improvement team
wants to be there a moment
before the entire organization.
✤ in fact, every moment is an
opportunity to succeed or fail

5. introduction
SIRAJ - process improvement influencer, observer and student

6. siraj
✤ 18 years experience with
process improvement
consulting and coaching.
✤ excellent track record of
coaching leaders and teams on
process improvement (using
Lean, Kanban, Agile, Scrum,
CMMI, Six Sigma, SOX)
✤ deep and varied domain
experience.

7. philosophy
the philosophy of agile adoption

8. agile
recap and history of the agile manifesto

9. respect
✤ all process improvement styles
and techniques are about
respect for humanity.
✤ and
✤ respect for the forces.
✤ and
✤ respect for team dynamics.

10. forces
forces to respect before, during and after agile process adoption

11. uniqueness
✤ every leader and team and
their process improvement
opportunity is unique.
✤ the challenge is to recognize
this uniqueness
✤ enjoy the moment before
starting process improvement
✤ you will never be the same
again

12. leverage
✤ The leverage exists within this
uniqueness.
✤ finding this leverage is the
challenge.
✤ the agile influencer’s mantra
provides deep insight.
✤ but you still have to find it in
your unique context.

13. context
✤ knowing the context helps
✤ economy, industry,
competitors, divisions,
finances, strategy,
✤ culture is context.
✤ the team is a subset of the
context.
✤ context, context, context.

14. contradictions
✤ process improvement
initiatives explore the
contradictions that make the
organization a living organism.
✤ contradictions are neither good
nor bad.
✤ they are just present.
✤ contradictions provide
“leverage” for process
improvement initiatives.

15. delay
✤ delay exists naturally in every
context.
✤ actions / events of today have
long term consequences.
✤ sustainability requires attention
to delay.

16. balance
✤ the context seeks natural
balance and a shared vision.
✤ always!
✤ equilibrium triumphs over all
change initiatives.
✤ “agile” is a disruption of this
natural equilibrium unless
agile also seeks true balance.

17. safety
✤ safety provides the net for
leaders, followers and teams to
explore process improvement.
✤ the level of safety in an
organization is the ceiling level
of process improvement.
✤ especially for the agile
influencer

18. heartbeat
✤ the living organism that is your
organization, has a natural
heartbeat and a natural pulse.
✤ recognizing this cadence is
essential for the agile
influencer.

19. dynamics
team dynamics that enable the success of the agile influencer

20. continuous
✤ nature’s own continuous
improvement is our guide.
✤ it is almost as if continuously
improving processes is the only
aim of process improvement.
✤ every day is a new day for
process improvement.
✤ it is the journey and the
destination.

21. clean slate
✤ the no-baggage policy of the
agile influencer
✤ clean slate adds to the
commitment to each team
member and creates the
emotional heartbeat of the
team.

22. flexibility
✤ rigidity is the enemy!!
✤ create a team that can have
learning conversations, share
differences, withstand stress
✤ and yet unite and move
forward
✤ authentically!!

23. courage
✤ courage (plus grace)
✤ allows the influencers to face
facts, realize concerns, develop
solutions.
✤ influencers need courage in
their heart, mind and soul
✤ to be courageous and yet
caring.

24. visibility
✤ the processes that become
visible provide best candidates
for process improvement.
✤ agile influencers strive to
provide visibility of their own
processes to set the tone for
visibility for the organization.

25. trust ...but
verify
✤ In GOD we trust, every one
else bring data!

26. supplication
✤ the agile influencer reaches out
to a greater source of energy
✤ plugs in to the larger self
✤ offers supplication

27. anomalies
✤ anomalies test the boundaries
of comfort for the organization.
✤ they stretch the organization’s
limits for process improvement
one day, one team, one
individual at a time.
✤ they are also pioneers
✤ and
✤ nomads!

28. winn dixie
agile coach for pmo - business and technology initiatives

29. pharmacy warehouse
experience report

30. shoretel
lean agile coach - business and technology initiatives

31. engaging influence
influencing the understanding of agile philosophy, forces & dynamics
(c) INFLUENCE Contact: Siraj@sirajuddin.com (202-415-2138)

32. workshop
✤ INFLUENCE offers 1 and 2 day
workshops on The Agile
Influencer’s Mantra.
✤ Private & Public workshops
that help you understand how
to Influence Agile Adoption.
✤ Suitable for Business Sponsors,
Project Managers, Coaches,
Team Leads and Members
✤ Contact siraj@sirajuddin.com

33. gratitude
thank you for the privilege to present this to you
Siraj@sirajuddin.com (202-415-2138)