Agile Transformation: Are You On Track?

Starting an Agile transformation often brings excitement and enthusiasm to teams and organisations. The promise of increased efficiency, better collaboration, and faster delivery of value motivates everyone to get on board. However, as with any significant change, maintaining that initial energy and achieving the long-term outcomes can be a challenge.

In the first few months, things might seem to be going smoothly. Teams are adapting, meetings are happening, and progress is being made. But what happens after six to nine months—usually around the third Program Increment (PI3) if you're using the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)? This is often the point where the initial momentum starts to slow, and cracks in the transformation can begin to show.

At this critical juncture, it's important to assess your Agile journey honestly. Has your team fallen back into old habits? Are you struggling to meet your Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)? Have the original goals you set for your transformation been pushed aside or forgotten?

If you're nodding in agreement, it might be time to take a step back and conduct a review. At Excellent Agile Delivery, we’ve seen firsthand how valuable an independent review can be at this stage of an Agile transformation. Having an objective, outside perspective can reveal areas where things have drifted off course and help guide you back onto the right path.

Why is an independent review important?

The reality is that it can be difficult to identify issues from within your own team or organisation. When you're deep in the day-to-day operations, it’s easy to overlook signs of trouble or become so focused on the immediate tasks that you miss the bigger picture.

An independent review brings a fresh set of eyes to your Agile transformation. It allows an external expert to assess your processes, team dynamics, and overall progress without the biases or blind spots that can develop internally. This unbiased perspective can uncover issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as:

• Teams falling back into traditional ways of working

• Key objectives being deprioritised or missed altogether

• A lack of alignment between teams and leadership

• Inefficiencies in ceremonies like stand-ups, sprint planning, or retrospectives

• Insufficient tracking of metrics such as OKRs, velocity, or cycle time

At Excellent Agile Delivery, our approach is to look beyond the surface. We dig deep to understand the root causes of these issues and provide actionable recommendations tailored to your organisation’s unique needs.

Are you still on track? Key questions to ask yourself

To get a sense of whether your Agile transformation is still on track, here are some key questions to reflect on:

1. Are old habits starting to resurface?
   It’s common for teams to slip back into traditional, waterfall-style methods after the initial excitement of Agile wears off. Are your teams still practising daily stand-ups, regular retrospectives, and maintaining a steady sprint cadence?

2. Are OKRs being met consistently?
   Objectives and Key Results are essential for measuring progress. If you’re consistently falling short of your OKRs, it’s time to revisit your strategy.

3. Are teams empowered and aligned with leadership?
   Agile transformations thrive when there is clear alignment between teams and leadership. If teams feel disconnected from the organisation’s vision or lack autonomy, progress can stall.

4. Has there been visible improvement in delivery?
   Agile is about delivering value incrementally. If there hasn’t been a noticeable improvement in the speed or quality of delivery, it’s worth evaluating where the process is breaking down.

How we can help?

At Excellent Agile Delivery, we specialise in conducting these independent assessments. Our team of experienced Agile coaches and consultants will work with you to:

• Review your Agile practices and processes

• Evaluate team dynamics and leadership alignment

• Analyse performance metrics such as velocity, cycle time, and quality

• Provide tailored recommendations to help you get back on track

The goal is to help you realise the full potential of Agile, not just in theory but in practice. With our support, your organisation can course-correct and start seeing the tangible benefits of a well-executed Agile transformation.

Take the next step

If your Agile transformation isn’t delivering the results you expected, don’t wait until it’s too late. A timely review could make all the difference. Reach out to our team at Excellent Agile Delivery to schedule an independent assessment and take your Agile journey to the next level.