U N D E R S TAN D I N G
AGILE
Most organizations use project
teams to complete work efficiently.
Teams determine the work to be
done, estimate how long it will take
and manage their own schedules. In
the mid-1990s, Agile was developed
in response to traditional projectmanagement methods, which tend
to be cumbersome and processheavy. Agile, which depends on selfmanaged, collaborative teams to
continuously implement customerdriven solutions, offers a flexible,
common-sense alternative.
Agile project teams are empowered
to deliver value early and often. In
Scrum, the most popular form of
Agile, the team creates a prioritized
backlog of work necessary for the
project, and completes usable
portions of that work in two-tofour week iterations. Each iteration
includes a set of “ceremonies”
enabling the team to engage the
customer in the process and
continually improve. Agile teams can
easily change direction as market
needs fluctuate.
Byproducts of Agile methodology
include improved employee
motivation and satisfaction.
Employees on well-run Agile teams
learn valuable skills that they bring
to teams they join in the future.
DRIVING SUCCESS
Although Agile methodology sounds
simple, it is surprisingly difficult
to implement without the aid of
a knowledgeable team coach.
Agile is a dramatic departure from
familiar team approaches and has
a steep change curve. Yet the team
is expected to handle this change,
learn Agile and increase productivity
simultaneously. The coach supports
the team in adapting to the
change and moving toward selfmanagement as its members learn
the methodology.
BUILDING A THRIVING
TEAM COACHING
BUSINESS
For experienced team coaches
who want to explore Agile
methodology, there are some
training programs that teach the
basics of Agile from a professional
coach’s point of view. Once a coach
understands Agile basics, she
can put her learning into action
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE >
Agile Methodology Supports a
Value Delivery Approach
Value delivered early and often
due to iterative work cycles.
15
Agile ceremonies: Planning,
Standups, Review and
Retrospectives.
Coaching World
Changes flexibly managed
via release roadmaps and
product backlogs.