On January 23, 2015 at the offices (Neuilly/Paris) of a partner (Maltem/Openbridge) with whom I work regularly and have been working with for a long time, I’m presenting with the incomparable Alexandre Martinez a feedback session on what I consider a great success: the agile cell that I’ve had the pleasure of following from day one at… (Oops, I don’t know if I’m allowed to name this client), think of a French energy group.
(Official) morning program
Come discover during a themed morning session the ins and outs of implementing an agile cell within a large energy group in France:
- How we went from 4 people to 50 people in 3 years to the great delight of our client
- What were the key founding elements
- What are the stages of this growth
- How such a cell lives day to day
Our speakers: Pablo Pernot – SmartView – will participate as an agile coach who accompanied the cell in an external and impartial manner from the pre-sales phase until now. Alexandre Martinez –Maltem/Openbridge– is one of the key elements from the very first days within the cell.
The presentation will conclude with a round table that will allow us to discuss all the questions we may not have answered.
Speaker profiles
Pablo Pernot - Smartview
After a master’s degree on Monty Python, a DEA on nonsense and the absurd, the beginning of a doctorate on cinematic comedians, it seems natural that Pablo Pernot launched into management and change management, it’s -ultimately- a logical progression. Currently an experienced coach in organizational management, change management, and agility.
Founder of SmartView
Alexandre Martinez - OpenBridge
A developer since forever (or almost) and after a doctorate combining microelectronics, computer science and thermodynamics, Alexandre Martinez decided to turn his passion into his career and continue his exploration of complex systems, both computer and human, by discovering agility. Today, he serves as Scrummaster, agile coach and architect in an agile cell within a large energy group in France.
My initial feedback
Alexandre and I are starting preparation for this morning session this week. I can’t give you the details, but I can already tell you what seems essential to me to emphasize in order to understand the success of this cell. By the way, what makes me say that this cell is successful? Several elements:
- It keeps growing: from 4 initial developers, we’re now at 45, and I wouldn’t be surprised to count 10 to 15 more this year, which will raise other questions.
- Requests continue to pour in within the group, past results are therefore satisfactory at minimum.
- When I interviewed OpenBridge executives in 2012 (the cell started in 2012), one of their concerns was that everyone wanted to work for the cell (because we progressed, because we were listened to, because we did development with automated tests and continuous integration platform, etc.).
- Some cell members who left it want to return, which isn’t necessarily simple. If we show them the diagram of Agile fluency by Martin Fowler (seen at raid agile for example) they spontaneously place themselves at the optimize value level, which isn’t that common.
- The latest practices are present: Open Agile Adoption, Holacracy, etc.
What are the elements that from my point of view are key? (Alexandre’s point of view is probably more important, since he’s lived it for 3 years, I’m just hanging around it in a way). I’ll cite three that are dear to my heart (there are others! you’ll have to come on January 23):
- The contract: the contract that binds the two stakeholders (the group and the service provider) is a commitment of means, not a commitment of results. This is essential to start on a good foundation and not immediately derail all practices, to focus on value and not on pipe dreams.
- Co-location: the teams are co-located within the group. It’s a cell, it belongs to the body for which it works.
- Courageous and human leaders: it took courage to sign the commitment of means, I saw heart and pride. I’m not saying that leaders do everything, I’m saying they’re key because their potential for harm or support is enormous.
Invitation
If you’re interested in this morning session because it relates to your daily work, don’t hesitate to register, it’s free. Thanks to coaching and consulting friends and colleagues for not registering but rather contacting me directly to see if I can accommodate them or not (or organize a good meal to talk about it).