What is your Agility level?

Move on to the next level

Have you been practicing Agility for a while or did you just start? How do you measure your level of Agility?

Agile diagnosis

There are several ways to come up with an answer, but it often raises more questions than answers. Several Agile enthusiasts we meet will ask the following questions at regular intervals and then compare the results:

• How are our messages being received and perceived?
  • The right hand does not talk to the left hand, initiatives are duplicated or conflicting, there are disputes over priorities and points of view.
• Are our employees committed to the requirements of their clients?
• Do our employees feel they are evolving in a challenging climate, a stimulating environment?
• Can we benefit from a simpler framework that is clear, dynamic, and coherent?
• Are the values and quality delivered by our teams known and measurable?
• Do we consider ourselves swifter and industry leaders in the implementation of our projects, in the development of our products, and in our business processes?
• What steps have we taken to energize our teams and to perform better?
  • Is it working?
• Are we using the best service-oriented architecture, TDD, and software engineering practices with great ease?

These questions seem simple, but they aren’t necessarily easy to answer.

For example, consider the following question:

• Can we benefit from a simpler framework that is clear, dynamic, and coherent?

We would tend to say yes. Indeed, we can always, even forever benefit from it.

So what would the real question be?

1. What are the objectives or levels to achieve here?or

2. How can we measure consistency, dynamism, clarity?

Often, the process stops here. The quest for performance indicators begins and we quickly forget our goal of answering these questions. You read this and you nod in agreement. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Often, it is a clear sign that the questions and answers don’t give us the desired results.

Here are some questions for which there is only one answer and that contribute directly to increasing the level of Agility:

• What is the value of our projects and processes and what is our execution velocity?
• How do we know if we are close enough to our clients and responsive to their changing needs?
• How do we measure the level of self-organization of our teams?
• What is the level of consistency in our organization?

With the right tools and required expertise, it is possible to measure these factors, and more. Several tools, including the IQ Radar, the X Matrix, and the Agile coaching paths, allow to measure and easily target required interventions and implementation of best practices to go to the next level.

Go further with Agile paths

Our coaching paths allow the smooth transition from one level to the other while increasing the target values ​​of Agility. A path allows to see where a team (i. e., implementation or management) stands and to ensure its growth in a sustainable manner between the following levels:

1. Self-organization

• Our teams show courage by engaging in constructive, objective, and healthy discussions for continuous improvement.
• Our teams are committed. They undertake rigorous and regular inspections to optimize their processes and procedures in order to deliver value with more velocity.

2. Consistency led by value

• The combined efforts of our teams deliver value for both their clients and the organization.
• The velocity and the value obtained are constant and produced with a sustained and sustainable effort.
• The results represent added value for their clients and even more so for the organization.

3. Practice of the highest standards

• Our teams apply and master the best practices of the industry to an extent respecting the just-enough and just-in-time.
• Members of our teams are committed to their professional development. They understand the benefits and are excited about this opportunity.

4. Delivery of increased value for our clients

• Our clients are part of our projects and work with our teams.
• Our clients have an edge on the competition with frequent deliveries that present greater value.
• Our teams understand and master the business vision.

5. Expansion of benefits to all of our teams that are working together to generate a global value chain:

• The benefits are felt throughout the organization.
• The company is driven by the value of projects and processes and the execution speed.
• Unparalleled, simpler, and consistent execution frameworks are in place.
• Exceptional interpersonal and decisional dynamics which are engaging and energizing are at the centre of all projects.
• The speed of response is increased even in complexity.

The paths and levels go through your organization vertically and horizontally throughout the coaching process to support a sustainable independence.

So what is your level of Agility?