Reflection – Learning Launch

Challenge

I am a senior Manager for projects in one of the largest ICT companies. Part of my  key activities are to improve the ways of work in the Project Delivery Office. There  has been concerns about the time it takes to address minor system changes and  address the demand coming through the Project Delivery Office. We therefore need  to look at ways to improve efficiency and meet the customer needs without  compromising on governance.

The company has been using the waterfall project management and we embarked  on a process to move from waterfall to Agile or Hybrid project delivery method. We  therefore decided to pilot the Agile project delivery method to the business to test if  it will work on not.

Selection

To embark on this journey and ensure that we can get feedback quickly we chose  the Learning Launch design thinking tool. Due to the noise that was there in the  organisation and the frustration our customers were faced with we believed the tool  will be best suited and will assist in getting feedback quickly and implement the new  ways of work.

Application

For the first learning launch we gathered a team together and socialised the  proposed delivery method, the difference between the old and the new method and  the benefit of moving from old to new. The team included the customer, Solution  Architectures, Developers, Testers and Scrum Master. We started with the customer  providing the problem statement, what they want to change and the benefits of the  change. The customer enlisted all the requirements with the Solution Architectures  asking relevant question to ensure that the requirements are will captured.

In the initial session a delivery team was then identified including Product Owner  and Scrum Master and the ceremonies, that is Daily standup, sprint planning, sprint  review and sprint retro.

The solution Architecture managed to put together the high-level system design  and the minimum viable product that can be delivered through each iteration.

Initially there was a bit of resistance as the customer though the project was taking  them away from their day-to-day operations having to meet daily. With time there  was appreciation as the customer appreciated how quick changes can be made and  being able to use the solution interactively.

After the initial pilot project there were lessons learned which we took to the second  pilot project. The second project produced better results as the team applied the  lessons learned and improved.

Insight

Using learning launch tool, the process provided us with an opportunity to learn in  the process and ensure that the new ways of work will be accepted by the business.  We had a better feedback from customer with the second project than with the first  one. The customers appreciated the speed and agility of the new ways of work.

The learning launch tool proved to be effective as it provided sense of comfort to  the business as they were involved in the process. The process dealt with lots of  assumptions and uncertainties and provide evidence of what will work and what will  not work in the type of environments that we operate in.

Through this process we were able to identify entry criteria for each project delivery  method which will address any concerns that were raised.

Approach

Using the learning launch design thinking tool, helped the business to be able to  make the decision quickly in adopting the new ways of work.

The process was more transparent and there was close collaboration between  Project Delivery Office and the business.


Reflection – Learning Launch Challenge I am a senior Manager for projects in one of the largest ICT companies . Part of my key activities are to improve the ways of work in the Project Delivery Office . There has been concerns about the time it takes to address minor system changes and address the demand coming through the Project Delivery Office . We therefore need to look at ways to improve efficiency and meet the customer needs without compromising on governance . The company has been using the waterfall project management and we embarked on a process to move from waterfall to Agile or Hybrid project delivery method . We therefore decided to pilot the Agile project delivery method to the business to test if it will work on not . Selection To embark on this journey and ensure that we can get feedback quickly we chose the Learning Launch design thinking tool . Due to the noise that was there in the organisation and the frustration our customers were faced with we believed the tool will be best suited and will assist in getting feedback quickly and implement the new ways of work . Application For the first learning launch we gathered a team together and socialised the proposed delivery method , the difference between the old and the new method and the benefit of moving from old to new . The team included the customer , Solution Architectures , Developers , Testers and Scrum Master . We started with the customer providing the problem statement , what they want to change and the benefits of the change . The customer enlisted all the requirements with the Solution Architectures asking relevant question to ensure that the requirements are will captured . In the initial session a delivery team was then identified including Product Owner and Scrum Master and the ceremonies , that is Daily standup , sprint planning , sprint review and sprint retro . The solution Architecture managed to put together the high - level system design and the minimum viable product that can be delivered through each iteration . Initially there was a bit of resistance as the customer though the project was taking them away from their day - to - day operations having to meet daily . With time there was appreciation as the customer appreciated how quick changes can be made and being able to use the solution interactively . After the initial pilot project there were lessons learned which we took to the second pilot project . The second project produced better results as the team applied the lessons learned and improved . Insight Using learning launch tool , the process provided us with an opportunity to learn in the process and ensure that the new ways of work will be accepted by the business . We had a better feedback from customer with the second project than with the first one . The customers appreciated the speed and agility of the new ways of work . The learning launch tool proved to be effective as it provided sense of comfort to the business as they were involved in the process . The process dealt with lots of assumptions and uncertainties and provide evidence of what will work and what will not work in the type of environments that we operate in . Through this process we were able to identify entry criteria for each project delivery method which will address any concerns that were raised . Approach Using the learning launch design thinking tool , helped the business to be able to make the decision quickly in adopting the new ways of work . The process was more transparent and there was close collaboration between Project Delivery Office and the business .