Organizational Design
The Power of System Thinking: Understanding Organizations And Their System Dynamics
Introduction Organizations are not simple machines that can be tuned by tightening one screw or swapping out one part. They are living ecosystems made up of people, processes, tools, and norms. These ecosystems operate through dynamic cause-and-effect relationships—feedback loops that can either improve, stabilize or deteriorate the system. System Thinking provides a way to see … Read more
Product Owner’s Influence & Empowerment “Meter”
When organizations embark on an agile transformation — particularly one that includes Scrum or Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) — a critical moment arises: selecting the Product Owner. It’s a moment filled with implications, because this role is not just a title or a box to check. It’s a keystone. Choose the wrong person, and the … Read more
Dhaval & Gene: Evolution of Agility
What does it mean to evolve? In this short talk, Dhaval and Gene discuss what has changed and what has remained the same. Companies that prioritize the development of internal software capabilities have performed better than those that treat IT as a standalone function. The implications of these organizational choices on people and their careers … Read more
10 Signs That Your Agile Transformation is NOT an “Agile Theater”
Agile has become a corporate buzzword. From boardrooms to team stand-ups, “going agile” is cited as the cure for everything from sluggish delivery to low employee engagement. But behind the banners, ceremonies, and coaching titles, many transformations fail to deliver meaningful change. So here’s the question: Is your agile transformation real—or just theater? For many … Read more
Fair, Critical Review of “Becoming a Product Coach” by SVPG
The SVPG article “Becoming a Product Coach” offers a blend of truly helpful, experience-based insights and well-meaning, yet oversimplified generalizations. On the one hand, it delivers solid advice for individuals considering a transition into product coaching, especially from a career development lens. On the other hand, it rebrands long-standing industry concepts and introduces some misleading … Read more
Can LeSS Help Dealing With DOGE Without Painful RIFs?
Hello USA! How is your organization dealing with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative? On its surface, DOGE represents a well-intentioned drive to streamline federal operations, cut excess spending, and modernize information systems across agencies. By centralizing savings efforts and aiming for measurable performance improvements, DOGE has surfaced long-standing inefficiencies that warrant attention. However, … Read more
Dependency Management Is Wasteful
Presentation: Additional References: “Synchronized Sprint Cadence: Thoughtful Decision or Cargo Cult?“ “Maximizing Dependencies with Interdependent Teams“ Additional References: “Synchronized Sprint Cadence: Thoughtful Decision or Cargo Cult?“ “Maximizing Dependencies with Interdependent Teams“
What Is Your “Product” Operating Model?
Tweet Analogy: Your Restaurant Experience By way of analogy, imagine you come to a restaurant and willing to spend a lot of money on a bowl of an expensive and exotic soup. You sit at a table and wait for your dish to be delivered. When a waiter comes, you see that on his tray, … Read more