Attributes of Excellence
Five attributes to help you select the best agile transformation consultancy
Experience
1-It goes without saying that your new consultancy should have agile transformation experience. It is, however, worth investigating the regions, clients, and industries the consultancy has served. A diverse portfolio of clients, from small to large agile transformation journey, in multiple regions and across various industry verticals, with different agile frameworks, and practices, indicates an extensive and comprehensive experience.
Specialization
2-Any agile consultancy can claim to be specialized in agile transformation, but do they have the experts, the trainers, the coaches, the tools, and the accreditation required to ensure a holistic adoption of the agile way of work?
Technical and Non-Technical
3-Agile transformation is more than building software or delivering a product. It is a way of work that affects every facet of the organization. To ensure a successful, all-encompassing agile transformation, your new consultancy should have the experience and the necessary credentials to carry out agile transformation across all functions and all teams of the organization to reap the maximum benefits of the transition. Whether it is installing new software, mapping workflows, or coaching executives on the agile way of working, your consultants need to have the technical and business expertise that will help you through your transformation journey.
Technology
4-It is imperative that your agile consultancy has a thorough understanding of supporting tools and solutions that are coming out at a faster pace than ever before. They should also have practical experience in architecting and integrating the most optimum type of solutions into your organization. It is also not enough to advise on the best solution to adopt today. Your consultants should build with you a structure that allows for future evolution. They need to demonstrate a deep understanding of common processes and workflows in your industry so they can best map the new solutions to your specific business needs.
Cultural Fit
5-You can select the most renowned consultancy out there and be sure they will deliver some value. However, unless your team can integrate, collaborate and communicate effectively with the consultants, you will not gain the maximum ROI from them. Cultural differences and language barriers between your organization and the consultancy firm you are using can hinder the success of your agile transformation journey. Your consultants need to understand complex cultural norms and behaviors influenced by societal principles in your region to best communicate with your stakeholders and overcome challenges in personal interactions.