Organizations put a lot of effort into devising robust strategies and plans to achieve their targeted business outcomes. Yet, the pivotal challenge lies in bridging the divide between strategic intent and actual delivery. The disconnectedness between strategy and delivery isn’t due to a scarcity of innovative ideas or thorough planning. Instead, it stems from the lack of efficiency and effectiveness in implementing and executing these strategies. This often results in a slower time-to-value, hindering organizations from realizing their full potential and responding adeptly to dynamic market ..read more

There are a number of benefits that come from following Lean Portfolio Management principles in your organization. That’s why over the last decade, it has become common for organizations to undertake Agile transformation initiatives to improve value delivery. Many of these organizations focused on transforming traditionally siloed teams into dedicated, cross-functional teams that leverage fast feedback loops to deliver product increments more effectively. But here’s the thing. In order to achieve enterprise Agility, Lean-Agile principles and practices must also be applied to the entire enterpr ..read more

How do you know whether your Agile transformation is on the right track, or heading in the right direction? Understanding Agile transformation metrics for executives is key to proving the ROI of your Agile transformation. Making the switch from measuring outputs to measuring outcomes can make it difficult to know exactly what you should be measuring… and what it all means. If you’ve been struggling to find meaningful ways to measure the big-picture impact of your Agile transformation, this list of Agile transformation metrics for executives is for you. Read Next: Are these Agile transformatio ..read more

In case you missed it, Planview’s premier customer conference was bigger and better than ever this year!  The virtual event attracted almost 2,800 registrants from more than 45 countries on Sept. 21-22.   On the jam-packed agenda were several presentations, customer stories, and roundtable discussions aimed at supporting Agile leaders at all levels of the organization.  If you didn’t get to attend these engaging sessions, read on to get the scoop!  Becomi ..read more

We’re excited to announce that Planview has built Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) capabilities into Planview LeanKit! In this post, you’ll learn:  why we’ve added OKR capabilities into the Planview platform  why OKRs are particularly valuable for Agile organizations  how OKRs have changed in recent years   what to look for in OKR software  But first, here’s a quick introduction to OKRs, in case they’re new to you.  OKRs in 30 Seconds  Pioneered by Intel in the 1970s, OKRs were designed to help p ..read more

What is a Lean Coffee?   The Lean Coffee format is a structured, but agenda-less, meeting designed to facilitate collaborative group discussions. “How can you have structure without an agenda?” you might ask. Allow me to explain.  Seattle-based Lean thinkers Jim Benson and Jeremy Lightsmith are credited with the invention of Lean Coffee. They wanted to start a regular discussion group for fellow Lean enthusiasts, but without the hassle of finding and scheduling speakers, setting agendas each week, etc. that this kind of meetup usually requires.   Je ..read more

As Agile has exploded in popularity, more and more people are interested in learning how to become an Agile coach. In fact, “Agile coach” was named as one of Indeed.com’s best jobs in 2019, with an average base salary of $161,377. Meanwhile, the demand for passionate, experienced Agile coaches is at an all-time high.   If you’re passionate about Agile, enjoy working with teams, and are interested in making a career change, here are some tips and resources to help you get started.  How to Become an Agile Coach  So you want to become an Agile coach? Like ..read more

What is Lean Transformation? Lean transformation is a term used to describe the strategic, tactical, and operational improvements that organizations undergo in order to create more value for their customers. These improvements represent a fundamental, collective shift in business mentalities away from traditional business practices toward a more value-driven, streamlined approach. There is no single approach to Lean transformation: In some organizations, Lean begins as a grassroots effort, led by a single team or department, and eventually spreads throughout the organization. In others, the ca ..read more

Making the shift from organizing work around products to orienting around value plays a key role in scaling Agile across the organization. But it can also be confusing: what exactly IS a value stream, and how do you go about identifying the value streams in your business? Our recent ebook, How to Identify Your Value Streams: The Value Behind the Business, answers these questions and more. Let’s review some strategies for finding out which value streams to create at your company. Ask why you’re in business. It’s best to start simple: ask yourself why your organization is in business and what t ..read more

For many organizations, Agile gains a foothold in a small set of teams that plainly demonstrate its potential. Excited by the results, leaders begin to focus on scaling Agile – but soon discover that it requires some fundamental shifts. One of the most important components of Agile at scale is switching the way work gets done, from temporary, project-based teams to alignment around value streams. What are value streams, and how do they work? And what is the difference between operational vs. development value streams? Read on. What is a value stream? A value stream is defined as an end-to-end ..read more