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In today’s evolving business space, each organization is constantly seeking ways to improve its processes, increase productivity, and deliver value to its customers efficiently. Disciplined Agile recognizes that every organization is unique, with its own context, culture, and objectives. DA provides a flexible and scalable approach to agile adoption and transformation by integrating project management principles, agile values, and lean thinking. It offers organizations a comprehensive framework that improves the Way of Working (WoW) by providing tailored guidance and practices for successful agile adoption.
In this article, we will explore how the Disciplined Agile Ways of Working empower you and your organization to achieve greater success in the current dynamic enterprise landscape.
What Does WoW Stand For?
In Disciplined Agile, “WoW” stands for “Way of Working.” It is a term commonly used in the context of agile methodologies and project management. The Disciplined Agile Way of Working (WoW) forms the sixth element of the Foundation layer of the Disciplined Agile Toolkit. It is a key topic that defines life cycles, processes, roles, and responsibilities in the Disciplined Agile Team in order to best suit its project needs.
What Does WoW Mean?
The Disciplined Agile Way of Working, or WoW, describes the specific practices, processes, and principles that a team or organization follows to accomplish their work effectively and efficiently. It encompasses various aspects of how a team or organization plans, executes and reviews work. It may include project management methodologies (e.g., Scrum or Kanban), communication and collaboration practices, decision-making processes, tools and technologies used, and the overall team structure.
The purpose of establishing a Disciplined Agile Way of Working (WoW) is to provide a standardized framework and set of guidelines for team members to work together cohesively, align their efforts towards common goals, and improve productivity and outcomes. It helps create transparency, promotes effective communication, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
Each organization or team may have its own unique WoW tailored to its specific needs and context. The WoW may evolve over time as the team learns from experience and adapts to changing circumstances, always aiming to optimize work processes and achieve better results.
Disciplined Agile and Ways Of Working: The Relationship
Disciplined Agile and Ways of Working are interrelated concepts within the agile landscape. While Disciplined Agile (DA) provides the overarching framework and principles, the Disciplined Agile Ways of Working represent the implementation of those principles tailored to the organization’s specific context. In summary, Disciplined Agile influences the design and structure of the Disciplined Agile Way of Working. On the other hand, the Way of Working reflects the practical application and adherence to the Disciplined Agile principles. Together, they form a cohesive and adaptive approach to agile adoption, enabling organizations to navigate the complexities of project management while continuously improving their processes and delivering value.
Disciplined Agile acts as a guide, helping organizations navigate the complex decision points and trade-offs involved in Agile adoption. It offers flexibility in choosing the right set of practices while ensuring they align with the overall objectives and values of the organization. As discussed, the Disciplined Agile Ways of Working manifest an organization’s Disciplined Agile implementation. They represent the day-to-day activities, processes, and collaboration methods that enable teams to execute their work efficiently and deliver value. The Ways of Working take into account the unique needs, culture, and constraints of the organization, ensuring that agile practices are adapted and integrated seamlessly within the existing workflows. Thus, these two aspects go hand in hand, where one forms the foundation and another acts upon it.
How Does Disciplined Agile Improve Your Way Of Working?
Tailored Agile Approach:
Disciplined Agile recognizes that every organization has its unique context, culture, and goals. It offers a flexible and scalable approach, allowing organizations to tailor their agile practices to fit their specific needs. By providing a comprehensive toolkit of process options, decision points, and strategies, DA enables organizations to select and implement the most appropriate agile methodologies, such as Scrum, Kanban, or Lean, based on their specific requirements. This tailored approach ensures that agile practices are integrated seamlessly within the organization’s existing workflows. Consequently, by aligning it with the organization’s context and objectives, this tailored approach improves the Disciplined Agile Way of Working (WoW).
Collaboration and Communication:
One of the key principles of Disciplined Agile is promoting collaboration and effective communication. DA emphasizes the importance of cross-functional teams. In addition, it encourages close collaboration between stakeholders, and provides guidance on effective communication channels and practices. By fostering a culture of collaboration and open communication, DA improves the WoW by enabling teams to work cohesively, share knowledge, and align their efforts towards common goals. This leads to increased efficiency, reduced silos, and improved decision-making, ultimately enhancing the quality and timeliness of deliverables.
Continuous Improvement:
Disciplined Agile places a strong emphasis on continuous improvement. It encourages organizations to regularly assess their processes, identify bottlenecks, and implement strategies for improvement. DA offers guidance on metrics and measurement, retrospectives, and feedback loops. Thus, it enables teams to identify areas of improvement and take corrective actions. Thus, by promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement, DA improves WoW by fostering a mindset of adaptability and innovation. Consequently, organizations can identify and eliminate inefficiencies, optimize workflows, and enhance their processes, resulting in increased productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction.
Value Stream Optimization:
Disciplined Agile recognizes the importance of optimizing the end-to-end value delivery within organizations. It offers guidance on value stream mapping, value stream coordination, and value stream metrics. By visualizing and understanding the flow of work, DA helps organizations identify bottlenecks, remove waste, and streamline their value streams. Thus, by enabling more efficient delivery, reducing lead times, and maximizing customer value, the value stream optimization improves the Disciplined Agile WoW.
Agile Governance:
Effective governance is crucial for successful agile adoption. Disciplined Agile integrates project management principles and provides guidance on agile governance practices. It ensures that agile teams and projects align with the overall organizational governance structure, policies, and compliance requirements. By promoting transparent governance practices, risk management, and decision-making frameworks, DA improves the WoW by providing clarity, accountability, and alignment across the organization.
Disciplined Agile DA And Its Impact On The WoW At Different Levels.
Disciplined Agile (DA) improves the Way of Working (WoW) at various levels, including the personal level, team level, multi-team level, value stream level, and organizational level. Let’s delve into each of these points in detail:
Disciplined Agile Way Of Working On A Personal Level:
At the personal level, DA emphasizes continuous learning and professional development. It provides guidance on individual roles and responsibilities, coaching and mentoring, and fostering a learning culture. DA encourages individuals to acquire and enhance their skills. These skills could align with their personal career goals as well as the needs of the organization. By nurturing individual competencies and empowering personal growth, DA improves the WoW and helps professionals excel in their roles.
Disciplined Agile Way Of Working On A Team Level:
At the team level, DA promotes collaboration, self-organization, and continuous improvement. It provides guidance on team structures, roles and responsibilities, communication and collaboration practices, and agile and lean techniques. DA encourages teams to work together cohesively, fostering transparency, effective decision-making, and shared ownership by empowering teams and creating an environment that promotes collaboration and innovation. Thus, DA enhances the Disciplined Agile Way of Working at the team level, leading to increased productivity and delivery of high-quality results.
Disciplined Agile Way Of Working On A Multi-Team Level:
At the multi-team level, DA addresses the coordination and collaboration challenges that arise when multiple teams work together. It provides guidance on scaling agile practices, managing dependencies, and aligning efforts toward common goals. DA offers techniques such as Agile Release Trains, Communities of Practice, and Value Stream Coordination to facilitate collaboration and synchronization among multiple teams. Therefore, by promoting effective cross-team communication, shared understanding, and alignment of activities, DA improves the WoW at the multi-team level. This thereby enables the efficient delivery of complex initiatives.
Disciplined Agile Way Of Working At A Value Stream Level:
At the value stream level, DA focuses on optimizing end-to-end value delivery. It emphasizes understanding the flow of work, identifying value stream bottlenecks, as well as implementing strategies for continuous improvement. DA provides guidance on value stream mapping, value stream coordination, and value stream metrics. By streamlining and optimizing the flow of value through the organization, DA improves the WoW at the value stream level. This enables faster and more efficient delivery and maximizes customer value.
Disciplined Agile Way Of Working At An Organizational Level:
DA improves the WoW by aligning agile practices with the strategic goals and objectives of the organization. It offers guidance on tailoring agile methodologies, selecting appropriate governance structures, and aligning projects and portfolios with business strategies. In addition, DA helps organizations establish an agile culture, foster effective stakeholder engagement, and optimize resource allocation. Thus, by integrating project management principles, agile values, and lean thinking, DA improves the WoW at the organizational level. It also drives overall agility, adaptability, and value realization at an organizational level.
How to Get Started On The Disciplined Agile Journey?
The Disciplined Agile (DA) certification journey is designed to help professionals develop the knowledge and skills needed to apply the DA framework in their organizations. The Disciplined Agile certification journey includes several levels of certifications.
Beginner’s Level
The first certification for beginners in agile in this journey is the Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM). This certification is for agile practitioners who want to learn how to apply Scrum in a DA context. The DASM certification provides an overview of DA and its principles, as well as practical guidance on how to apply Scrum in a DA environment.
Intermediate Level
The next step is the Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM). This certification is designed for experienced Scrum Masters who want to expand their knowledge of DA. It is also for those professionals who want to develop their skills in coaching and mentoring agile teams. The DASSM certification provides a deeper understanding of DA and its principles. Further, there are two advanced-level certifications: Disciplined Agile Coach (DAC) and Disciplined Agile Value Stream Consultant (DAVSC). The DASSM forms the basis of eligibility for both these certifications.
Advanced Level
The DAC certification is for experienced agile coaches who want to develop their knowledge and skills in the DA framework. It provides a comprehensive understanding of DA and its principles. It also highlights advanced techniques for coaching teams, leaders, and organizations in adopting and implementing DA. The Disciplined Agile Value Stream Consultant (DAVSC) certification is designed for professionals who want to develop expertise in value stream mapping, analysis, and improvement using the DA framework. Moreover, the DAVSC certification provides an in-depth understanding of value stream management. It also covers the tools and techniques used to optimize value delivery.
Each certification requires candidates to pass an exam and meet specific experience and education requirements. The DA certification journey provides a structured approach for professionals to develop their knowledge and skills in the DA framework. In addition, it demonstrates their expertise to potential employers and clients, thereby, improving their Way Of Working.
Conclusion
By adopting Disciplined Agile, organizations can improve their ways of working in a manner that is flexible, adaptive, tailored to their specific needs, and aligned with project objectives. As a result, there is increased efficiency, better quality, and the ability to respond more effectively to changing business needs. This ultimately leads to increased customer satisfaction and business success. Thus, organizations can embark on a successful agile transformation journey by embracing the principles and practices of Disciplined Agile. This transformation journey begins with just the right disciplined agile training.
At ProThoughts, we not just teach but also function on the disciplined agile principles. So, who better to get your DA training from? Enroll in our disciplined agile certification program today!
