Agile Delivery to TPM

Boosting Team Tech Competency & MarTech Standardization

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Key Words: Standardization, Collaboration, Technical Competency, Team Management

 

Situation:

As an engineering leader in a technology-focused organization, the challenge was to enhance the technical competency of the Agile Delivery organization, with a focus on architectural standardization across Marketing Technology (MarTech). This goal was met with some reservations and hesitation from the leadership of both the Delivery and Engineering teams.

 

Opportunity:

This initiative offered an opportunity to foster cross-functional collaboration, elevate software quality, and institute a standardized approach to architectural modeling. The primary challenge was addressing resistance and alleviating concerns about changes in roles and the adoption of new diagramming models.

 

Obstacles:

Major obstacles included a significant shift in the roles of Agile Delivery Leads and the initial challenge of learning new diagramming models, such as diagram-as-code, C4, and BPMN. The resistance was primarily driven by concerns over potential drops in productivity during the transition period.

 

Activities:

To alleviate these concerns, focused discussions were organized with delivery and engineering leaders. These discussions centered on outlining the long-term advantages of boosting technical competency, such as heightened collaboration and improved software quality. Acknowledging the initial learning curve, a supportive training program was proposed to assist in the transition.

 

Results & Impact:

The well-considered approach gained the support of many on the team, resulting in a consensus to trial the initiative. The ongoing implementation has received favorable early feedback, showcasing clear signs of enhanced understanding and collaboration between the Delivery and Engineering teams. Progress towards architectural standardization across MarTech has also been commended by the enterprise architecture team.