Using agile for things that aren't software

1. Using Agile for things that aren’t software Tracey Williams @tewilliam February 2017

2. Agile 101 Agile is a project management method

3. Agile 101 Source: http://agilemanifesto.org/

4. Agile 101 Pioneering Breaking new ground Uncertain environment Unpredictable Standard Known Certain environment Stable Diagram simplified from Simon Wardley’s blog http://blog.gardeviance.org/2013/11/oh-not-again-should-we-be-agile-or-six.html Agile performs best Prince II etc. performs best Greater certainty

5. Agile 101 https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2014/04/01/a-year-in-the-making-the-digital-by- default-service-standard/

6. Case Study - MOJ Digital Capability Project Aim: Improve digital capability Generalist Civil Servants Digital Specialists Discovery Focus Non-Digital Specialist Civil Servants

7. Discovery, what did our users say? 1 3 2 24 People want to learn, but not online. “Face to face, interactive learning is a big investment, but compared to online learning, or just listening, it is worth it” People want to work digitally, but need leaders. “Oh, that would work! But I don’t think we would be allowed to do it.” People like digital tools, but exaggerate risks. “It’s obviously useful, is it IL3?” People know they have users, but not how to learn from them. “We held a consultation with users, it was hideous, people came back very upset”

8. User needs as user stories As a... policy advisor I need to... do learning courses at lunch times So that... training fits around the demands of my work For example:

9. Some characteristics to define a digitally capable person 1 Put user needs ahead of process 2 Start small, and improve from there 3 Make the most of digital tools 24 Manage risk, don’t be blocked by it 25 Feel empowered to innovate https://mojdigital.blog.gov.uk/2014/12/19/digital-capability-bringing-innovative- styles-of-working-to-moj/

10. In Agile, we take a small slice and deliver a product quickly 1 Put user needs ahead of process 2 Start small, and improve from there 3 Make the most of digital tools 24 Manage risk, don’t be blocked by it 25 Feel empowered to innovate Initial focus

11. What happened next? Alpha testing options with staff in Alpha e.g. training, workshops, lunch & learn Discovering what works best through user testing Make our offering scalable in Beta (via Civil Service Learning)

12. Our Alphas

13. How did it go? The good stuff People were excited to be involved in something that felt different :)

14. How did it go? The good stuff People found the sessions useful and learnt from how we were developing them :)

15. How did it go? The good stuff We discarded things early that we might otherwise have put into a formal framework :)

16. BUT... We took too long to deliver and the world moved on before we could scale up in Beta :/

17. Agile - Practical Application Some practical tips on putting Agile into practice

18. Agile - Practical Application 1 Read GDS Service Manual www.gov.uk/service-manual The principles remain the same for any project

19. Agile - Practical Application 2 Get out there and speak to USERS (Though there can be heavy overlap) Users ≠ Stakeholders

20. Agile - Practical Application 3 Test something small WITH USERS within WEEKS (Pilots usually take months, too late to make big changes) Alphas ≠ Pilots

21. Agile - Practical Application 4 Review user reactions at least fortnightly, iterate model based on that based on ≠ “take into account”

22. Agile - Practical Application A couple to start with: gds.blog.gov.uk/2015/10/09/how-to-be-agile-in-a-non-agile-environment/ www.gov.uk/service-manual/agile-delivery/agile-methodologies There are lots of useful blogs and other resources out there. Search for them!

23. Tactics to overcome resistance

24. Tactics to overcome resistance 1 Persuasion Civil Service style…. Exploit the hierarchy! Have any leaders made statements about change/transformation? What does your DG/Perm Sec want? Can you make your manager look good with this?

25. Can you just get on with it? Tactics to overcome resistance 2 Rear Adm. Dr. Grace Hopper “It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission” Imagesource:https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2014/12/22/honoring-grace-hopper

26. Tactics to overcome resistance 3 Be Bold... Read: medium.com/@JanetHughes “[Being bold] involves taking a risk based on a credible belief that you’re right, even if nobody else agrees with you at the time.”

27. Bonus slide: some wise words to end on “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” Amelia Earhart “Done is better than perfect.” Sheryl Sandberg “The difference between successful people and others is how long they spend time feeling sorry for themselves.” Barbara Corcoran “You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.” Tina Fey

28. Using Agile for things that aren’t software Tracey Williams @tewilliam February 2017