Acquiring Agile subject matter expertise - 3 critical questions
Adopting Agile can cause major disruption to existing resource, operational and organisation structures. How you acquire the necessary subject matter expertise to adopt Agile will have a fundamental impact on your performance.

Question 1 – What is the Consultant’s primary business interest?
1. Independent consultancy (not a division of a s/w vendor)
2. Contracting (application development or outsourcing)
3. Software business with a consultancy interest

RATIONALE - Ensure unbiased and independent advice. Ensure that the consultant’s proposed Agile strategy is driving the selection and implementation of certain tools and processes and not the other way around.

Question 2 – What services are being offered as part of the consultant’s proposed assignment?
1. Enterprise engagement, evaluation, introduction and operational assessment
2. Introduction and operational assessment
3. Training and support

RATIONALE - Ensure an Agile transformational program delivers strategic goals whilst meeting key operational and project requirements. Developing a comprehensive business case for introducing Agile development followed through mainstream use Agile requires the consultant to be engaged throughout the entire program.

Question 3 –Depth of Consultant’s expertise
1. Provides access to enterprise wide subject matter expertise
2. Agile implementation and support
3. Software vendor with complementary services

RATIONALE - Introducing Agile can involves major cultural and business changes – requires end to end planning, execution and a commitment to continuous improvement. Expertise on hand must be more than of a technical nature. Consultancy expertise should include resource management, knowledge management, process and quality management, organisational communication and organisational change management, for Agile development organisations.

If you’re answers are not the first one in each question, you immediately increase the risk of your Agile transformational program.

Good luck

John E. Abram
www.monetical.com
The online consultancy