When you started selling your product or service, you had a small number of team members that had fun together delivering products that your customer would love. Due to product’s stellar success, customers demanded more, it was now time to add more people to your team so you can achieve scale. This is where you start to notice delays, miscommunication, support tickets piling up and most of all hard for you to know who is responsible for which tasks. So how do you scale multiple teams to deliver a quality product or service?
Previously you might have used Scrum or another Agile Framework to work with small teams and based on your success you start to research off the shelf solutions like SAFe, Scrum@Scale and LeSS.
Did you know that nearly 80% of organizations struggle with overwhelming strategically important work despite adopting agile frameworks? Off-the-shelf solutions like SAFe, Spotify, or Scrum@Scale aim to systematically implement agility at scale, but they often generalize the unique intricacies of your organization’s history, values, culture, and market positioning.
This misalignment can inadvertently foster anti-patterns and hinder the very benefits you seek from agile practices. As an aspiring business leader, you’re likely grappling with managing cross-functional teams, driving innovation, and balancing strategic goals with day-to-day operations. Scaling agile effectively is critical to overcoming these challenges in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing business environment.
Understanding the Context:
Let’s face it, every organization is unique. Just like you wouldn’t expect a one-size-fits-all suit to look great on everyone, a generic agile framework isn’t going to magically solve all your scaling challenges.
Think about it – your company has its own special blend of history, values, culture, and market positioning. It’s like a fingerprint, no two are exactly alike. So when you try to force-fit a pre-packaged solution like SAFe or Scrum@Scale, it’s no surprise that you might end up with some awkward misalignments.
Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All
I’ve seen it happen time and time again. A company will jump on the latest scaling bandwagon, thinking it’s going to be their silver bullet. But before long, they start noticing some troubling patterns emerging. Maybe the framework doesn’t quite gel with their existing processes, or it creates friction between departments that used to work together seamlessly.
Let me give you a real-world example. I once consulted for a financial services firm that had recently adopted SAFe. On paper, it seemed like a great fit. As we dug deeper, we realized that the company’s strict regulatory environment and risk-averse culture were clashing with SAFe’s emphasis on building big teams and processes. People were spending more time navigating red tape than actually innovating, and morale was starting to suffer.
Sounds familiar? The truth is, there’s no shortcut to scaling agile effectively.
It requires a deep understanding of your organization’s unique context and a willingness to adapt your approach accordingly. That’s not to say that frameworks like SAFe or Scrum@Scale are inherently bad. They can offer a helpful starting point and a common language for scaling agile principles. But blindly following their prescriptive formulas without considering your specific needs is a recipe for frustration. So how do you avoid these pitfalls and craft a scaling strategy that actually works for your organization?
What about Business Agility?
Scaling a product by scaling the technical team typically does not work. This is why the scaling frameworks fail. The entire business needs to be Agile. This is best explained with the example of Komercni Banka. In 2017 Komercina banka was catering to small businesses and another for large commercial organizations. The bank provided consumer credit, debit cards, insurance, investments and mortgages. The rise of mobile banking and digital finance solutions had revolutionized how customers interacted with their financial service providers. The regulatory landscape for financial institutions was in flux, with new frameworks being introduced to ensure greater transparency, security, and customer protection
In the summer of 2018 the bank’s board took a retreat to develop a vision and align everybody. The focus of the vision was on creating an Agile mindset and employing every member of the bank in this change. This vision was not just about adopting Agile methodologies in project management or IT development; it was about embedding agility into the very DNA of the organization, reshaping its culture, processes, and structure to become more responsive, flexible, and aligned with the evolving needs of its customers and the market. Scaling Agile across Komercini Bank required a thoughtful approach that balanced consistency with flexibility. Watch the video for the entire story.
The Bank started with Business Financing. They launched the Business Financing Tribe in 2018. The first few days were spent with Agile Coaches and Training. The Roles, events and OKRs were established. The tribe had 60 people divided into 5 squads. Chapters were created to share the learnings with squads that were added later. The squads had members from marketing, sales, operations, HR and technology working together to deliver the best business financing product for their customer
Managerial positions were reduced as the business financing team found success. All these efforts made Business Financing successful in Agile.
Introducing the Scrum Alliance Scaling Course
So how can you chart a path to scaling agile that actually works for your unique organization? That’s where the Scrum Alliance Scaling course comes in. This framework-agnostic program is designed to equip you with the practical skills and knowledge you need to scale agility in a way that aligns with your specific context. The Certified Agile Scaling Practitioner 1, or CASP 1 course from Scrum Alliance, takes a holistic approach to scaling.
Rather than prescribing a rigid, one-size-fits-all formula, it explores various aspects of agile at scale and empowers you to craft a tailored strategy. The course dives deep into key principles and practices for managing multi-team product development and fostering cross-functional collaboration. You’ll learn techniques for increasing capacity while tempering complexity. This ensures that your scaling efforts lead to sustainable growth rather than overwhelming your teams.
One of the core components of the CASP 1 course is its emphasis on discerning patterns and principles that fit your unique situation. You’ll explore how to embed new practices and support structures that guide proven change management ideas. You will discover how to lead the change through iterative and incremental delivery. This will enable you to grow new capabilities while sustaining your business.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a toolbox of practical techniques and a roadmap for navigating the complexities of agile at scale.
You’ll be equipped to harness the power of aligned autonomy to positively impact business outcomes and drive innovation across your organization.
Benefits for Organizations
So you just learnt how to scale multiple teams to deliver a quality product or service, but does a customized approach have benefits for your organization?
Let’s dive into why the Scrum Alliance Scaling course is a game-changer for organizations looking to scale agile the right way. By taking this course, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to unlock some seriously powerful benefits for your company.
First up, increased capacity. The course teaches you how to optimize your resources and streamline your processes so you can get more done without burning out your teams. You’ll learn techniques for breaking down silos, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and leveraging the power of self-organizing teams. The result? A well-oiled machine that can tackle even the most complex projects with ease. But it’s not just about doing more – it’s about doing it smarter.
The CASP 1 course shows you how to temper complexity and avoid the pitfalls of over-engineering. You’ll discover how to identify and prioritize the work that truly matters, so you can focus your energy where it counts. By keeping things simple and iterative, you’ll be able to deliver value faster and more consistently.
Another key benefit is better alignment across your organization. The course teaches you how to create a shared vision and purpose that inspires and motivates your teams. You’ll learn how to break down communication barriers, foster transparency, and create a culture of trust and collaboration. When everyone is rowing in the same direction, amazing things can happen. But perhaps the most important benefit is sustainable growth.
The Scrum Alliance Scaling course shows you how to build an agile organization that adapts and thrives in the face of change. You’ll learn how to create feedback loops, embrace continuous improvement, and foster a culture of learning and innovation. By investing in your people and processes, you’ll create a foundation for long-term success.
Conclusion: Crafting Your Unique Agile Scaling Journey
How to scale multiple teams to deliver a quality product or service?
The journey to scaling agile is unique for every organization. There’s no magic formula or one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about understanding your context, discerning the right principles, and crafting a tailored strategy. That’s where the Scrum Alliance Scaling course comes in. It equips you with the practical skills and framework-agnostic mindset to navigate the complexities of agile at scale. By investing in this course, you’re empowering yourself to lead a transformative change. It’s a valuable resource for any leader looking to unlock the full potential of their teams and drive sustainable growth.
The path to successful scaling starts with a single step. Are you ready to take yours?
