CM Agility

We're big fans of Comic Agilé for its clever use of humour to help us reflect and improve. Today, we're inspired to share insights that resonate deeply with us at CM Agility, especially as this month, we will be focusing on our Agile Organizational Change Management (Agile OCM) practice - Stay tuned to our Blog! Significant change initiatives require robust backing from leadership. This is crucial because, without strong leadership support, even the most passionate and well-planned initiatives can plateau. We believe that for any transformational initiative, the support from leaders is not just beneficial—it's absolutely essential! Stay tuned to our blog as we we will share key insights and strategies to successfully navigate these changes. We'd love to hear from you! Have you faced challenges due to a lack of support from the top? Share your experiences, and let's discuss how to empower not just teams but entire organizations to embrace change effectively. #AgileTransformation #Leadership #ChangeManagement #CMagility #AgileOCM https://lnkd.in/gpkheQCa

Wrapping Up Our Month on Agile in Operations After a month dedicated to exploring Agile in non-traditional environments through our posts, we've gathered your most pressing questions and addressed them in our first-ever CM Agility Q&A video session. This is our initial foray into video, and while the production might not be polished, we're excited about the genuine insights and casual, approachable style of our discussion. Key Insights from the Discussion: Resource Allocation: Learn how to balance the urgent with the important in daily operations while embracing Agile transformations. Cultural Shifts: Discover effective strategies for nurturing an Agile mindset in sectors traditionally resistant to change. Practical Implementation: Gain insights from real-life examples of how teams across various industries, from HR to security, are successfully applying Agile principles. Our co-founders, Carina Baldwin and Michelle, dive deep into these topics, offering valuable advice for anyone looking to leverage Agile to enhance efficiency, improve team dynamics, and drive innovation in their operations. Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gRPNNCjB We'd love to hear from you! Share your experiences or ask further questions in the comments below. #AgileInOperations #CMagility #Leadership #OperationalExcellence #AgileTransformation

This week's post is particularly exciting for those looking for practical applications of Agile methodologies. We shared a quick visual comparison between Scrum and Kanban to help you decide which framework might work best for your team. Whether you're leaning towards the structured sprints of Scrum or the continuous flow of Kanban, understanding the approaches is crucial. Feel free to reach out if you have questions or need further insights! #AgileMethodologies #ScrumVsKanban #TeamManagement #AgileCoaching

Hello CM Agility Community! Continuing our monthly theme, this week, we go into a real-world application. A common dilemma our clients face is choosing between Scrum and Kanban as the optimal framework for operational and support departments. Agile isn't one-size-fits-all, especially in settings that demand rapid responses and flexibility. At CM Agility, we configure Agile practices to fit our clients' specific realities. The image in this post provides a simplified comparison to help you understand which might be the best fit: Scrum or Kanban. In one of our success stories, an operations team frequently faced urgent issues and interruptions that required immediate attention, making the typical Scrum framework less suitable. They opted for an approach that combines the flexibility of Kanban with key elements of Scrum: - Kanban for Continuous Flow: Managing daily operational tasks with the flexibility to address issues as they arise. - Scrum Elements: Incorporating daily standups and monthly retrospectives to enhance team communication and continuous improvement. - Defined Roles: Such as a Business Owner representative, to maintain clarity and focus, ensuring that all tasks align with business goals. This tailored approach allowed the ops team to efficiently manage their regular workflow while being agile enough to tackle urgent issues without disrupting the system. They enjoyed increased transparency in their communication and collaboration, earning praise from their internal customers. Your Turn: Agile in Your Operations Are you working in an operational or support-based environment? How do you see Agile practices working in your favour or against you? We want to hear from you! Please share your experiences and join the discussion. Next week, we will share a video where CM Agility answers some of your questions, highlights key points, and shares other insights. #AgileTransformation #OperationalExcellence #AgileCoaching #CMAgility #ScrumVsKanban

Hello CM Agility Community! Last week, we introduced the theme, "Agile in Action: Debunking Myths in Operational Environments." This week, we will explore practical strategies for setting up a pilot implementation, an approach we often recommend to our clients, which focuses on integrating new practices, learning, adapting, and getting others excited about what is coming! Pilot Your Way to Success (post 2 of 4) Integrating Agile in operational environments like IT security, marketing, HR, or general support services can be challenging but highly rewarding. A pilot implementation offers a controlled way to test the chosen practices and refine them before a full-scale rollout. How to set up a successful pilot: Choose an Initiative: Select an initiative that is critical enough to justify attention and resources but not so crucial that an initial failure would be a disaster. It should have clear, measurable outcomes to track progress. Form a Cross-Functional Team: Encourage volunteering to ensure members are motivated and interested in the Agile approach. This enhances buy-in and reduces resistance to new ways of working. Getting through "Awareness" and "Desire" are major steps toward success. Define Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly assign roles that align with Agile practices. Ensure everyone understands their responsibilities and how they contribute to the initiative's goals. Assigning a Scrum Master or Agile Coach and a Product Owner or a Customer proxy can be very beneficial. Establish Clear Objectives and Metrics: Communicate the purpose of the pilot and what success looks like. Set up leading indicators for progress and criteria for intervention if things don't go as planned. At CM Agility, we emphasize the importance of understanding how success is measured from the start. Create a Sponsorship Plan: Secure executive sponsorship to give the team the necessary authority and resources. This ensures the team feels empowered and supported throughout the pilot. Ensure you align and involve their people managers within the same plan. Provide Training and Coaching: Offer training sessions and ongoing coaching to help the team adapt to Agile practices. Focus on principles over processes to foster adaptability and innovation. Allow Time for Adjustment: Recognize that forming a new team dynamic takes time. Support the team through the initial "storming and norming" phases and meet with them often without micromanaging. Ask questions and be an active leader. Next: As the pilot progresses, gather feedback, make adjustments, and celebrate and communicate wins. Learning from this pilot will provide valuable insights into scaling Agile across other parts of the organization, sparking excitement and curiosity. Stay tuned for next week's insights, and please share your experiences or send us your questions related to Agile & operations. #Transformation #OperationalExcellence #AgileCoaching #CMAgility

Hello CM Agility Community! This week, we are thrilled to kick off a new series of posts. Every month, we will focus on a specific theme, exploring it through weekly insights, and wrap up with a Q&A video session. We'd like to invite you to join the conversation by sharing your thoughts and questions on each topic. Theme of the Month: Agile in Action: Debunking Myths in Operational Environments Many believe that Agile practices are only suited for projects where flexibility and innovation are paramount, but what about more structured operational environments? The journey toward digital transformation in operational and support departments involves much more than just adopting new tools or technologies; it demands a shift in thinking. The Agile mindset, characterized by its core principles of adaptability, customer focus, and continuous improvement, can deeply transform how operational teams function and impact the broader organization. A common skepticism we encounter during first interactions with our clients is: "Can Agile really work in an operational environment? We have fixed scopes and deadlines, or we need to act spontaneously to support the business." or "Agile would never work for us. It works for a pure software development organization, but not us, not our department." However, as highlighted in the influential book Doing Agile Right by Darrell Rigby, Sarah Elk, and Steve Berez, Agile can be a powerful tool for operational departments if implemented with a balanced approach. The authors emphasize that while Agile may not be suitable for every aspect of an organization, it can turbocharge innovation and make jobs more rewarding without sacrificing the efficiency and reliability essential to operations. Here's how adopting an Agile mindset can be a game changer, especially in high-stakes areas: - Empowering Teams: Give your ops teams the autonomy to make quick decisions without layers of approvals. This not only leads to faster responses but also boosts team motivation. - Embracing Change: An Agile mindset equips teams to manage, anticipate, and embrace changes effectively. - Focusing on Continuous Improvement: Through iterative processes and regular feedback cycles, teams can continuously refine their strategies and tools. This ensures they stay at the cutting edge of security practices. By adopting Agile principles, operational departments can enhance their efficiency and more closely align with the organization's overall goals, delivering superior service to their 'customers'—the internal users. Stay tuned for more insights next week, and do share your insights or send us your questions. #AgileTransformation #OperationalExcellence #CMAgility #DigitalTransformation

In January, we at CM Agility paused to reflect on a year marked by monumental achievements and transformative journeys.   A Year in Review: 2023 saw us partnering with a dear client on an Agile Transformation journey. Together, we navigated through challenges and celebrated victories, embodying the Agile spirit of continuous improvement.   Success Highlights: - Achieved all set goals with flying colours. - Delivered 4 highly successful PI Planning events. - Supported the creation of a ground-breaking product framework, fostering a mindset of client-centricity, quality and efficiency.   Client Testimonial: “I am a true believer in CM Agility's hands-on approach to Agile transformation. Your guidance and data-driven strategies were instrumental in our success.” - Change Champion. “I now have visibility into what my teams are delivering and when” - Transformation Sponsor.   2023 CM Clients Achievements: - Embraced Agile Culture Excellence, transitioning from "doing" agile to "being" agile. - Achieved an astounding 85% success rate in forecasting quarterly deliverables. - Nurtured T-shaped professional growth within teams. - Steered teams from a development focus to full Product Sustainment responsibilities. - Prioritized impactful work, aligning with stakeholder-validated product roadmaps. - Enhanced inter-team coordination, paving the way for a unified, effective workflow.   Our Commitment: At CM Agility, our journey isn’t just about consulting; it’s about a commitment to elevating your organizational prowess. Led by Michelle Zelaya and Carina Baldwin, our approach blends change leadership with organizational alignment, creating bespoke experiences that resonate with our diverse clients.   Our Culture: Our team, a tapestry of diverse expertise, thrives in an environment that celebrates growth, health, and continuous learning. We believe in fun at work, fostering a culture where innovation blossoms.   Looking Ahead: As we step into 2024, we remain dedicated to our mission of agile change management, combining our specialized Agile Transformation tools with a personalized touch for each client.   Here’s to a Year of Continuous Growth and Innovation! Let’s make 2024 a year of new heights and unparalleled success! We celebrated with a cold swim at 0 Degrees Celsius outside! Join us on this exhilarating journey as we dive into another year of innovative transformations and agile success. [email protected]   #transformation #agileconsulting #continuousimprovement #productmindset #teamdevelopment #businessagility #changemanagement

Giving Tuesday Spotlight: Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House This Giving Tuesday, a day globally celebrated for generosity and giving, we invite you to consider supporting a cause dear to us: The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House (DTESNH). Both founders of CM Agility have been actively volunteering here, with Carina also serving as the Board Secretary. This year's focus is the Community Drop-In (CDI) Lunch program, a cornerstone of the DTES community. We're committed to ensuring its continuation throughout 2024. This program is more than just a meal service; it's a hub for connection and rest, providing over 15,600 breakfasts and 9,400 lunches last year alone. Facing the challenge of rising food costs, our goal is bold but vital: to raise $18,000. This will help us combat food insecurity and ensure the right to nutritious food for all members of our community. Here's the impact your donation can make: • $10 = 5 meals • $50 = 25 meals • $100 = 50 meals • $350 = 1 full day of CDI lunches • $1,400 = 1 month of CDI lunches Together, we can make a difference in providing meals served with dignity and care. Every contribution, no matter the size, is a lifeline to those in need and a testament to the power of community support. #GivingTuesday #DTESNH #CommunityCare #FightFoodInsecurity https://lnkd.in/g8XeBn5g #GivingTuesday #CommunitySupport #FightFoodInsecurity #DTESNeighbourhoodHouse #vancouver

Ready to Lead Your Digital Transformation? | Exclusive Complimentary Webinar   Navigating Change in the digital era requires more than just new tools. Join us for a complimentary, transformative webinar on Nov 15th, 12-1 PM PT, designed specifically for decision-makers and emerging leaders passionate about driving innovation and success. What You'll Discover: - Uncover the essence of 'digital' in today's business landscape. - Explore personal and organizational change with Prosci’s ADKAR Model. - Strategies for building a resilient, forward-thinking leadership coalition. No sales pitches, just invaluable insights. End the session equipped with practical tools, ready to steer your team toward a thriving digital future. Hosted by Better Your Best & CM Agility. Reserve your seat ➡️ [https://lnkd.in/ge5Q39Ts] #DigitalTransformation #LeadershipExcellence.