Stacking the odds for Agile Project Success

1st Conference Melbourne - 2016
Stacking the odds for
Agile Project Success
Haydn Thomas – Chief Mindavator
Mindavation
© Mindavation 2016 www.mindavation.com.au 1

mindavation – (mind a vã shen) n.
the use of the creative mind to inspire
motivation that results in innovation,
productivity and growth
– mindavate v.
© Mindavation 2016
www.mindavation.com.au
2

About the Presenter
Haydn Thomas
“The Pragmatic Consultant”
Principal and Practice Lead – Mindavation
Haydn has over 20 years of real world experience in project, business analysis and business
consulting. He has worked extensively in large international and domestic banks, semi
government organisations, solution providers and small start-up companies in defining and
implementing structure, business solutions, change management and efficiencies across
Australia, New Zealand & North America.
Haydn’s experience in complex integrated solutions and working knowledge of various
project management methodologies (PMBOK, PRINCE2, AGILE, SDLC) assists in delivering on
client’s project and training needs. Haydn also provides mentoring and coaching services in
project management & business analysis and is active in delivery of courses enabling
capacity building across many organisations.
hthomas@mindavation.com 0410 629 402
3© Mindavation 2016 www.mindavation.com.au

Why Planning is so important
For every 1 hour of planning
and analysis saves between
20-200
hours in design, construction
& testing.
Standish Group
Chaos Report, 2009

Meet Fred
The Meticulous Executive

The Executive Team

It all started with a Conversation

The Briefing

Executive Excitement Reigned

Ok….so what do I need to know
Five Meticulous
Success Rules Enabling
Successful Outcomes

Success Rule #1
ITS NEVER
“JUST” A…

Great Question Library
What do you want? What are your healthy sources of energy? What has you hooked? Completely?
What are you afraid of? What’s stopping you? What is missing here? What happened?
What is this costing you? What’s in your way?
What are you attached to? What would make the biggest difference? What are you avoiding? What made you react this way?
What is the dream? What do you like to do? What is the worst that could happen? What did you assume?
What is beyond this problem? What is right for you? What are you committedto? What have you learned?
What is next? What do you hope to accomplish by having What is your vision for yourself and What can you be gratefulfor here?
What are you buildingtoward? That conversation? The people around you? What is one thing you could do tomorrow?
What has to happen for you to feel successful? What do you hope to accomplish by doing that?
What gift are you not being responsible for? What’s the first step? What matters? What don’t you want?
What’s importantabout that? What would it take for you to treat yourself like your What matters now? What if you knew?
What do you expect to have happen? Best client? What matters most to you? What’s your heart tellingyou?
What would it be like to experiencethe fear and What benefit/payoffis there in the present situation? What anchors you?
Excitementat the same time? What do you expect to have happen?
What’s the ideal? What do you really, really want? What are you willingto give up? What would you do differentlyif you tapped into
What’s the ideal outcome? What if there were no limits? What might you have done differently? Your own wisdom?
What would it look like? What haven’t I asked that I should ask? What are you not facing? What does this feelingremind you of?
What’s the truth? What needs to be said that has not been said? What does your soul say?
What’s the right action? What are you not saying?
What are you going to do? What else do you have to say about that? Questioning class—David Sauve
What’s working for you?
What would you do differently? How can I help right now? What do you really want?
What decision would you make from a position of strength? Have you ever considered? Why do think that’s so?
What other choices do you have? What is that? What’s the dynamic here?
What’s your role in that? How long have you been doing that?
What is left to do to have this be complete? What is the permanent solution? If you had a choice, what would you do?
What do you have invested in continuing to do it What do you suggest? Really? Are you sure? What’s the message here?
This way? What is underneath that? What is life asking you to do differently? What gets in your way in this area?
What is that? What is this person contributingto the quality of your What is your biggest fear about that? What are 3 steps to achieve that?
What comes first? How could you over-respond to that? How do you know that?
What consequence are you avoiding? What is it that you are denying yourself right now? Is it ___ or ___? Does this really matter to you?
What is the value you received from this What do you need to put in place to accomplish this? Whose life are you living anyway? What do you most need right now?
Meeting/conversation? What is the simplest solution here? What kind of support would be helpful? What question should I be asking?
What is motivatingyou? What would help you know I support this/you What is your strategy for that? What would give you the most joy?

Great Questions - Sample

The MOST powerful clarifying word
SPECIFICALLY….

Seeking Clarification

Success Rule #2
SCOPING THE
CHANGE

Some suggested new tools

Others didn’t want to get involved

Some thought is was just silly

Packaging the Change

The Executives were SO excited

Success Rule #3
IDENTIFY YOUR
STAKEHOLDERS

Not all Stakeholders are the same

Types of Stakeholders
1. Clients/Customers - Recipient of a product output
(service, product and information)
2. Governance - the systems and processes in place for
ensuring proper accountability and openness in the
conduct of the business
3. Service Providers/Enablers - Provides resources and
support mechanisms to enable the product delivery
4. Partners - Partners include those that are jointly
engaged in the delivery of the product

Stakeholder Context Model

It is a living
model which
should be
revisited
throughout
the life of the
project or
improvement
All the Stakeholders

LEARNING THE
LANGUAGE
© Mindavation 2016
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Success Rule #4

Organisational Languages Used
STRATEGIC - Alignment, Innovation, Values, ROI, Strategic
Objectives, Mission, Benefits, Customer Satisfaction,
Outcomes, Results, Shareholder Return, Value
TACTICAL - Breakdown Structures, Features, Tasks,
Requirements, Issues, Risks, Assumptions, Budgets,
Resources, Sprints, Milestones, Estimating,
Dependencies
OPERATIONAL - Processes, User Experience, SLAs, Support,
Procedures, Training, Exceptions, Throughputs, User
Documentation, Maintaining, Lack of Resources
© Mindavation 2016
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Outcomes Mapping
- Diagramming their Language
A graphical technique that
represents how benefits
will be realised
Creates the Links between:
• Initiative (projects)
• Capability they deliver
• Organisational changes
required
• Contribution to strategic
outcomes (benefits)
© Mindavation 2016
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How we Leverage Outcome Maps
© Mindavation 2016
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Success Rule #5
DEFINING THE
WHAT
- Requirements

Speak with your Key Stakeholders
Gather their
Requirements of
what they need
and want……….
And
Listen
Carfefully!!!

The Court Jester (1955)

Gathering Requirements
NEVER ASSUME
YOU KNOW

Some wanted to do it on the cheap

Others wanted something different

All you were asked to create

Success Rule - Bonus
BONUS –
STATUS UPDATES

So to Avoid this

Provide Status Updates

Start with “What” you have done

Next…what you plan on doing next

And finally… what may get in the way

1. It’s never “Just” a…
2. Scoping the Change
3. Identify Your Stakeholders
4. Learning the Language
5. Defining the “What”
Bonus. Status Updates
Your Meticulous Success Rules

From your Meticulous Success you
will have time to do other things….like

What We Do & Guarantee it!
 Consult
 Train
 Resource
 Mentor
 Coach
 Audit
 Resource
 Assess
 PMO in a Box
 Certification
© Mindavation 2016
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How To Communicate With Mindavation
Internet: www.mindavation.com.au
Email: info@mindavation.com
Twitter: @mindavation
Blog: http://www.mindavation.com/IDBLOG
In My Judgement http://mindavation.com/category/podcasts/
THINK ACT! - On the back of your business card write the following letters
A – means you want a free article and template each month
C – means you want Mindavation to contact you for some reason
T – means you want an electronic copy of the presentation/library
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