Shaped by Demand

Most software delivery models are designed around ‘stable, long-lived teams’. Most agile methods embrace this as a core assumption, with the possible exception of Team Topologies' short-lived ‘enabling teams’.

What if we turn this model on its head? Each quarter, the entire programme team, anything from 20 to 200 people, reorganize themselves based on the expected demand for the next quarter. Surely this is a recipe for chaos, confusion and disaster?

This session describes **Demand-Led Planning**, a model that has evolved over more than a decade to organize the people around the work. We discover why there is no need for teams to be either ‘stable’ or ‘long-lived’, and show how people can be more motivated, aligned and successful through regular re-teaming.

Transcript

1. Shaped by Demand The power of fluid teams Daniel Terhorst-North
2. What is the goal of org design? to build the best structure we can to do the best work we can …for now
3. discretionary mandatory What is the best work? Delivery - new features - enhancements Discovery - learning - reducing risk Kaizen - process change - tech improvements - L&D BAU - Day-to-day RTB - Controls Failure Demand - incidents - follow-up
4. What is the best structure? Little team Little demand Profit!
5. What is the best structure? Lots of (identical) teams Lots of demand! ‘Challenges’
6. We shape the demand to fit the stable long-lived teams feature
7. teams We shape the demand to fit the What if we rethink the question?
8. We shape the teams to fit demand
9. Introducing demand-led planning
10. Step 1: Identify the demand
11. Step 1: Identify the demand all the demand!
12. Step 2: Allocate discretionary spend
13. Step 3: Pitch the demand
14. Step 4: Introduce the constraints ✓ 3-10 people ✓ fully autonomous* ✓ no work unstaffed ✓ bumble bees ? min/max movers ? min/max duration * skills, knowledge, experience, authority, resources
15. Step 5: Run around!
16. Step 6: Test and iterate
17. Step 7: Declare a BHAG!
18. Step 8: ‘Break bread’
19. Considerations Before, during, after
20. Before: engage, educate, prepare Start when everyone is ready Let the participants know what to expect Help the sponsors prepare their pitches Prep the facilitators, at least 2-3 for a larger group Book a suitable venue: big and bright!
21. Structure the big breaks, stay focused, park any distractions Listen to your facilitators! Keep conversation flowing During: manage energy, not time
22. Seek actionable feedback Help (new) teams to measure themselves Check in regularly, based on OKRs After: feedback, metrics, cadence
23. Summary: Demand-led planning 1. Identify the demand 2. Allocate discretionary spend 3. Pitch the demand 4. Introduce the constraints
 5. Run around! 6. Test and iterate 7. Declare a BHAG! 8. ‘Break bread’
24. Thank you https://goalwards.co daniel@goalwards.co linkedin.com/in/tastapod @tastapod@mas.to @tastapod