{"id":126,"date":"2021-12-22T14:49:54","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T14:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/?p=126"},"modified":"2021-12-31T10:58:32","modified_gmt":"2021-12-31T10:58:32","slug":"7-practical-steps-to-increase-accountability-in-agile-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/7-practical-steps-to-increase-accountability-in-agile-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"7 practical steps to increase accountability in agile teams"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"126\" class=\"elementor elementor-126\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7addea29 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7addea29\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-67dc37e1\" data-id=\"67dc37e1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e910b87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e910b87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.5.0 - 12-12-2021 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">7 practical steps to increase accountability in agile teams<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23fe9f58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"23fe9f58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.5.0 - 12-12-2021 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<!-- wp:image {\"id\":127,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"408\" src=\"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/soldier-996536_1280thin-1024x408-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-127\" srcset=\"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/soldier-996536_1280thin-1024x408-1.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/soldier-996536_1280thin-1024x408-1-300x120.jpg 300w, http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/soldier-996536_1280thin-1024x408-1-768x306.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Individual and team accountability is critical for any high functioning team, I believe that this is often a concern for senior management, especially when considering an agile transformation, and can be difficult to attain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>At the points in my career that I have seen senior management push back on the adoption of agile methodologies, the main areas of contention has been around the feeling of losing \u201ccontrol\u201d over the delivery roadmap.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Agile methodologies accept and embrace the fact that the \u201ccontrol\u201d of the future is illusionary, based on the fact that we are poor predictors of future events and that communication is never perfect.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Along the same lines, it\u2019s very easy to understand how to apply accountability in a waterfall model \u2013 \u201cYou are accountable for delivering all the written requirements by the agreed time.\u201d\u2026 Easy.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This, of course, ignores whether the written requirements are actually valuable if delivered at the agreed time. It ignores that the requirements are likely to be imperfect, incomplete or that any (inevitable) change will happen. It ignores that the work involved in delivering the features must be an estimate, an educated guess, an unreliable prediction, and the cost incurred by pretending that it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u2026 But it\u2019s so easy\u2026 And I, as a busy senior manager, can stop spending time thinking about the project after it\u2019s kicked off all the way up until it\u2019s delivered, I don\u2019t have to learn or understand the implications of change, I can look even further forward now that I know what\u2019s coming \u2013 I feel that we have established control over the future and that makes it easier to sleep at night.<br>It\u2019s no big stretch to see why these beliefs are so seductive.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>So how do I sleep at night and free up more time as a senior manager in an Agile environment? How do I ensure that my teams are accountable for delivering the maximum value for the business if we don\u2019t have a big requirements sign off and plan of record?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The good news is that accountability is not only achievable, but likely to deliver far better results than plan-of-record style accountability, if you put the right framework in place. Here are techniques and approaches that I have found to be successful at various levels of the business.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Utilise OKRs<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Make the goal measurable. OKRs provide a framework for empowering teams, unleashing creativity and ensuring accountability. OKRs are outcome focused, not output focussed like a requirements document and a plan of record. The Key Results are your metrics for monitoring the progress of your teams on achieving the outcomes. With the right OKRs there\u2019s no room for dropping quality to achieve output deadlines, or political manoeuvring to make something sound more successful than it really was. Keep your teams accountable while adding measurable business value.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Ensure Continuous Delivery<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you hear a contention like<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p><em>\u201cI worked with a team that ran agile and another that ran waterfall. The agile team were engaged and creative but never delivered anything. The waterfall team delivered.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Then the agile teams in that scenario were not running continuous delivery. It is certainly true that if a team doesn\u2019t deliver anything then it is producing no value. In fairness, I have seen this happen and it can lead to teams that live in the \u2018comfort zone\u2019, there\u2019s an overly relaxed attitude and lack of accountability hiding behind a fa\u00e7ade of agile reasoning.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>As a delivery manager, make sure your top priority is getting automated deliverable product happening as regularly as possible. Even if it doesn\u2019t end up in customers hands every time use it to prove to yourself, and any internal stakeholders, that value is being added. In addition you provide opportunities to gather feedback and change direction, all based on working software, not reports.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Facilitate Close Customer Contact<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Nothing keeps a team feeling more accountable than regular, direct customer contact. Caution is needed if this is introduced to a team unfamiliar with talking directly to customers, choose your participants wisely and offer coaching and support.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Once a team is successfully engaged in direct communication with customers, the waste generated by layers of indirection and the risk of personal agendas being injected along the way is dramatically reduced. Everyone\u2019s happier that they\u2019re not spending time on unwanted or unexplained work and a focus on direct value delivery drives accountability.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Enable Component Ownership<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This aspect of ensuring accountability requires that the product architecture, supporting frameworks and team composition are coordinated to allow it, but the benefits are manifold.<br>Accountability sits proudly among the benefits, as a team that owns a component from cradle to grave naturally are accountable for the performance of that component.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Promote Pairing<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Looking closer at the hands-on work \u2013 pairing can be an extremely effective accountability measure, both in terms of ensuring good practice and consistent focus. Be sure to keep the pairings fresh to ensure learning is maximised and pairs aren\u2019t stagnating.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Full-time pairing can be mentally exhausting when first introduced, it\u2019s worth considering how this approach could be trialled initially with a roll out over time.<br>Some members, or entire teams, may push back on this approach, in which case, consider it an opportunity for a discussion on what team members do to hold each other to account and ideas build on that.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Hire for accountability<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Skills can be taught, personality traits like accountability are what set candidates apart. Accountability is born from a feeling of extreme ownership. Asking simple questions like \u201cDo you take accountability for your work?\u201d is obviously only going to get one answer in an interview, we need to look at more subtle ways of identifying clues.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The first thing I\u2019d tend to look for is someone\u2019s accountability for their own personal development. At the screening stage, look for extra curricular activity that\u2019s in the public domain. For software engineers personal github projects and Linkedin certifications are a good place to start. Ask the candidate if they have any pet projects they want to demonstrate.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Once you at interview stage, probe on what the candidate has found to be particularly challenging in their career so far. Look for whether they accept personal responsibility for any mistakes and how comfortable they are in doing that.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>To be accountable, you must be happy to take personal responsibility and have the drive to learn and improve.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2>Get Expectations Set Using RACI<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Sometimes it\u2019s just worth spelling it out. Using RACI can be helpful in this case.<br>My advice is not to try and boil the ocean with your RACI chart. Start with the big items that you think need clarifying first and keep evolving it as missing aspects are uncovered.<br>Like every good agile product, iterate!<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>7 practical steps to increase accountability in agile teams At the points in my career that I have seen senior management push back on the adoption of agile methodologies, the main areas of contention has been around the feeling of losing \u201ccontrol\u201d over the delivery roadmap. Agile methodologies accept and embrace the fact that the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":127,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6,5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":179,"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126\/revisions\/179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}