Agile Transformation: Using the Integral Agile Transformation Framework™ to Think and Lead Differently

by Michael K. Spayd, Madore Michele

Thousands of Agile and Scrum coaches and practitioners now recognize that the best way to maximize the value of these approaches is to extend them to the entire enterprise. It's not just about making software development work better: organizations can gain value from agile approaches and lessons in a wide variety of processes and systems. Agile practitioners can help organizations achieve these goals -- but, to do so, they need new skills and deeper knowledge. In Coaching the Agile Enterprise, Michael K. Spayd applies tools from professional systems coaching, organization development, change theory, developmental psychology, and leadership thinking to the profound challenges of creating an agile enterprise. He presents a complete foundation of tools, models, and mindsets; then, using realistic case studies, he applies them to Agile scenarios ranging from the individual to enterprise level. Along the way, he covers issues ranging from team management to business unit integration; culture and community to organizational boundaries. Along the way, Spayd shares deep insights about organizations, executives, and culture, drawn from 25 years of personal experience catalyzing change in organizations of all sizes and types, from startups to the Fortune(R) 500. Each of these insights shares a single goal: to help Agile practitioners move beyond teams into the enterprise and executive space.

Genres: Nonfiction, Leadership

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2020

Reviews

[Vincent Vanderheeren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book for the Agile community. As an Agile enthusiast with over 15 years of planting seeds to get organizations grow more agility, and seeing a lot of erosion on the Agile landscape in the past 5 years, this book is a very refreshing, welcome and necessary contribution to what Agile is all about. It goes way beyond the mantra of “being agile” over “doing agile” and builds on the work of K. Wilber, R. Keagan, F. Laloux and may others to explain the IATF (Integral Agile Transformation Framework). Obviously the book itself is not enough to go to any transformation yourself, but it definitely serves as a reflection tool to develop yourself (from a reactive or socialized to creative or self-authoring to integral or self-transforming), and any transformation you are currently in or are about to start. I consider the book as a hand mirror you have close at hand when coaching organizations in their Agile quest.
I always considered the word “transformation” as inappropriate for changing towards organizational agility. The book gave me a different perspective. It made me realize I have so much work to do myself.

[Kenneth Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the ideas in this book were familiar to me due to workshops, conference talks, blog posts, etc. I had attended with the Agile Coaching Institute, Collective Edge leaders, and other leadership development programs and books. There were also ideas and suggestions that I hadn't heard before. There are concepts that I will to apply immediately as a transformation coach, along with ideas and growth paths that deserve deeper consideration, especially regarding a coaches transformational leadership. There is a deep commitment to leadership development along with providing a holistic(Integral) framework to help better understand the people, leadership, processes, organizational structure and culture. If you are a transformation coach(Agile or otherwise), this is worth the read.

[Namrata Datta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book twice in last 4 months. I was unable to grasp it in first go. It’s tedious and language is tough. But second time it’s making more sense on the transformation in integral leadership style
I am applying few scenarios and able to use it more effectively
I highly recommend this book