The Agile Cooperative
The Agile Cooperative focuses on helping organizations leverage agile ideas and methodologies such as Scrum, XP and test-driven development to add value sooner. The Agile Cooperative brings together decades of experience, expertise and knowledge to ensure customers receive excellent results from every engagement. Offering the advantage of broad expertise, we ensure that you and your teams receive the best available coaching, consulting and training in the industry.
- Tired of waiting until your projects are complete to recognize value?
- Interested in taking your agile initiative to the next level?
- Concerned that you’re wasting valuable resources on the wrong projects?
- Considering agile but overwhelmed by the seemingly endless options?
Agile Teams Overcome Challenges
Having worked on successful and “challenged” waterfall, iterative and agile projects, the reality is that the longer projects take, the longer you have to wait to recognize value. Why do we prefer agile approaches? Simply put, agile projects recognize value faster.
New and changing requirements are two of the most commonly cited reasons projects fail or are over budget. Fixing these issues tends to focus on how to prevent change or spending more time documenting requirements. The real question is, “Why are the requirements missing or wrong?” There are quite a few reasons, but at the core is the recognition that people are not sure what they want. When asked about a new product, most people are not sure exactly what they want and need unless they can see it (a bit of the chicken or the egg).
Changing requirements are an issue on every software development project and any other project that is developing a new product. The issues, however, have more to do with trying to lock in all the requirements early, instead of embracing change.
Requirements on a software project will change and be added. That is a fact. So figuring out how to leverage change for success is the larger question!
A few of the ways we seek to answer this question include:
- Significant customer involvement
- Delivering working results in shorter iterations (2-4 weeks)
- Real prioritization of features by the customer
- Team driven iterations
- Supportive organizational management team
Still skeptical? We don’t blame you! Some customers point out that even with the customer involved, projects still fail. Implementing only one or two agile concepts is not going to “fix everything.” It may improve your success incrementally or not.
We see the critical turning point in increased value when teams begin delivering working software and value every thirty days. When your customer has been involved in the process and can see and use software weeks after that first meeting is the moment when everyone gets it.
Please contact us for more information or to ask us tough questions.
Agile Cooperative World Class Team
Agile For All
Agile for All, founded by Bob Hartman, is a consulting and training firm dedicated to helping companies utilize agile in the most effective manner possible instead of doing pieces and parts without understanding the nuances involved. Agile for All is based in Denver, CO.
Agile Institute
Emphasizing “helping people create quality software, one team at a time,” Agile Institute provides coaching and training in Agile techniques, Object-Oriented design and sane work environments. It is based in the San Francisco Bay area.
Agile 42
With offices in Berlin, Vancouver, Rotterdam, and Bologna, agile42 offers practical process consulting, training and coaching all over the world. agile42 was one of the first Scrum Alliance Registered Education Provider (REP) and delivers CSM, CSPO, and CSD classes in English and German.
To Be Agile
Founded by top technical instructor David Bernstein, To Be Agile helps software developers learn how to design and develop software within an agile process that is easier to maintain and extend. Based in Bellevue, WA. To Be Agile is based in Bellevue, WA.
Humanizing Work
Founded by Certified Scrum Coach Richard Lawrence, Humanizing Work is a consulting firm dedicated to making software organizations happier and more productive using principles and practices from agile, Lean and the Theory of Constraints and is based in Denver, CO.
Virtual Genius
Paul Rayner is a independent consultant with more than twenty years of software development and consulting experience. His company, Virtual Genius, provides organizations with the tools and practices needed to succeed at agile software development, from portfolio management through to customer delivery. Based on Denver, CO.
VimStreet
VimStreet helps people and teams improve their business analysis practices by focusing on relentless learning and continuous improvement. VimStreet provides training, coaching and consulting to help people improve their analysis practices. Jake Calabrese, founder of VimStreet, believes that business analysis should valuable and enjoyable! Lean analysis is key to success regardless of your approach (agile, hybrid, traditional)! If you are interested in becoming more effective, value your people and know there has to be a better way to help customers – contact us and see if we are a fit. VimStreet is based in Denver, CO.
You can learn more at the Agile Cooperative website or by contacting us with any questions you may have!
