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Setting Product

Owners Up
For Success

3 October 2017

CEB PMO Leadership Council


A Framework for Member Conversations
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ROADMAP FOR THE PRESENTATION

Building
Key CEB Implementation
Introduction True Product
Resources Guide
Ownership

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  3
PRODUCT OWNER: A WIDELY MISUNDERSTOOD ROLE

Disengaged Business Partners Derail Agile Widespread Product Owner Role Confusion

60% of PMO leaders cite business partner 62% of PMO and Agile leaders report that Product
engagement as their principal obstacle to achieving Owners struggle to understand their role.
Agile project success.

More than 60% of PMO leaders say Product


Owners are currently responsible or accountable for
their own onboarding.

n = 111 organizations. n = 18 PMO and Agile leaders.


Source: CEB 2015–2016 Peer Perspectives Poll on Agile. Source: CEB 2017 Running Agile at Scale Meeting.

Product ownership is mission critical, but inadequately supported.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  4
WHO CAN PROVIDE EFFECTIVE BUSINESS INPUT?
Product Owner Qualifications

1
Available to support the delivery
team on a continuous basis

2
Able to independently make
decisions

3
Provides deep business domain
expertise

4
Effectively represents the voice
of the customer

Source: CEB analysis.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  5
EFFECTIVE PRODUCT OWNERS ARE HARD TO COME BY
Product Owner Qualifications and Complications

1
Available to support the delivery the candidates are overburdened
…but… with other responsibilities.
team on a continuous basis

2
Able to independently make they frequently aren’t empowered
…but… to do so.
decisions

3
Provides deep business domain must be adept at navigating
…but… relationships beyond their domains
expertise
to get the right answers.

4
Effectively represents the voice often must rely on data or proxies
…but… instead of direct access.
of the customer

Source: CEB analysis.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  6
ROADMAP FOR THE PRESENTATION

Building
Key CEB Implementation
Introduction True Product
Resources Guide
Ownership

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  7
BUILD TRUE PRODUCT OWNERSHIP
Key PMO Strategies to Enable Effective Product Ownership

1
Make the case for product ownership to senior business partners.

2
Define and socialize key Product Owner competencies.

3
Help Product Owners understand their key responsibilities.

4
1
Make it easy for Product Owners to play their role.

5
Enable Product Owners to self-assess their progress.

6
Create a Product Owner support community.

Source: CEB analysis.

1
Pseudonym.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  8
1. MAKE THE CASE FOR PRODUCT OWNERSHIP
CUNA Mutual’s Agile Leadership Team Roles

Help senior executives and business partners understand the impact, relevance,
and unique perspectives that only Product Owners can bring to Agile initiatives.

Provides business vision Authorized to determine


and guide IT leaders, with priorities and scope to
a focus on customer impact Product optimize business value
Owner
Build the right thing.

Identify and resolve potential Lead execution of


roadblocks. technology work.

Coach teams in Agile Transformation Tech Resolve technical


methodology. Leader Leader dependencies.
Build the right Build the
Enable cooperation across Ensure teams follow
thing fast. thing right.
roles and functions. Product Owner priorities.

Source: CUNA Mutual Group; CEB analysis.


Note: At CUNA Mutual Group, Product Owners are called “Business Owners” because they have specific product owner roles in their lines of business.

See p. 20–23 for detailed descriptions of Agile leadership roles.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  9
2. DEFINE AND SOCIALIZE OWNER COMPETENCIES
CUNA Mutual’s Product Owner Competency Model

Strategic Digital Stakeholder


Mind-Set Orientation Management

Customer Focus

Nimble Learning

Engagement and
Business Insight Foster Innovation Collaboration

Inspires a Shared Vision Team Empowerment Relationship Building

Servant Leadership

Optimizes Work Processes

Recognizing that business partners tend to focus on strategic mind-set and stakeholder management competencies,
the EPMO builds business partner awareness on Digital Orientation competencies.

Source: CUNA Mutual Group; CEB analysis.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  10
3. CLARIFY KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
CUNA Mutual’s Product Owner Focus Areas

Focus Area

Future Future MVF(s) in Current


Wave MVF Flight Sprint /+1 Accountabilities

■■ Set the vision and strategy several years out, at the capability
level.
Business Sponsor
High High Med-Low Low ■■ Ensure each initiative maps to the overall future state, in line
with vision, customers, and market context.

■■ Work with the sponsor to set the vision for initiatives and
oversee short- and medium-term planning.
Product
■■ Direct the team toward achieving the vision, validating with
Owner Low Med Med-High High
customers, and delivering real business value quickly and
incrementally.

■■ Drive and prepare sprint efforts, improve efficiency, and remove


Transformation
team obstacles.
Leader Very Low Low-Med High High ■■ Provide input to initiative strategy and execution.

■■ Deliver high-quality, customer-ready software at every sprint.


Tech
■■ Lead execution of technology work with cross-functional team
Leader Low Low-Med High High
members.

Source: CUNA Mutual Group; CEB analysis.


Note: CUNA Mutual Group refers to Minimum Viable Product (MVP) as Minimum Viable Functionality (MVF) to acknowledge that its functionality cannot be altered once it enters the marketplace.

See p. 24 for a detailed version of Agile leader focus areas.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  11
4. MAKE PRODUCT OWNERSHIP EFFORTLESS
Lambda’s How-to Guides for Product Owners

Checklist for Post-Meeting Tasks 1 Easy-to-Use Interface


Create intuitive, self-service
Checklist for Quarterly Planning Prep interfaces that map directly
to Product Owners’ workflow.

Why to Use
Help prepare for quarterly planning of work prioritization and dependency
management. 2 Consistent Vocabulary
Make terms consistent
across checklists, tools, and
Checklist methodologies.
Identify the epics you want to commit to be being complete in the next
quarter.
Work with the team to identify the relevant epics.
3 Detailed Guidance
Mark the readiness of epics for discussion on JIRA.
■■ Job Aid: Commit epics in the tool for reporting. Provide step-by-step
Determine dependencies with other epics in the organization. guidance for Product Owners
Brainstorm with your team to identify all dependencies. to execute specific tasks.
■■ Job Aid: Open an epic and log dependencies.

4 Training and Coaching


Structure training and
Additional Job Aids Need Additional Support?
coaching on role-specific
■■ Write an epic on JIRA. Contact your Agile coach. activities and decisions.
■■ Groom the product backlog.
■■ Write a user story.

Source: Lambda; CEB analysis.

1
Pseudonym. 1

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  12
28-July-

IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE
5. PROVIDE TOOLS FOR SELF-ASSESSMENT
Output: 03:16PM Apr 01 2017
Modified 03:14PM Apr 01 2017

PRODUCT OWNER ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT


CUNA Mutual’s Product Owner Activity Self-Assessment

Question
1 The 15-question
1. Reviews the target-state vision (full-fledged) for this initiative and the MVF roadmap with the team, sponsor, and
survey helps Product
stakeholders at least once a month and makes adjustments/refinements as necessary
Owners self-assess
their ability to 1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
perform specific (Once every four months (Once every three (Once every two months) (Once per month, or
or less) months) more often as needed)
tasks.
2. Engages customers/partners on an ongoing basis, and shares insights on the “voice of the customer” at least once
a month
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
Future MVFs

2 The questions align (Once every four sprints (Once every three (Once every two months) (Once per month, or
or less) months) more often as needed)
to the different
phases of projects 3. Recaps “value at stake” from the full-fledged target state so that it is top of mind for the team driving the
that Product Owners initiative, and uses that as a guide for decision making
focus on. 1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) months) often as needed)

4. Tracks work that is underway within the organization that could impact this initiative or could be impacted by this
3 The assessment initiative, and proactively engages in conversations with relevant stakeholders
helps target self- 1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
reflection and (Once every four months (Once every three (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) sprints) often as needed)
coaching as Product
Owners ramp up in
5. Drives the initiative to deliver the business value and impact (at least as much, or more) as described in the
Current MVF(s)

their roles.
“1-pager” created when the initiative was started

1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently


(Never makes references (Always references and
or aligns to targets) aligns where relevant)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

Source: CUNA Mutual Group; CEB analysis.


© 2013–2017 CEB. All rights reserved. PMO170912  38
See p. 30 for the complete version of the Product Owner activity self-assessment.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  13
6. CREATE A SUPPORT COMMUNITY
Charles Schwab’s Product Owner Community Structure and Goals

Community Goals

■■ Improve product ownership through consistency and best ■■ Spread awareness of Product Owner activities and progress
practices. made by the community.
■■ Create a centralized voice as a method of peer-to-peer learning. ■■ Champion innovation that encourages new solutions to team and
project obstacles.

Community Chairs
Community Structure
■■ Are committed to the
■■ 300 Product Owners in 4 regional communities community.
■■ Communities have the autonomy to define the ■■ Share new ideas, experiences,
agenda and objectives for their sessions (e.g., and feedback.
training, external speaker sessions). ■■ Create connections within local
communities.
■■ Centralized Agile Center of Excellence (CoE)
provides guidance and support.
■■ Meet monthly with the central
CoE team (leader, coach,
project manager) to align
objectives.

Source: Charles Schwab; CEB analysis.

See p. 47 for key questions to consider before setting up a community of practice.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  14
ROADMAP FOR THE PRESENTATION

Building
Key CEB Implementation
Introduction True Product
Resources Guide
Ownership

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  15
CEB Project Management
Development Accelerator CEB PM DEVELOPMENT ACCELERATOR
instills the behaviors
demonstrated by top Process Skills Are Necessary but Insufficient
performers to drive Relationship Between Project Manager Skills and Business Outcome Attainment
project success.
Entrepreneurial Skills Process Skills
■■ Our curriculum is based
on proven tactics from
the most successful High
project management
organizations.
■■ Note: This training is a
premium offering and is Advanced
not included in standard ■■ Judgment
membership.
Degree of Business Outcome Attainment

■■ Learning Agility
■■ Ownership and Commitment
■■ Stakeholder Partnership

Sponsor Expectations

Medium
Advanced
■■ Process Tailoring
■■ Financial Reporting
■■ Resource Allocation and Task
Delegation
■■ Stakeholder Management

Baseline
■■ Methodology Fundamentals
■■ Deliverable Creation
■■ Workflow Planning
■■ Reporting
Low
Contact Us to Learn More:
Low Medium High
+1-866-913-8101
Degree of Project Manager Skills
IT.Support@cebglobal.com
Source: CEB analysis.
cebglobal.com/IT
© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  16
CEB PMO LEADERSHIP COUNCIL UPDATES

Upcoming Webinars CEB PMO Leadership Council Members Can Receive PDU Credits
for This Webinar
Entrepreneurial Skills Development Series:
Team Leadership—PDU Eligible 12 October 2017 How to Request PDU Credits

Coordinating Mixed Multi-Methodology


Portfolios (Allstate) 2 November 2017 Please access the Continuing Certification Requirements
system on the PMI website at http://www.pmi.org/

Diagnostic Services
This webinar’s PMI activity number is PMOEC258 and
Project Manager Effectiveness Diagnostic: Assess and benchmark your will be available for credit on the PMI website in 5–7
PMs’ performance against the drivers of PM effectiveness. business days.

CEB IgnitionTM Diagnostic for PMO: Measure PMO maturity and Once you submit the form, the PMI will process
create an actionable plan to improve PMO performance. and route your request within two to three weeks.

Project Management Cost Efficiency Benchmark: Improve your


annual planning by comparing your key spending, staffing, and
portfolio complexity metrics to your peers. Questions
If you have questions about this process, please contact your
dedicated CEB PMO Leadership Council account manager.
Featured Resources
London, UK
Washington, DC
Product Owner Resource Center Phone: +44-(0)20-7632-6000
Phone: +1-571-303-3000
Product Owner Rights and Responsibilities (Intergraph)
CEB Ignition™ Guide to Writing and Managing User Stories
NEW
Setting Agile Team Leaders Up for Success (CUNA Mutual Group)
After 2 September 2017, CEB members will claim PDU credits using
Gartner’s REP catalog number.
For more information, visit Earn PDU Credits While You Learn.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  17
ROADMAP FOR THE PRESENTATION

Building
Key CEB Implementation
Introduction True Product
Resources Guide
Ownership

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  18
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

DEVELOP AND ENABLE DIGITAL TALENT


Activity Implementation Tools

■■ Define key leadership roles in Agile initiatives. ■■ CUNA Mutual’s Agile Leader Role Descriptions, p. 20

■■ Clarify responsibilities and focus areas of Agile leadership ■■ CUNA Mutual’s Agile Role Focus Areas, p. 24
Define Agile roles. ■■ CUNA Mutual’s Scrum Meeting Roles and Responsibilities,
Leadership p. 25
Roles
■■ Assess capabilities of Agile leadership roles to perform key ■■ CUNA Mutual’s Business Sponsor Activity Self-Assessment,
activities. p. 27
■■ CUNA Mutual’s Product Owner Activity Self-Assessment,
p. 30
Enable Agile ■■ CUNA Mutual’s Transformation Leader Activity Self-
Leader Self-
Assessment, p. 33
Assessment ■■ CUNA Mutual’s Tech Leader Activity Self-Assessment, p. 36

■■ Evaluate the skill maturity of Agile leaders. ■■ CUNA Mutual’s Business Sponsor Effectiveness Criteria and
Maturity Levels, p. 39
■■ CUNA Mutual’s Product Owner Effectiveness Criteria and
Maturity Levels, p. 41
Evaluate ■■ CUNA Mutual’s Transformation Leader Effectiveness Criteria
Agile Leader and Maturity Levels, p. 43
Maturity ■■ CUNA Mutual’s Tech Leader Effectiveness Criteria and Maturity
Levels, p. 45

■■ Provide Product Owners access to peer networks. ■■ Key Considerations to Set Up a Community of Practice, p. 47

Establish
a Support
Community

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  19
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

MEET THE AGILE BUSINESS SPONSOR (CAPABILITY LEADER)


The Agile Business Sponsor works tirelessly to ensure a coherent strategy clearly focused on the customer. They are forward-
thinking strategists for the organization who are firmly rooted in business value, constructing a future wave pipeline in sync with
enterprise strategy. This leader diligently monitors their initiatives’ progress and financials, communicating portfolio-level impacts
to maximize rapid delivery of business value. He or she proactively connects with leaders across the CMFG-wide organization,
identifying potential conflicts and imploring joint problem-solving.

High Focus

Partners with: Future Waves Disciplined visionary, defining future


■■ Product Owner Future MVFs state value across the broader
■■ Tech Leader enterprise:
■■ Transformation Leader ■■ Promoting an Agile mind-set in building

Current MVFs and adapting the capability’s future


Represents within the broader vision to changing opportunities
■■ Collaborating with senior business
organization:
■■ Perspectives on future-state capability leaders in crafting future waves adept
and strategy for future wave planning at capitalizing on customer and market
Current Sprint+1
to Product Owner and Tech Leader opportunities
■■ Communicating an insightful
■■ Market forces within the future wave
Lower Focus understanding of the value of needed
planning activities
capabilities

What are the expectations of this leader?


Rapidly break down obstacles and resolve issues to ensure team velocity is not impacted • Build and keep current an insightful
understanding of market forces and customer needs • Synthesize market and customer insights to influence overall organization
strategy • Bring value to customers and organizations, alike • Make time to participate in key project team moments to aid in their
success and keep them focused on bringing value to the customer
Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  20
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

MEET THE AGILE PRODUCT OWNER (BUSINESS OWNER)


The Agile Product Owner acts as an agent for the customer, providing timely feedback on stories, sprint planning and prioritization.
They ensure that the work of the project team has a laser focus on capturing business value in the shortest time possible through
definition of an MVF. They actively reach out to the broader organization, building clear communication on the vision and progress
of the MVF while seeking to understand needs and insights. The Agile Product Owner seeks ways to validate and test assumptions.

High Focus

Partners with: Current Sprint+1 Attentive cultivator of business value


■■ Transformation Leader Current MVF and project team progress by:
■■ Tech Leader ■■ Promoting timely value delivery with

■■ Project Team Members Future MVFs focus on in-flight MVFs


■■ Eliminating non-value-add deliverables

■■ Advocating change management to


Represents within the broader
organization: ensure value attainment
■■ Actively engaging in risk management
■■ The perspectives of relevant groups,

■■ Simplifying complexities
units and customers to the project team
■■ Business Sponsors direction to the
Future Waves ■■ Partnering with business sponsors and

project team leaders in crafting MVF Roadmaps


Lower Focus
■■ The vision, financials and MVFs to the

broader organization

What are the expectations of this leader?


Serve as a leadership trio with the tech leader and transformation leader, jointly accountable for successful capture of business
value and execution of projects • Plan and carve a path to the full-fledged future product • Gain solid understanding of current state
across the enterprise • Enable synergies and roadblocks • Regularly review progress relative to assumptions and business value in
context of the broader vision • Minimize overhead tasks for the project team • Build an acceptance of having less documentation •
Be ever-present for the team • Empower team members • Foster an inclusive team culture
Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  21
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

MEET THE AGILE TRANSFORMATION LEADER


The Transformation Leader builds a strong sense of urgency and keeps the team moving smoothly while trying new agile-friendly
ways to increase velocity and team productivity. They look ahead to identify risks, dependencies and impediments, leading the
team and business in finding a solution, actively escalating when needed to ensure resolution. The Transformation Leader keeps
a pulse on needs and insights from stakeholders and other initiatives, regularly communicating status, changes in direction, and
relevant metrics to avoid misalignment and roadblocks.

High Focus

Partners with: Current Sprint+1 Servant Leader that mentors the project
■■ Product Owner team and business leaders in optimizing
■■ Tech Leader Current MVF agile processes toward maximum
■■ Project Team Members business value:
■■ Facilitating key ceremonies driving

Represents within the broader agility


■■ Encouraging tools adoption and
organization:
■■ Resource needs to tech leader and
Future MVFs process adherence that aid the team
■■ Coaching story-writing that is right-
business sponsor to achieve sprint and Future Waves
MVF goals sized for backlog effectiveness
■■ Ensuring Validation with customers
■■ Options for future delivery of strategy
Lower Focus ■■ Aligning priorities with Product Owner
to the sponsor and Product Owner
■■ Team concerns related to complexity to

the sponsor and aiding in simplification

What are the expectations of this leader?


Serve as a leadership trio with the tech leader and Product Owner, jointly accountable for successful capture of business value and
execution of project • Primarily focus on current sprint, sprint+1 planning and in-flight MVFs • Organize artifacts and documentation
created by team, as appropriate to aid team efficiency • Create necessary communications to align across related initiatives •
Empower project team members • Foster an inclusive culture
Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  22
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

MEET THE AGILE TECH LEADER


The Agile Tech Leader acts as a technology thought leader while sustaining sharp focus on current value delivery. They formulate
an approach to achieve value aligned to the business goals. Translate technical implications into business outcomes in unity with the
Product Owner and Transformation Leader. Looks ahead, identifying future technical complexity, dependencies and risks. Leads the
team to simplify, streamline and mitigate situations to best meet timelines and business functionality.

High Focus

Partners with: Current


Future Sprint+1
Waves Committed expediter and consul
■■ Transformation Leader Future MVFs ensuring customer focus to technical
■■ Tech Leader Current MVF work:
■■ Project Team Members ■■ Challenging technical norms

■■ IT Shared Services Teams ■■ Driving technical agility


Current MVFs
■■ Establishing technical direction based

Represents within the broader on best practices, involvement of right


Future MVFs IT teams and overall IT application
organization:
■■ Best practices portfolio
Future Waves ■■ Aiming for delivery of high-quality,
■■ Perspective of technical experts

■■ Alignment with technology customer-ready deliverables at every


Lower Focus sprint
stakeholders across the enterprise
■■ Balances delivery speed against
■■ Sustainable agile practices to tech

teams avoidance and retirement of technical


debt

What are the expectations of this leader?


Serve as a leadership trio with the Product Owner, and transformation leader, jointly accountable for successful capture of business
value and execution of project • Engage stakeholders and technical experts in challenging status quo to simplify solutions •
Regularly review and align tech focus on MVF goals • Have willingness to drive just enough planning to react to change and remain
agile • Identify potential technical dependencies, complexities and risks with the goal of eliminating impact on timely delivery •
Align work across tech teams to address dependencies and risks • Remove structural impediments for tech teams • Empower tech
teams • Foster inclusive team culture
Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  23
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

AGILE ROLE FOCUS AREAS

Focus Area

Future Future MVF(s) in Current


Accountabilities
Wave MVF Flight Sprint /+1

Business Sponsor (Capability) Leader


■■ Set vision and strategy at the “capability” level, several years out, and define

initiatives/waves accordingly
■■ Ensure each initiative is heading toward the overall future state, in line with vision,

customers and market context High High Med-Low Low


■■ Understand delivery of business value at portfolio level, prioritize and change course

based on feedback and changing consumer landscape

Product Owner
■■ Work with sponsor to set vision at the “initiative” level, the current and future MVF’s,

short to medium term planning.


■■ Direct team towards achieving the vision, validating with customers and delivering
Low Med Med-High High
real business value quickly and incrementally
■■ Ruthlessly prioritize stories and support team in delivery

Transformation Leader
■■ Drive and prepare sprint efforts, efficiency and removing team obstacles, support

Business Owner in ceremonies


■■ Input to initiative strategy and execution through deep knowledge of overall
Very Low Low-Med High High
business and processes
■■ Oversee the Scrum process and coach in Agile methods.

Tech Leader
■■ Aim to deliver high-quality, customer-ready software at every sprint, challenging

technical norms
■■ Lead execution of technology work with cross functional team members in an agile

manner Low Low-Med High High


■■ Work to resolve technical dependencies, ensure customer focus to technical work

that follows PO priorities


Source: CUNA Mutual Group; CEB analysis.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  24
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

SCRUM MEETING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


Product Transformation Tech Team
Session Type Tasks
Owner Leader Leader Member

Input features in TFS

Define Priorities in TFS—1–3 sprints out

Decompose features into stories in TFS

Review and approve new stories in TFS


Backlog
Grooming Facilitate backlog grooming session—focused on content,
story quality, story ownership, reinforcing priorities

Facilitate backlog grooming session—drive TFS, vote on


effort, keep meeting running smoothing, pulling in the
appropriate SMEs

Curate TFS—are things tagged, are they in the right


place, making it clean, making process efficient

Prepare deck for sprint review

Invite additional stakeholders as needed


Sprint Review
Facilitate sprint review session—intro: goal of the sprint,
what we achieved

Present stories to team and stakeholders

Facilitate sprint retro session


Sprint Retro
Implement changes identified in session

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  25
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

SCRUM MEETING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


Product Transformation Tech Team
Session Type Tasks
Owner Leader Leader Member

Pre-sprint planning- align on


■■ How things are going (TL)
■■ How things are being built (Tech Leader)
■■ Priorities for next sprint (PO)

Prioritize backlog in TFS in advance of meeting


Sprint Planning
Facilitate planning session—focused on giving vision,
content, story ownership, reinforcing priorities

Facilitate planning session—drive TFS, keep meeting


running smoothly

Accepting/committing to stories to work on

Facilitate daily huddle

Daily Stand Up Update tasks and remaining time in TFS

Update team on progress updates/priorities

Capture questions to ask customers

Feedback and
Prepare agenda
Requirements
from
Send out agenda
Customers

Facilitate meeting

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  26
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: BUSINESS SPONSOR


Question

1. F
 ocuses on building capabilities and assets enterprise-wide, continually generating ideas for initiatives in future waves and working
with potential Product Owners to develop business cases
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

2. D
 efines the initiative vision and communicates how initiative(s) fit in with overarching strategy for their area of the business—
including a set of capability objectives and associated priorities
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

3. R
 eviews initiative future planning with leadership trio at least once per month, providing guidance and ensuring business value focus,
Future MVFs

paying attention to costs and expense plan


1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

4. J
 oins regular planning sessions for future MVFs, Commercialization/Operationalization workshops, and other ad-hoc planning
activities including meetings with other leadership/areas of CMG
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Rarely attends meetings, (Inconsistent attendance, (Usually attends meetings, (Always joins relevant meetings,
not proactive) some proactivity ) some proactivity) pro-actively sets up sessions as
needed)

5. Regularly meets with initiative(s) to understand customer feedback, using learnings to drive future plans
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  27
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: BUSINESS SPONSOR


Question

6. Reviews the initiative backlog once per month (at Epic/Feature level only), regularly participates in Touch-Base meetings
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

7. P
 lays a leading role at capability meeting/touch base meetings or similar (weekly/bi-weekly) to ensure agile practices are continuing
and scope is being properly managed
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every month or less) (Once every three weeks) (Once every Sprint) (Once per week, or more
often as needed)

8. R
 egularly engages the Product Owner to help define and prioritize high level items of business value, problem solve and help remove
Current MVFs

impediments
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

9. D
 evelops strong understanding of relevant CUNA capabilities by aligning with other CMG leadership; leverage these capabilities
to improve, speed up or make current work more scalable
1—Never 3—Sometimes 5—Consistently
(Sometimes is pro-active (Consistently engaged and
about understanding and proactive in communicating/
communicating these) helping initiatives with these)

10. W
 orks with wider management across CMG to advocate for the initiative(s), pro-actively seeking synergies and helping to resolve
initiative impediments
1—Never 3—Sometimes 5—Consistently
(Sometimes is pro-active and (Consistently engaged and
advocating) proactive in advocacy)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  28
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: BUSINESS SPONSOR


Question

11. D
 isplays and instills an agile mindset, being flexible to respond to change such as customer preference learnings and other insights
that alter initiative scope, fostering this approach with team
1—Never 3—Sometimes 5—Consistently
(Sometimes or often displays (Consistently ‘agile’, uses this
Current Sprint/Sprint+1

this mindset, can shift into to help initiatives and coaches


waterfall thinking) leaders)

12. Welcomes opportunities to sharpen scope and focus their initiatives to deliver incremental business value
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

13. P
 articipates in Sprint Reviews and visits with initiatives in their team rooms at least bi-weekly to give encouragement and
recognition of achievements
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  29
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: PRODUCT OWNER


Question

1. R
 eviews the target-state vision (full-fledged) for this initiative and the MVF roadmap with the team, sponsor, and stakeholders at
least once a month and makes adjustments/refinements as necessary
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

2. Engages customers/partners on an ongoing basis, and shares insights on the “voice of the customer” at least once a month
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
Future MVFs

or less) often as needed)

3. R
 ecaps “value at stake” from the full-fledged target state so that it is top of mind for the team driving the initiative, and uses that as
a guide for decision making
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

4. T
 racks work that is underway within the organization that could impact this initiative or could be impacted by this initiative, and
proactively engages in conversations with relevant stakeholders
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

5. D
 rives the initiative to deliver the business value and impact (at least as much, or more) as described in the “1-pager” created when
Current MVF(s)

the initiative was started

1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently


(Never makes references (Always references and aligns
or aligns to targets) where relevant)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  30
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: PRODUCT OWNER


Question

6. K
 eeps the team focused on the business value and metrics the initiative is driving towards by recapping them with the team and
sponsors at least once a month
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

7. P
 ressure tests the stories to ensure they are (a) absolutely needed to deliver MVF (b) follow best practices and standards laid out for
the Transformation
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)
Current MVFs

8. E
 ngages Sponsor/Capability Leader at the right level and detail; particularly in the weekly meetings, takes them through the key
achievements team just completed, and key stories the team is working on and gets specific feedback
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four weeks (Once every three weeks) (Once every Sprint) (Once per week, or more
or less) often as needed)

9. S
 hares the leadership role effectively with the Transformation Leader and Tech leader (e.g., by co-presenting at the sponsor
meetings, by collectively making decisions etc.)
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Rarely considers this) (Sometimes considers this) (Usually considers this) (Considers this at every group
interaction)

10. M
 inimizes work required for status updates (e.g., minimal creation of power point documents by reusing pages, and by focusing on
the key messages)
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(For occasional status (For some status meetings) (For most status meetings) (For every status meeting)
meetings)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  31
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: PRODUCT OWNER


Question

11. C
 arefully manages the initiative financial plan, providing quarterly updated forecasts, managing leadership expectations about
Current MVFs

assumptions, resources, and benefits, working with the Transformation Leader as needed
1—Never 3—Sometimes 5—Consistently
(Some forecast updates, (Provides quarterly forecast,
not consistent) manages expectations)

12. P
 rioritizes the backlog to ensure execution is on the shortest path to completing the MVF, acting with and instilling a sense of
urgency in delivering business value quickly to learn and validate
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every two sprints (Prioritized every three-four (Prioritized once per sprint) (Backlog is always up to date
or less) weeks) and prioritized)

13. Works with the delivery team to finalize what is going to be in the current sprint during Sprint Planning
Current Sprint/Sprint+1

1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently


(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

14. Is available everyday (or has assigned a proxy) to answer any questions from the delivery team and provide timely decisions when
needed
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every two sprints (Makes some time available (For most key meetings and (Every day and formalized for
or less) every sprint) co-location) every team touch point)

15. Is present at each sprint’s Sprint Review to provide feedback and encouragement to the delivery team
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Rare attendance/little (Inconsistent attendance (Once every Sprint, tends (Every sprint and actively
engagement) and engagement) to dominate meeting) participating and supportive)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  32
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: TRANSFORMATION LEADER


Question

1. Facilitates monthly planning sessions including Product Owner and Tech Leader, highlighting future roadblocks or issues
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

2. Engages at least once every two weeks during planning phase of future MVF’s, highlighting dependencies, resource constraints etc
Future MVFs

1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently


(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

3. E
 nsures the team has an up to date and organized repository for ‘just enough’ artifacts and key documents, minimizing the creation
of needless documentation
1—Never 3—Sometimes 5—Consistently
(Ad-hoc management (Repository created, little/no (Repository organized/
of artifacts) management) documentation minimized)

4. C
 onducts a review of upcoming work at least once every sprint, ensuring resource planning is adequate, validated with relevant
management and secured
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
Current MVFs

(Once every four sprints) (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once every Sprint, or more
often as needed)

5. P
 rovides a weekly update to leadership, including: Roadmap, scope, risks/issues, Stories completed last week, Stories being
completed this week and progress against agreed initiative metrics
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four weeks (Once every three weeks) (Once every two weeks) (Once per week, or more
or less) often as needed)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  33
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: TRANSFORMATION LEADER


Question

6. M
 aintains a register of external dependencies, engaging other teams proactively and involving team members as needed to deliver—
updated each sprint
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every few sprints/ (Once every couple of sprints, (Once every Sprint, some (Multiple times per Sprint
ad-hoc) little external proactivity) external proactivity as needed, regular external
engagement)

7. E
 nsures that the Product Owner always has an updated set of features and stories within TFS, coordinates feature estimation among
Current MVFs

trio, and works with the team to ensure the correct stories are being written
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every three sprints (Once every two sprints) (Once every Sprint) (Regularly managed, within
or less) every Sprint)

8. W
 orks to maximize the efficiency of the team: Discusses Velocity at every Sprint Review, introduces processes to increase team
velocity every sprint—creating innovations around the agile process (focused sessions for sub-groups, coaching, tweaking meetings
structure)
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints, some (Once per Sprint, innovating
or less) innovation) often as needed)

9. Daily work within TFS, reviewing progress of initiative, up to date metrics and status to drive transparency (e.g., sprint burndown)
Current Sprint/Sprint+1

1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently


(Once per sprint or less) (Couple updates per sprint) (Few times per week) (Once per day, or more often
as needed)

10. A
 ssists team members with writing stories and tasks, pressure testing to ensure shortest path to MVF and full utilization of team and
skills
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  34
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: TRANSFORMATION LEADER


Question

11. Maintains and promotes process and internal contacts for regular testing with consumers and customers

1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently


(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

12. Daily maintenance of team calendar, setting and facilitating key meetings along with Product Owner and Tech Leader
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
Current Sprint/Sprint+1

(Once every three sprints (Once every two sprints) (Once every sprint) (Regularly, every Sprint and
or less) more often as needed)

13. E
 nsures a sense of urgency in the team, scheduling meetings and setting cadence in a way that promotes ‘just enough time’ for
thought and planning, to drive quick delivery and validation—not over thinking
1—Never 3—Sometimes 5—Consistently
(Generally settles into a (Sometimes pushes the team (Regularly pushes the team
comfortable cadence, allowing on urgency, but not always) and problem solves to ensure
team to set urgency) urgency)

14. W
 orks with the wider organization as needed to break down blockers and ensure smooth delivery of tasks for the team, engaging in
a helpful, empathetic way to foster agile approaches outside the core team that speed delivery
1—Never 3—Sometimes 5—Consistently
(Engages with external teams (Regularly works with outside
occasionally, not achieving team members, coaching and
better timeliness or urgency driving in equal measure)
from those teams)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  35
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: TECH LEADER


Question

1. R
 eviews the target state vision (full-fledged) monthly, and develop technical plans for the initiative with the wider IT Team, customers
and stakeholders, focusing on business value, avoiding re-invention
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
Future MVFs

or less) often as needed)

2. R
 eviews the target state vision (full-fledged) and the MVF roadmap for this initiative with wider IT groups (i.e. EA, Testing etc)
and other relevant business units at regular intervals to understand: dependencies, areas of impact or complexity and pro-actively
engages in conversations with relevant stakeholders to pre-empt and plan/resource to mitigate risk
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

3. S
 hares the leadership role effectively with the Transformation Leader and Product Owner (e.g., by co-presenting at the sponsor
meetings, by collectively making decisions etc)
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Rarely considers this) (Sometimes considers this) (Usually considers this) (Considers this at every group
interaction)
Current MVFs

4. C
 ollaborates with Product Owner and pushes back on additional scope to ensure only absolutely needed scope is delivered in order
to validate hypothesis
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Rarely considers this) (Sometimes considers this) (Usually considers this) (Considers this at every group
interaction)

5. S
 hows a keen understanding of customer/consumer needs and regularly drives team to validate outputs with consumers/customers,
anticipating customer testing at least 2 sprints ahead
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four months (Once every three months) (Once every two months) (Once per month, or more
or less) often as needed)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  36
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: TECH LEADER


Question

6. S
 hows a focus on the high quality of outputs, managing testing in appropriate way—establishing best practices for offshore testing
(i.e., QMC), finding ways to streamline and involving others as needed
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, innovating
or less) often as needed)

7. D
 riving the IT team to develop solutions to deliver the business value and impact (at least as much, or more) as described in the “1
pager” created when the initiative was started that are innovative, maintainable and testable
1—Never 5—Consistently
(Never makes references to original business value (Always references, where relevant, to focus team on the original
and not aligned to team targets) business value to align with team targets)

8. D
 riving the IT team to develop solutions to deliver on the success metrics (at least as much, or more) as described in the “1 pager”
Current MVFs

created when the initiative was started that are innovative, maintainable and testable
1—Never 5—Consistently
(Never makes references to original business value (Makes regular references to and focuses team on the original
and not aligned to team targets) metrics and aligns with team targets)

9. M
 inimizes work required for status updates (e.g., just enough documentation to aid in enabling clear communication with business
and IT)
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(For occasional status (For some status meetings) (For most status meetings) (For every status meeting)
meetings)

10. E
 ngages sponsor at the right level and detail; particularly, in the weekly sponsor meeting, takes the sponsor through the key
technical achievements just completed, and key stories the team is working on from a technical perspective and gets specific
feedback
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every two sprints (Once every three weeks) (Once every sprint) (Once per week, or more
or less) often as needed)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  37
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

ACTIVITY SELF-ASSESSMENT: TECH LEADER


Question

11. K
 eeps team focused on building maintainable and testable software, potentially deployable every sprint, that delivers business value
and metrics the initiative is driving towards, recapping with the team each sprint and ensuring delivery in thin slices through multiple
releases that occur through the MVF
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

12. A
 ctively seeks input from team in standup and elsewhere on impediments to progress, facilitating quick resolution by involving
others or escalation as necessary to move the team forward
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
Current Sprint/Sprint+1

or less) often as needed)

13. S
 hares the leadership role effectively with the Transformation Leader and Product Owner (e.g., by co-presenting at the sponsor
meetings, by collectively making decisions, etc)
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Rarely considers this) (Sometimes considers this) (Usually considers this) (Considers this at every group
interaction)

14. P
 rovide the team with technical direction true to agile principles and mindset, adapting to change, and coaching the team in
sustainable agile delivery practices
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

15. P
 roactively engages others outside the team, bringing in expertise and working to solve technical issues, identifying solutions and
communicating as needed
1—Never 2—Rarely 3—Sometimes 4—Usually 5—Consistently
(Once every four sprints (Once every three sprints) (Once every two sprints) (Once per Sprint, or more
or less) often as needed)

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  38
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

BUSINESS SPONSOR EFFECTIVENESS CRITERIA

■■ Focuses on building capabilities and assets enterprise-wide, continually generating ideas for initiatives in future
waves and working with potential Product Owners to develop business cases
■■ Defines the initiative vision and communicates how initiative(s) fit in with overarching strategy for their area of the
Enterprise–Wide business—including a set of capability objectives and associated priorities
Focus ■■ Develops strong understanding of relevant CUNA capabilities by aligning with other CMG leadership; leverages these
capabilities to improve, speed up or make current work more scalable
■■ Works with wider management across CMG to advocate for the initiative(s), pro-actively seeking synergies and
helping to resolve initiative impediments

■■ Reviews initiative future planning with leadership trio at least once per month, providing guidance and ensuring
business value focus, maintaining accountability for the financial plan
■■ Regularly meets with initiative(s) to understand customer feedback, using learnings to drive future plans
Business Value ■■ Regularly engages the Product Owner to help define and prioritize high level items of business value, problem solve
Orientation and help remove impediments
■■ Displays and instills an agile mindset, being flexible to respond to change such as customer preference learnings and
other insights that alter initiative scope, fostering this approach with team
■■ Welcomes opportunities to sharpen scope and focus their initiatives to deliver incremental business value

■■ Joins regular planning sessions for future MVFs, Commercialization/Operationalization workshops, and other ad-hoc
planning activities including meetings with other leadership/areas of CMG
■■ Reviews the initiative backlog once per month (at Epic/Feature level only), regularly participates in Touch-Base
meetings
Collaboration ■■ Plays a leading role at capability meeting/touch base meetings or similar (weekly/bi-weekly) to ensure agile practices
are continuing and scope is being properly managed
■■ Participates in Sprint Reviews and visits with initiatives in their team rooms at least bi-weekly to give encouragement
and recognition of achievements

Leadership ■■ Follows the program guiding principles, both in individual behaviors and in motivating team members to do the same
Behaviors
Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  39
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

BUSINESS SPONSOR EFFECTIVENESS LEVELS


Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Struggles to make Understands and Innovates to continually Regularly conceives of


connections between advocates for leverage find new ways of using ideas for future initiatives
Enterprise-Wide
initiative-level work and of assets and capabilities program established that grow capabilities
Focus
enterprise-wide needs broadly across the capabilities in other parts across the enterprise
organization of the business

Struggles to retain focus When prompted, can Regularly solicits partner Maintains a continual
on adding business value articulate initiative value and customer feedback eye on what contributes
Business Value through initiatives within being delivered and help and incorporates learnings to business value and is
Orientation their capability prioritize work to achieve into initiative priorities willing to make significant
that value pivots upon new learnings
to achieve that

Can be difficult to reach Regularly attends Proactively participates in Clearly articulates to


and get direction from, Agile activities and team activities, providing program leadership
inhibiting teams’ ability answers questions of clarity on prioritization and partners how the
Collaboration to move forward in some trio leadership and team and lending insight to capability portfolio
cases members potential opportunities serves the enterprise, and
and challenges welcomes feedback to
strengthen the portfolio

Makes no visible effort Makes occasional Through behaviors, shows Viewed as an invaluable
to exhibit or encourage reference to program others what it means to role model for peers
Leadership
program team principles principles but does clearly live by program principles and team members in
Behaviors
in practice not exhibit them in practice demonstrating program
principles

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  40
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

PRODUCT OWNER EFFECTIVENESS CRITERIA

■■ Engages customers/partners on an ongoing basis, and shares insights on “voice of the customer” (both internal and
external customers) at least once a month
■■ Recaps “value at stake” from the full-fledged target state so that it is top of mind for the team driving the initiative,
and uses that as a guide for decision making
■■ Drives the initiative to deliver the business value and impact (at least as much, or more) as described in the “1 pager”
Business Value created when the initiative was started
Focus ■■ Keeps the team focused on the business value and metrics (both leading and lagging) the initiative is driving towards
by recapping them with the team and sponsors at least once a month
■■ Carefully manages the initiative financial plan, providing quarterly updated forecasts, managing leadership
expectations about assumptions, resources, and benefits, working with the Transformation Leader as needed
■■ Prioritizes the backlog to ensure execution is on the shortest path to completing the MVF, acting with and instilling a
sense of urgency in delivering business value quickly to learn and validate

■■ Pressure tests the stories to ensure they are (a) absolutely needed to deliver MVF (b) follow best practices and
standards laid out for the Transformation
Promoting ■■ Minimizes work required for status updates (e.g., minimal creation of elaborate power point documents by reusing
Efficiency
pages, and by focusing on the key messages)
■■ Works with the delivery team to finalize what is going to be in the current sprint during Sprint Planning

■■ Reviews the target state vision (full-fledged) for this initiative and the MVF roadmap with the team, sponsor and
stakeholders at least once a month and makes adjustments/refinements as necessary
Vision ■■ Tracks work that is underway within the organization that could impact this initiative, or could be impacted by this
Orientation initiative, and pro-actively engages in conversations with relevant stakeholders
■■ Engages Sponsor/Capability Leader at the right level and detail; particularly in the weekly meetings, takes them through
the key achievements team just completed, and key stories the team is working on and gets specific feedback

■■ Shares the leadership role effectively with the Transformation Leader and Tech Leader (e.g., by co-presenting at the
sponsor meetings, by collectively making decisions etc)
Collaboration ■■ Is available everyday (or has assigned a proxy) to answer any questions from the delivery team and provide timely
decisions when needed
■■ Is present at each Sprint Review to provide feedback and encouragement to the delivery team.

Leadership ■■ Follows the program guiding principles, both in individual behaviors and in motivating team members to do the same
Behaviors

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  41
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

PRODUCT OWNER EFFECTIVENESS LEVELS


Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

■■ Gets easily lost in Makes occasional Takes initiative amongst Continually communicates
process reference to long-term team and outside within team and to
Business Value ■■ Does not mention or value when asked and to reference value leadership about how
Focus
articulate connection at major milestones achievements and individual stories tie in
to business value obstacles to long-term value

Does not make efficiency References priorities in Regularly pushes team At virtually all touchpoints,
a priority often creating sprints, but makes no on most necessary stories leads team in prioritization
Promoting extra work clear effort in practice to and minimizes updates to and streamlining of current
Efficiency streamline stories and may streamline effectiveness and future work
spend effort on low-value
add activities

Does not demonstrate When prompted and at Proactively raises how Keeps team and
to team the connection major milestone points, achievements and stakeholders focused
Vision between daily work and can state the vision and customer input plays into on vision at all times,
Orientation end state generally describe how overarching vision; takes continually tying vision
MVF aligns with end state opportunity to let partners to sprint planning and
know this as well communication

Can be difficult to locate Views themselves Distinctly makes trio and Extremely highly valued as
and makes no clear primarily as an individual partner communication a thought partner within
effort to share leadership contributor, rather a priority and goes out team and outside; team
Collaboration responsibility with trio than part of collective of way to give other trio feels comfortable raising
leadership team, with opportunities issues
no concerted effort to
improve engagement

Makes no visible effort Makes occasional Through behaviors, shows Viewed as an invaluable
to exhibit or encourage reference to program others what it means to role model for peers
Leadership
program team principles in principles but does not live by program principles and team members in
Behaviors
practice clearly exhibit them in practice demonstrating program
principles
Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  42
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

TRANSFORMATION LEADER EFFECTIVENESS CRITERIA

■■ Engages at least once every two weeks during planning phase of future MVF’s, highlighting dependencies, resource
constraints etc.
■■ Conducts a review of upcoming work at least once every sprint, ensuring resource planning is adequate, validated
with relevant management and secured
■■ Provides a weekly update to leadership, including: Roadmap, scope, risks/issues, Stories completed last week, Stories
Process being completed this week and progress against agreed initiative metrics
Excellence ■■ Ensures that the Product Owner always has an updated set of features and stories within TFS, coordinates feature
estimation among trio, and works with the team to ensure the correct stories are being written
■■ Daily work within TFS, reviewing progress of initiative, up to date metrics and status to drive transparency (e.g., sprint
burndown)
■■ Maintains and promotes process and internal contacts for regular testing with consumers and customers
■■ Daily maintenance of team calendar, setting and facilitating key meetings along with Product Owner and Tech Leader

■■ Ensures the team has an up to date and organized repository for ‘just enough’ artifacts and key documents,
minimizing the creation of needless documentation
■■ Works to maximize the efficiency of the team: Discusses Velocity at every Sprint Review, introduces processes to
increase team velocity every sprint—creating innovations around the agile process (focused sessions for sub-groups,
Velocity
coaching, tweaking meetings structure)
Orientation ■■ Assists team members with writing stories and tasks, pressure testing to ensure shortest path to MVF and full
utilization of team and skills
■■ Ensures a sense of urgency in the team, scheduling meetings and setting cadence in a way that promotes ‘just
enough time’ for thought and planning, to drive quick delivery and validation—not over thinking

■■ Facilitates monthly planning sessions including Product Owner and Tech Leader, highlighting future roadblocks or
issues
■■ Maintains a register of external dependencies, engaging other teams proactively and involving team members as
Collaboration
needed to deliver—updated each sprint
■■ Works with the wider organization as needed to break down blockers and ensure smooth delivery of tasks for the
team, engaging in a helpful, empathetic way to foster agile approaches outside the core team that speed delivery

Leadership ■■ Follows the program guiding principles, both in individual behaviors and in motivating team members to do the same
Behaviors
Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  43
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

TRANSFORMATION LEADER EFFECTIVENESS LEVELS


Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
■■ Unable to provide process Facilitates basic Agile Goes beyond standard Sought out as a role model
direction to teams fundamentals, holding key practice to innovate in new and example for best
■■ Teams are unable to activities such that teams ways to make processes practices in Agile process
Process Excellence
understand work to be are aware of work to be more effective and pivot execution
completed accomplished as necessary to meet
customer needs
No clear conception of Ensures that TFS is updated Creates a strong sense Takes a point of view on
what it takes to make the and makes velocity of urgency with team, what pivots and elimination
Velocity
team increase speed and conversations a regular streamlining stories and of workstreams can
Orientation
operate more efficiently priority within the team creating the shortest path streamline path to value
to MVF completion
Independently contributes Reacts to requests from Takes initiative to convene Viewed by broad
but does not make a team members and outside, with trio and program organization as regular
Collaboration concerted effort to make meeting the immediate leadership to highlight and collaborator, highlighting
team approach and needs of these requests overcome roadblocks dependencies and breaking
planning more effective down complex blockers
Makes no visible effort Makes occasional reference Through behaviors, shows Viewed as an invaluable
to exhibit or encourage to program principles but others what it means to live role model for peers
Leadership
program team principles in does not clearly exhibit by program principles in and team members in
Behaviors
practice them practice demonstrating program
principles
Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  44
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

TECH LEADER EFFECTIVENESS CRITERIA

■■ Shows a keen understanding of customer/consumer needs and regularly drives team to validate outputs with
consumers/customers, anticipating customer testing at least 2 sprints ahead
■■ Shows a focus on the high quality of outputs, managing testing in appropriate way—establishing best practices for
offshore testing (i.e., QMC), finding ways to streamline and involving others as needed
■■ Drives the IT team to develop solutions to deliver the business value and impact (at least as much, or more) as
described in the “1 pager” created when the initiative was started that are innovative, maintainable and testable
■■ Drives the IT team to develop solutions to deliver on the success metrics (at least as much, or more) as described in
Impact
the “1 pager” created when the initiative was started that are innovative, maintainable and testable
Orientation ■■ Minimizes work required for status updates (e.g., just enough documentation to aid in enabling clear communication
with business and IT)
■■ Keeps the team focused on building maintainable and testable software, potentially deployable every sprint, that
delivers business value and metrics the initiative is driving towards, recapping with the team each sprint and ensuring
delivery in thin slices through multiple releases that occur through the MVF
■■ Provides the team with technical direction true to agile principles and mindset, adapting to change, and coaching the
team in sustainable agile delivery practices

■■ Reviews the target state vision (full-fledged) monthly, and develop technical plans for the initiative with the wider IT
Team, customers and stakeholders, focusing on business value, avoiding re-invention
■■ Reviews the target state vision (full-fledged) and the MVF roadmap for this initiative with wider IT groups (i.e., EA, Testing
etc) and other relevant business units at regular intervals to understand: dependencies, areas of impact or complexity and
Partner pro-actively engages in conversations with relevant stakeholders to pre-empt and plan/resource to mitigate risk
Engagement ■■ Engages sponsor at the right level and detail; particularly, in the weekly sponsor meeting, takes the sponsor through
the key technical achievements just completed, and key stories the team is working on from a technical perspective
and gets specific feedback
■■ Proactively engages others outside the team, bringing in expertise and working to solve technical issues, identifying
solutions and communicating as needed

■■ Shares the leadership role effectively with the Transformation Leader and Product Owner (e.g., by co-presenting at
the sponsor meetings, by collectively making decisions etc)
■■ Collaborates with Product Owner and pushes back on additional scope to ensure only absolutely needed scope is
Collaboration
delivered in order to validate hypothesis.
■■ Actively seeks input from team in standup and elsewhere on impediments to progress, facilitating quick resolution by
involving others or escalation as necessary to move the team forward

Leadership ■■ Follows the program guiding principles, both in individual behaviors and in motivating team members
Behaviors to do the same
Source: CUNA Mutual Group.
© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  45
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

TECH LEADER EFFECTIVENESS LEVELS


Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

Does not broadly share Serves basic needs of Goes beyond expectations Clearly establishes
expertise towards the team in effort to achieve to deliver value through leadership in delivering
Impact effort of creating business value by responding to regular releases and sustainable agile impact
Orientation value tech requests; can explain frequent customer testing practices across the
project priorities when organization
asked

Generally unable to see Makes an effort to update Proactively engages Delivers exceptional
and add value outside own partners on view of vision leadership and partners, value by engaging with
Partner swim lane and how technical work both on successes and external partners regularly,
Engagement contributes to that effort challenges early, often overcoming blockers and
soliciting feedback developing widely usable
product

Primarily viewed as an Viewed as a consultative Serves as a highly visible Considered a leader in the
individual contributor expert, proactively raising and valuable partner in program because of ability
within the team ideas and issues the leadership trio, sharing to provide expertise and
Collaboration the role with others and deliver value outside of
effectively pushing to immediate initiative goals
minimize scope where
possible

Makes no visible effort Makes occasional Through behaviors, shows Viewed as an invaluable
to exhibit or encourage reference to program others what it means to role model for peers
Leadership
program team principles in principles but does not live by program principles and team members in
Behaviors
practice clearly exhibit them in practice demonstrating program
principles

Source: CUNA Mutual Group.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  46
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

KEY CONSIDERATIONS TO SET UP A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

Consider three questions when structuring a project


management community of practice (COP).

How should COP


Will there be one COP or multiple? What will the COP offer?
leadership be structured?

One Central COP for a Broad Audience Controlled Possible Mix of Events or Resources
■■ Structured format and defined mandate to Offer
Versus ■■ Agenda set by management ■■ Live Meetings

■■ Dedicated resources to manage the ■■ Virtual Meetings


Separate Targeted COPs
■■ By role
COP ■■ Networking opportunities/platforms

■■ Knowledge sharing platforms


■■ By region
Versus ■■ Social events
■■ By PMO
■■ Mentoring
■■ By business area Collaborative
■■ Self led by community members

■■ Agenda set by community feedback

■■ Organic and fluid structure and

mandate

See CEB Ignition™ Guide to Creating a Project Management Community of Practice for more details.
Source: CEB analysis.

© 2017 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. PMO174292  47

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