Agile Consulting

Initiation of consulting

Understanding why the client needs external support and why they believe that Agile Consulting services will help them in this regard.
Understanding the goals the client would like to achieve and preliminary verification (if any) of the solution proposed by the client itself.
Understanding the needs and expectations of the client and developing an initial action plan available to both parties (initial backlog).
Commencing work with the client and continuously adjusting the plan based on the experience gained from working with the client’s company.

Ongoing consultations

Gradual implementation of changes and improvements jointly agreed upon with the client.
Observation and assessment of the level and effects of the introduced changes, along with ongoing adjustment of the plan.
Goal-oriented and results-focused consulting, tailored training and workshops for the client to reinforce agile practices, along with surveys after each change to gather feedback (feedback-loop).
Profiled coaching and mentoring for directors, managers, and teams towards agility and self-reliance in areas arising from improvements discovered during the consultant’s work.

Gradual consulting phase-out

Summarizing the results along with surveys from directors to team members.
Gradual transformation of consulting into targeted coaching to develop the most desired competencies and skills.
Occasional support with less frequency aimed at gradually transferring responsibility to the client for the changes introduced during the consulting service.”

Agile Coaching vs Agile Consulting

There are some clear differences, yet in real life, those roles are sometimes blended

Agile Coaching

Coaching involves aiding individuals in clarifying their goals and putting forth their best efforts to achieve them. It is a collaborative process where a coach collaborates with individuals who have experienced some success but find themselves in a state of stagnation. The coach assists them in progressing towards higher performance, tapping into their inner wisdom. The coaching process entails effective listening, support, and facilitating personal development through dynamic interactions, aiming for enduring results over an extended period.

The processes for coaching are widely and deeply described and supported by organizations that bring together thousands of coaches worldwide such as the International Coaching Federation and the International Coaching Community.

In the realm of Agile coaching, the focus is on teams that have reached a certain level of success but are unable to advance further. Agile coaches furnish the necessary information, resources, and guidance to instil and sustain an Agile mindset within an organization.

The coach’s responsibilities within a company encompass two key aspects: firstly, supporting the team in embracing the Agile approach, and secondly, ensuring the team consistently applies it as part of their habits. Agile Coaches, well-versed in the Agile methodology, undertake the role of teaching, coaching, and mentoring others. They provide team training and ongoing guidance to embed Agile practices into the company culture.

Consulting involves providing expertise, analysis, and recommendations to offer insights on how to address a specific issue. Consultants leverage their knowledge to advise individuals or businesses, leaving them motivated to implement solutions. The primary objective is to identify problems and suggest specific remedies, with a focus on short-term, tactically oriented approaches. Many consultants operate as freelancers, delivering advice to clients as needed.

An agile consultant is a subject matter expert well-versed in multiple agile frameworks, techniques, and tools, often engaged on a contractual basis by businesses to tackle specific challenges in software development. This professional proposes a course of action for the team to follow.

While it is the consultant’s responsibility to resolve a specific set of problems, they may face resistance from in-house staff who need time to acclimate to their working style. In contrast, the consultant is solely focused on delivering excellent solutions for which they are compensated.