Late-Stage Security Startup Transforms Operations
Challenge
A newly established infrastructure and network security company leveraged an initial prototype to gain funding and grow the company quickly. With their rapid growth and focus on time to market, they stacked up a lot of tech debt. Upon recommendation from one of their developers, they engaged Sketch to help bring Agile into their fastpaced environment. The goal was to learn to develop at a sustainable pace and improve predictability.
Our client had many challenges in their way which included:
- The team's incomplete understanding of the application
- The product owner’s constant priority shifts
- Only a 55% chance of planned stories being completed
- 6 developers working on different parts of the application, with poor testability and feedback
- Rarely having the software in shippable state
Further, they needed to upgrade their automated testing strategy in a way that would be scalable.
A newly established infrastructure and network security company leveraged an initial prototype to gain funding and grow the company quickly. With their rapid growth and focus on time to market, they stacked up a lot of tech debt. Upon recommendation from one of their developers, they engaged Sketch to help bring Agile into their fastpaced environment. The goal was to learn to develop at a sustainable pace and improve predictability.
Our client had many challenges in their way which included:
- The team's incomplete understanding of the application
- The product owner’s constant priority shifts
- Only a 55% chance of planned stories being completed
- 6 developers working on different parts of the application, with poor testability and feedback
- Rarely having the software in shippable state
Further, they needed to upgrade their automated testing strategy in a way that would be scalable.
Solution
Sketch started by delivering a 2-day Agile Bootcamp, followed by a high-touch coaching engagement. The client improved their ceremonies, finalized team roles and responsibilities, and measured goals until a level of predictability and scope churn were established.
During this time, Sketch focused on:
- Internal team coaching to set goals
- Facilitating discussions to keep executives caught up with team updates
- Outcome-focused story mapping
- Capacity planning and prioritization to understand the applications
- Keeping product owner priorities consistent and protecting the sprint so that plans only changed if necessary
Sketch started by delivering a 2-day Agile Bootcamp, followed by a high-touch coaching engagement. The client improved their ceremonies, finalized team roles and responsibilities, and measured goals until a level of predictability and scope churn were established.
During this time, Sketch focused on:
- Internal team coaching to set goals
- Facilitating discussions to keep executives caught up with team updates
- Outcome-focused story mapping
- Capacity planning and prioritization to understand the applications
- Keeping product owner priorities consistent and protecting the sprint so that plans only changed if necessary
Results
The client benefitted in the short and long term.
- Everyone knew what was expected of them, which allowed the team to spend more time in the codebase.
- They got control of the size and value of their stories. They learned to slice stories vertically for consistent estimation and delivery.
- The product owner gained control of the backlog. They developed an intentional plan for reducing tech debt.
The startup has since been acquired for an undisclosed amount.
The client benefitted in the short and long term.
- Everyone knew what was expected of them, which allowed the team to spend more time in the codebase.
- They got control of the size and value of their stories. They learned to slice stories vertically for consistent estimation and delivery.
- The product owner gained control of the backlog. They developed an intentional plan for reducing tech debt.
The startup has since been acquired for an undisclosed amount.