CMI Management Book of the Year 2020 - Technology and Patterns at Work Transformed Category
Traditional organizational structures and cultures are no longer fit for purpose in a digitally empowered world. The number of new and disruptive technologies is increasing, the speed of change shows no sign of slowing down and business leaders and organization development practitioners need to act urgently to enable their companies to succeed in the digital age.
Agile Transformation is the much-needed guide to achieving this success. Packed full of practical advice, this book covers why new operating models are needed, how to apply agile principles at scale, leveraging digital-native processes and why change managers need to think big but start small.
Agile Transformation also looks at how to build and engage high-performing teams for change, how to tackle the employee mindset that can hinder agile adoption and why developing an agile business is not a reason to fail to plan.
There is also guidance on how to develop fast and focused high-velocity decision making, build momentum for change, and ensure that leadership behaviours and organizational culture catalyze true organizational agility. Featuring case studies from organizations including Amazon, Netflix and Vodafone, this book is crucial reading for businesses wanting to effectively compete in the new world of work.
A good, but somewhat frustrating book for me. Depending on which part of the book I was reading this fluctuated between being a 5 star book and a 3 star one.
Let's start with the good parts. Perkin's seems to know a huge amount about every aspect of Agile transformations, and there is a mine of useful information here. It is authoritative and comprehensive. It is clearly written and full of references and case studies. There is a ton of good material here.
So, what is not so great? To some extent it is the mirror of the above. Perkin's seems to know a huge amount about every aspect of Agile transformation - and unfortunately seems to want to include absolutely all of it in this book. Sometimes less is more, and being told everything is not helpful. A little more judicious selectiveness would have made this a far better and more impactful book.
Additionally, everything is third person information - there is a case study or reference for most things, but most of them are someone else's case study or reference. I have no doubt Perkins has tons of experience and it would have been nice a few times to hear "I did ..." or "I believe ...". As it stands, it is more like an academic review of the field more than an experienced practitioners guide. This is a shame as if you check Perkins out he has got a brilliant track record in this field and it would have been nice occasionally to hear his personal voice.
To be honest, for me, this overwhelming amount of ideas almost led me to give it 3 stars, but I felt this was unfair, so I averaged out at 4. If you want a reference work to look up lots of different aspects of agile transformations, this is very strong. If you want more of a how to guide, there is too much in this book that the how to steps get lost.
Interesting look at how organisations need to change and transform. For me, there was a little too much explanation and not enough story telling. A few more case studies, key takeaways and actionable steps would make this more compelling and useful. But for those new to these concepts, this could be a good start.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book represent the zeitgeist of LEADING TRANSFORMATIONAL though today. This book provides good practical advice - amazing how much of what Neil talks about is used in the Agile-ADapT model :)
An interesting, informative and well written book that gave me a lot of food for thought. I liked how it's organised and the clarity of the explanations. Highly recommended! Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Both a very good summary of the theories behind digital transformation (including designing for people), and a guide to how to change your own organisation. Essential reading!
"Agile Transformation: Structures, Processes and Mindsets for the Digital Age" by Neil Perkin is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the principles and practices of agile transformation. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the key concepts, frameworks, and best practices for implementing agile methodologies in the digital age.
The author begins by outlining the need for agile transformation in today's fast-paced and rapidly changing business environment. He then goes on to explain the key principles of agile methodologies, including iterative development, continuous improvement, and customer-centricity.
The book is divided into three main parts. The first part focuses on the structures and processes required for successful agile transformation, including agile team structures, agile project management, and agile governance.
The second part focuses on the key mindset shifts required for successful agile transformation, including a focus on experimentation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
The third and final part provides practical guidance for implementing agile transformation, including advice on how to build an agile culture, how to manage agile teams, and how to measure the success of agile projects.
Throughout the book, the author provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the benefits of agile transformation and to help readers understand how to apply agile methodologies in their own organizations.
Overall, "Agile Transformation" is an excellent resource for anyone looking to implement agile methodologies in the digital age. The book is well-written, highly informative, and provides valuable insights into the principles, practices, and mindset shifts required for successful agile transformation. Highly recommended.