The New Work of management in Agile Organizations
Sometimes I see teams that reject all direction and go their own way, declaring, 'We are self-organizing'. They are missing an important fact. When someone is paid by a company to be part of a team, that team exists within the organizational context.
On the other hand, some managers hear the words “self-organizing” and believe the team is on its “own” that they can go into semi-retirement. But that's not the case, either.
In fact,both are risky over-simplifications.
When teams self-organize there's still plenty for managers to do, but management attention must shift from individual to team performance, and creating an environment where teams can excel.
Software teams work in the work system and managers work on the work system. That means that a managers job is to engineer the organization so that teams can do their best work. In this session, I'll share ideas and practical techniques that will help managers make the shift from traditional management practices to those that will best support self-organizing agile teams.
About Esther Derby
I draw on four decades of experience leading, observing, and living organizational change. I work with a broad array of organizations. My clients include both start ups and Fortune 500 companies.
Based on experience and research, my approach blends attention to humans and deep knowledge of complex adaptive systems.
I have been called one of the most influential voices within the agile communities when it comes to developing organizations, coaching teams, and transforming management. My work over many years has influenced coaches and leaders across many companies.
Background
I started my career as a programmer. However, over the years I’ve worn many hats, including business owner, internal consultant and manager. From all these perspectives, one thing was clear: individual, team, and even organizational success depends greatly on the work environment and organizational dynamics. As a result, I have spent the last twenty-five years helping companies shape their environment for optimum success.
My formal education includes an MA in Organizational Leadership and a certificate in Human Systems Dynamics.
Follow me on Twitter @estherderby
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