Changing Software Development: Learning to Become Agile

12.5. Create a Vision, Draw Up a Plan

Some people instinctively know what needs to be done. For others, it can be hard to see where to start. It's useful to think about how you can make change happen and draw up a plan. Before you can plan how to change, it helps to have an image of what an improved environment will look like.

Many of the stories about Agile and Lean software development, and about what such an environment looks like, seem very attractive. These stories are powerful motivators and help us imagine what the end result will look like.

Start by imagining what your final state will look like and how it will feel to work in. Feel free to change the picture painted by others, to make it your own. This will give you something to aim for and a story with which to motivate both yourself and others. This will create not just a personal vision but also one that you can share with others.

Once you have an idea of where you're heading, then you need to consider how you can get there. If you know you have a mandate for change, you might want to start by creating a change plan. If you're unsure of your mandate, then you might simply like to choose one of the ideas presented in this book and try it out. Introduce project retrospectives, form a book study group or start blogging. With a little experience, you might try another initiative or you may choose to create your own change plan.

Before starting a plan, examine the gap between how your organization works at the moment and ...