In this informative presentation, Hendrik Esser, Manager for Special Projects at Ericsson, discusses the comprehensive journey of Agile transformation within the company. Key themes include:

• Initiating the Transformation: Esser outlines the early stages of Ericsson's Agile journey, beginning with the recognition of the need for change to address challenges such as time to market, quality, and return on investment. He describes how initial experiments with Scrum laid the groundwork for a broader Agile strategy.

• Complex Systems Thinking: A significant focus of the talk is on applying complex systems thinking to understand and manage the intricacies involved in large-scale transformations. Esser emphasizes that recognizing interdependencies within teams and processes is crucial for successful implementation.

• Cultural Shifts and Mindset Changes: Esser highlights the importance of cultivating an Agile mindset throughout the organization. He shares strategies for promoting this mindset, including storytelling and frequent retrospectives that encourage reflection and continuous improvement.

• Leadership Engagement: The role of leadership is critical in driving Agile transformations. Esser discusses how having a leadership team that fully embraces Agile principles helped to amplify positive narratives and practices while mitigating non-Agile influences.

• Challenges Faced: Throughout his talk, Esser candidly addresses various challenges encountered during the transformation process, such as resistance to change and maintaining momentum over time. He provides practical advice on how to overcome these obstacles.

• Measuring Success: Finally, Esser discusses methods for assessing the effectiveness of Agile practices within the organization, emphasizing that success should be measured not only by productivity metrics but also by team engagement and customer satisfaction.

This session is particularly valuable for leaders, managers, and practitioners interested in understanding how to implement Agile methodologies effectively in large organizations. Esser's insights offer a realistic perspective on what it takes to navigate an Agile transformation successfully.

Speaker Bio

Hendrik Esser is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in product development and organizational transformation. As Manager for Special Projects at Ericsson, he has been instrumental in driving the company's Agile transition. In addition to his role at Ericsson, he serves as a voluntary program director for the Agile Alliance’s Supporting Agile Adoption initiative and frequently speaks at international conferences on topics related to Agile practices and leadership. Esser is passionate about sharing his experiences and insights to help others navigate their own Agile journeys.