John Wright
User experience of agile project: I have never known a project to develop at such a rate."
- Bio
Senior Consultant
I have 20 years of IT project experience and have worked at IndigoBlue since 2005 in both the Agile Project Management and Strategic Consulting parts of our business. I originally started my career at Price Waterhouse and subsequently worked with numerous global companies including JP Morgan, Sony Music, Reuters and BT.My hands-on approach to mentoring and coaching has assisted many companies in the adoption of Agile working practices, including The Guardian, Carphone Warehouse, IFDS, The Telegraph Media Group and the IfG.
I'm particularly pleased to have managed the project we carried out for the Institute for Government into the Benefits of Using Agile in Government and the highly successful pilot Agile project for the Home Office.
My Most Recent Posts
I set out this morning with a specific plan, a specific goal. The 516 from Bishops Stortford, the 645 from Paddington, at work in Cardiff for 9.
Well, for those who commute regularly, it's been one of those days! So far nothing has gone to plan. I find myself in a different place at a different time.
Crossing the Chasm
25 APR 2012 | Posted in ADAPT, agile adoption, agility | Author John Wright |
1 Comment
Ok, so its probably an over-used senior management phrase, but I can't help but think adopting Agile is a bit like starting up and growing your own business.
Chisel or axe?
14 NOV 2011 | Posted in Agile Business Conference 2011, Agile in Government, agile transition, Government | Author John WrightI've been thinking about the way Government is approaching the challenge of adopting a more Agile approach to IT.
The current Government ICT Strategy includes the follow specific targets:
Governance of Enterprise-Scale Agile Projects
19 OCT 2011 | Posted in Agile Business Conference 2011, agile delivery, agile governance, agile programme management, enterprise agile | Author John WrightThe key issue in scaling Agile is ensuring that the correct governance principles are adopted and scaled as the use of Agile evolves. Many organisations use Agile methods successfully on smaller projects, but these start to fail when project size increases or when multiple projects and programmes exist.
This session at the recent Agile Business Conference discussed IndigoBlue’s tried and tested approach to Agile governance: ADAPT and CONTROL. My presentation slides are now available below.
My parents are coming to visit this weekend and that is usually preceded by a mad frenzy of tidying the house! I could work room by room through the house until the whole house is tidy, but I know time is tight.
More than just software development
14 SEP 2011 | Posted in agile programme management | Author John Wright | 2 Comments
Agile software development processes have been around for more than a decade now and have found a place in many organisations software development processes, however to deliver a business programme it requires more than just agile software delivery.
We spend time looking at the business objectives, come up with an incremental delivery strategy, train our teams, do enough architecture and analysis to get going and get on with delivering fit for purpose software that meet the client's needs. Great.
What about all the other stuff? Data migration from the old system, business process re-engineering, infrastructure deployment, user training...
Making Agile Work in Government
19 JUL 2011 | Posted in agile governance, Agile in Government, Agile in public sector, Government, procurement | Author John Wright | 2 Comments
The current Government governance process directs project managers to think in a waterfall way and set projects up that way.
It is all too easy to do the big up front analysis and specification and then reuse existing contracts for the supply of software than it is to think of whether there is a better way.
Communication and Trust is Key
15 JUL 2011 | Posted in agile governance, contracts | Author John Wright | 3 Comments
So what really makes for good IT delivery? Efficient process re-engineering, good developers, clever technology, pragmatic project managers, robust QA? All of these things can contribute towards success, but the one thing that will result in failure is poor communication and a breakdown in trust between those trying to deliver business value and those implementing IT to support that.
IndigoBlue is proud to announce that they are the main kit sponsor for an epic, 265 mile, 24 hour fundraising event being organised by one of it's employees, John Wright.
The LondonParis24 ride will see the 10 riders, set out from Marble Arch on the 9 July at 9pm, and they hope to be cycling along the Champs-Élysées to the finish at the Arc de Triomphe by 10pm local time on the 10 July. All riders will complete the entire distance, it is not a relay event!
MY RECENT VIDEOS
John Wright talks to the Institute for Government about the benefits of adopting an Agile development process.
John Wright's interview [1:18]:
MY RECENT BLOG POSTS
I set out this morning with a specific plan, a specific goal. The 516 from Bishops Stortford, the 645 from Paddington, at work in Cardiff for 9.
Well, for those who commute regularly, it's been one of those days! So far nothing has gone to plan. I find myself in a different place at a different time.
MY RECENT ARTICLES
IndigoBlue has released a case study and white paper “Using Agile in Government Agencies” describing the successful piloting of Agile methods at the Home Office.
The project was part of a wider research programme managed by the Institute for Government’s (IfG) which looked at improving IT delivery in Government.