The seeds of this book started in Canberra, Australia, when, as a software engineer, I first discovered this ‘new-fangled’ idea called Agile, and loved the focus on rapid, iterative delivery. Later, as a team leader and project manager, I came to appreciate the close engagement with the Customer and related workflow management processes. It wasn’t until I started managing companies, and later as a director in the Australian Public Service, that I realised that Agile could go further. Existing processes were inefficient, decisions were made at the wrong level, and nobody seemed to get what they needed, when they needed it. Agile had already solved those problems and could do it again.
This book would not have been possible without the support and assistance of the Agile community. First and foremost, those pioneers in the field who provided the foundational principles on which Agile Business Management has grown. While there are too many to list here, I have referenced them throughout the book, where possible.
I especially thank Thushara Wijewardena, Chris Moore, Ashley Casovan, Paul Reid, Adam Spencer, Phil Wang and the WIKISPEED team, for sharing their deep insights, and providing case studies on the use of Agile in a corporate and non-ICT context. They are true pioneers in this field, and provided much inspiration for writing this book.
Special thanks go out to Srinivas Chillara, Steve Ash and Alexei Zheglov for their early feedback, and help shaping many of the Agile Business Management concepts. These people took time out of their busy schedules to help me through writer’s block, point me at new references, and keep the book focused on topic.
Thanks also go to PC.de (http://pc.de/icons/) for their lovely Dortmund icons (CC-BY) used in this book. I also want to thank all the people at IT Governance Publishing for all their professionalism and help in getting this book from manuscript to finished product, not forgetting the reviewers: Brian Johnson, CA and Antonio Velasco, CEO, Sinersys Technologies.
I would like to thank my friends, colleagues, and, most importantly, my partner, Nilmini, for their ongoing support and encouragement. Without them, I would have given up on this book a long time ago.
Finally, I dedicate this book to my young daughter, Priyanka Anne Leybourn. My hope is that you grow up in a time where you, and all your generation, are empowered to change the world.
TTFN
Evan Leybourn
April 2013