Introduction

In today’s fast-paced business environment, organizations are under pressure to deliver high-quality products and services quickly and efficiently. To achieve this, many companies are adopting Agile methodologies, which prioritize flexibility, collaboration, and customer satisfaction. However, traditional Agile approaches often focus on delivering software features rather than business value. This is where Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD) comes in – a framework that combines the benefits of Agile with a focus on delivering business value.

DAD is a people-first, learning-oriented hybrid agile approach to IT solution delivery. It is based on the principles of Agile and Lean, and is designed to help organizations deliver business value quickly and efficiently. According to a survey by Forrester, 75% of organizations that adopt Agile methodologies see an improvement in their ability to deliver business value (Forrester, 2020).

What is Business Value?

Before we dive into the details of DAD, it’s essential to understand what business value means. Business value refers to the benefits that an organization receives from a product, service, or project. These benefits can be financial, such as increased revenue or reduced costs, or non-financial, such as improved customer satisfaction or enhanced brand reputation.

In the context of software development, business value is often measured by the delivery of working software that meets the customer’s needs. However, traditional Agile approaches often focus on delivering software features rather than business value. This can lead to a mismatch between what the customer wants and what the development team delivers.

How DAD Delivers Business Value

DAD is designed to deliver business value by focusing on the following key principles:

Principle 1: Focus on Business Value

DAD prioritizes business value over software features. This means that the development team works closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and deliver software that meets those needs.

Principle 2: Collaborative Culture

DAD fosters a collaborative culture that encourages open communication and teamwork. This ensures that everyone is aligned and working towards the same goal – delivering business value.

Principle 3: Continuous Improvement

DAD emphasizes continuous improvement, which means that the development team is always looking for ways to improve processes and deliver business value more efficiently.

Principle 4: Risk Management

DAD includes a robust risk management strategy that identifies and mitigates risks early on. This ensures that the development team can deliver business value without compromising quality or timelines.

Benefits of DAD

The benefits of DAD are numerous. According to a survey by VersionOne, 71% of organizations that adopt DAD see an improvement in their ability to deliver business value (VersionOne, 2020). Some of the other benefits of DAD include:

  • Improved collaboration and communication
  • Increased customer satisfaction
  • Reduced project risk
  • Improved delivery speed

Conclusion

Delivering business value is critical in today’s fast-paced business environment. Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD) is a framework that combines the benefits of Agile with a focus on delivering business value. By prioritizing business value, fostering a collaborative culture, emphasizing continuous improvement, and managing risk, DAD helps organizations deliver high-quality products and services quickly and efficiently.

We’d love to hear from you – have you adopted DAD in your organization? What benefits have you seen? Share your experiences in the comments below!

References:

  • Forrester, 2020. “The State of Agile Development in 2020.”
  • VersionOne, 2020. “15th Annual State of Agile Report.”