Another movement sweeping through the corporate world with the same steam as Agile is that of Business Intelligence & Big Data. I always gravitated to data and enjoy identifying patterns to tell a story. I am also a passionate Agilist, playing the role of change agent in Agile Transformations. Therefore, my natural inclination has always been to couple the two together to drive change. Unfortunately, the sad truth is this approach has not always lead to the desired outcome.
Like everything else that could be used for good, unfortunately, data can also be leveraged for evil. This paper and talk centers on the power of data and the ability for it to be both detrimental and invaluable to change initiatives. I have learned the hard way that without an environment of safety, experimentation, and short feedback loops, collecting team metrics and insights can actually lead to more harm than good. However, once the prerequisite of safety is established, data no longer becomes your enemy as a change agent, but your ally, and a powerful tool in your Agile coaching toolbox.
