Two Mode IT Teams
Efficient Enterprise IT teams practice operating in two distinctly different but seamlessly coherent styles of work:
One focused on predictability (Mode 1); the other on exploration (Mode 2)
Mode 1:
This mode continuously works towards optimizing the IT infrastructure and minimizing the complexity areas which are mode predictable and well-understood. This mode focuses on utilizing the nuances of what is known. This mode also focuses on renovating legacy environment into a state that is digital ready.
Mode 2:
This mode is more exploratory and deals in experimenting with new approaches for potential problems/opportunities. In the current digital generation, mode 2 deals with Most Viable Product (MVP) approach towards solutioning by adopting short iterations’ model.
↓---------- BOTH MODES ARE ESSENTIAL ----------↓
THINKING LIKE A MARATHON RUNNER
(TRADITIONAL)  |
 THINKING LIKE A SPRINTER (DIGITAL) |
|
| Reliability | GOAL | Agility |
| Price for Performance | VALUE | Revenue, Brand, Customer Experience |
| Waterfall, V-Model, High-ceremony IID | APPROACH | Agile, Kanban, low-ceremony IID |
| Plan driven, Approval based | GOVERNANCE | Emperical, continuous, process-based |
| Good at conventional process and projects | TALENT | Good at new and uncertain projects |
| IT centric, removed from customer | CULTURE | Business centric, close to customer |
| Long (Months) | CYCLE TIMES | Short (days, weeks) |
| Downstream driven | BUSINESS IMPACT | Upstream driven |
| GUI based | AUTOMATION | API for function, GUI for the form |
| Seperate testing phase/Time boxed agile | LIFE-CYCLE | Continuous testing with parallel API driven development |
| Functional level | FOCUS | Technical level |
| Requirements driven | SOURCE | Design, Code and Analytics driven |
| Regression automation | APPROACH | Progressive/in-sprint automation |
| Legacy Platform, Enterprise Applications | PLATFORMS | New age platforms built from scratch |
| Consolidation, Centralization | ORGANIZATION | Dedicated Scrum teams |
| Tried and Tested commercial tools | TOOLS STRATEGY | Appetite for Open Source |
| Cost efficiency | CUSTOMER PRIORITY | Time to Market |
| Low-Medium | DEGREE OF ENGINEERING | Medium-High |
| Traditional QA | QUALITY | Next gen QA or Quality Engineering |
| Time boxed phases, Cost, Quality (98% DRE) | ASSURANCE PRIORITIES | Test as you build (speed), Experience, Iterative Development (MVP) |