Team Topologies Assessment
Designing your team structures and interactions for a faster flow of change
Understanding how to do organisational design with a team-first approach
Engineering leaders are turning to Team Topologies as a way of structuring teams to support them in faster software delivery.
The introduction of any new way of working will always be met with some resistance and misunderstandings as the experience and reaction to change will vary from person to person.
Even the most well-thought-out initiative could turn into ‘something else we tried that ended up failing’ if it is rushed, misunderstood, or hasn’t involved those affected by the change as active participants.
Whether you are at the beginning of an early foray into Team Topologies or already on the path of adoption, there will likely be many challenges to overcome before reaping the benefits you are seeking. We can help your teams to see where they are on the journey and the next steps to take.
To do this, we provide a Team Topologies Assessment.
“Historically, most organisations have seen software development as a kind of manufacturing to be completed by separate individuals arranged into functional specialties, with large projects planned up front and with little consideration for sociotechnical dynamics.”
- Matthew Skelton
Team Topologies Assessment methodology
The Team Topologies Assessment involves an exploration with your leadership team to uncover the hopes and fears around the adoption, revealing an understanding of the current situation and the reasons for needing to change.
The assessment offers strategic insight into the team structures suitable for your product strategy in delivering to the needs of both internal and external customers. It will advise on choosing the right interaction modes between teams and the behaviours needed to make them work.
Team Topologies by itself is unlikely to achieve a faster flow of change across all of your teams, the assessment will be realistic in pointing to what else may need to change in your organisation.
Workshops
Your teams will be invited to participate in workshops to build awareness and understanding of the sociotechnical dynamics addressed by Team Topologies, the concepts and methodologies involved and the factors involved in a team-first approach to software engineering.
Team Conversations
The assessment will involve conversations with members of the leadership team, stakeholders across the value streams, and individual contributors within the product and engineering teams.
The Prosci ADKAR® model, a results-oriented approach to managing change, is used as a people-focused approach to assess how people are navigating the human experience of change.
What a Team Topologies Assessment can do for you
A Team Topologies Assessment from Human-Centric Engineering can help you:
Raise awareness of the need for Team Topologies
Build the desire within teams to support the initiative
Absorb what it means to take a team-first approach to work
Adopt the behaviours according to team type and interaction mode
See next steps you could take on your journey of Team Topologies adoption
Key benefits
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Clarity
See how people understand the initiative and the expected outcomes, and uncover potential blockers
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Direction
Strategic advice and tactical next steps for moving forward and achieving a faster flow of change
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Momentum
Raised awareness across the team of the factors involved in fast flow, increasing active involvement
Engagement levels
We can consult with you and your leadership team, providing guidance and advice, or dive deep with your team to get the maximum insights and strategic direction.
DIY
✓ Read the Team Topologies book
Light Touch
✓ Leadership awareness workshop
✓ Exploration of the problems you are solving
✓ High-level advice and recommendations
✓ Guide for taking your first steps
Deep Dive
✓ Leadership awareness workshop
✓ Exploration of the problems you are solving
✓ High-level advice and recommendations
✓ Interviews across existing teams
✓ Exploring your value streams
✓ Workshop to discuss findings
✓ Strategic advice
✓ Detailed reports
✓ Prioritised recommendations
✓ Tactical next steps
What you receive
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Team Workshops
Helping teams to understand the Team Topologies concepts and the underlying principles
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Change Assessment
Insight into the hopes and fears around adopting Team Topologies and people’s individual responses to change
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Findings Report
Actionable recommendations and consideration for the next steps in your Team Topologies adoption journey
Ask us about the Team Topologies Assessment
If you’re interested in learning more about a Team Topologies Assessment for your team, drop us a line.
Prefer to talk?
Book a call directly