Turn the Lights On: A Power Utility Company's Agile Transformation
Why would a century-old utility with no direct competitors take on the challenge of transforming its entire IT application organization to an agile methodology? In an increasingly interconnected world, the expectations of customers continue to evolve. From smart meters to smart phones, IoT is creating a crisis point for industries not accustomed to rapid change. Glen Morris explains that pizzas can be tracked by the minute and packages at every stop, and customers now expect this same customer service model should exist for all industries—including power. Glen examines how to create momentum and transform non-IT-focused industries to an agile model. If you are struggling with gaining traction in your pursuit of agile within your business, Glen gives you concrete, practical experiences to leverage in your pursuit. Finally, he communicates how to gain buy-in from business partners who have no idea or concern about agile or its methodologies. If your business partners look at you with amusement when you mention the need for a dedicated Product Owner, join Glen as he walks you through the approaches to overcoming agile skepticism.
At Toyota for the first fifteen years of his career, Glen Morris learned lean software development and became a trainer of lean methodologies. Moving into the utility industry seven years ago, Glen merged the worlds of agile and lean into a comprehensive approach to software development. He now has assisted or led two separate organizations through the growing pains of an agile transformation. His blended approach ensures that IT remains faithful to the core agile principles. Glen’s role as manager of enterprise agility at Vectren Utilities includes designing, messaging, and implementing the company’s agile transformation.