Scrum Journey at Tata

Communications

Introduction

• Fakhruddin J Bandukwala (FJB)

– Certified Scrum Master

– IT Architecture Design & Development @ TCL

Tata Communications Ltd

• VSNL was formed in 1986

• Launched internet in India on 15th Aug 1995

• First Indian PSU to be listed on NYSE in 2000

• Part of the $100bn Tata group since 2002

• VSNL International launched in 2004

• Acquires Tyco and Teleglobe in 2005-06

• Becomes world’s largest provider of submarine cable bandwidth

• Re-branded as Tata Communications in 2008

• Offices in 80 cities in 40 countries

SCRUM – Birth of an idea

• Introduction to Agile - PMI session in Sep 2011

• Formal definitions and processes adopted as opposed to equating flexibility with agility

• Agile fundamentals training for IT teams at TCL

• Global exercise initiated to cover large number of people

• Scrum trainings as part of quarterly HR calendar

Scrum Maturity Model

• Adaptability - Grassroot level need

• Orientation - Leadership support

• Capability - Trained and experienced resources

• Valuation - Business expectations and involvement

• Communication and collaboration

• Agile Project metrics

Scrum project selection

• Initial phase – Simple to low complexity projects selected to demonstrate value and build capability

• Growth phase – Ambitious and high visibility projects selected with good risk factors to demonstrate robustness

• Momentum phase – Aim for >80% of work to be initiated in Scrum with business, IT and leadership sold on value of scrum

What made Scrum click

• Success stories – CES project • New technology, new resources, new vendors • High risk project to initiate • Value was demonstrated within 3 months for a 12 month

project • Business involvement was kept at high levels throughout • Team had high energy individuals with proven past

achievements • Young motivated team hungry for success • Challenge of learning on a new platform with a new

product introduced recently with no steady state installations

Mapping Scrum Values

• Commitment • Because we have great control over our own destiny, we become more committed

to success.

• Focus • Because we focus on only a few things at a time, we work well together and produce

excellent work.

• Openness • We practice transparency, progress is visible to all, and we learn to express what we

are doing, express how we are doing, express our concerns so that they can be addressed

• Respect • Respect is a default state of existence and is given as well as expected

• Courage

• Have the courage to commit, to act, to be open and to expect respect