The Agile Office: Experience Report from Cisco's Unified Communications Business Unit

Abstract

Similar to the way a Project Management Office (PMO) defines standards for project management within the organization, an Agile Office governs the organization's ongoing agile adoption and continuous improvement through agile practices and is responsible for the successful ongoing adoption of agile practices throughout the organization. Agile transition takes time, it is not a discrete event. When transitioning to agility it is important to put in place structures that will ensure that agile survives long after the initial transition period. This paper describes the experiences of Cisco's Unified Communications Business Unit in establishing an Agile Office. It describes the history behind establishing the Agile Office, the governance model, where it fits in the organization structure, engagement model, primary activities, challenges faced, and the stakeholders with whom it operates.