In June 2023, I had the opportunity to conduct a 2-day workshop on Agile & Scrum Fundamentals for the Business Process Reengineering (BPR) team at QBE Insurance. This workshop was designed to introduce the team to Agile methodologies and the Scrum framework, with a focus on how these principles can help streamline and optimize business processes. Given the team's role in improving processes across the organization, it was essential to align Agile principles with their approach to drive faster, more efficient change.

Throughout the workshop, the BPR team learned how Agile methodologies can transform traditional process improvement approaches by promoting iterative development, quick feedback loops, and a strong focus on delivering value. We discussed how Scrum could be applied to business process projects, emphasizing its ability to break down complex processes into manageable, high-priority tasks that can be executed in short sprints. This approach encourages continuous improvement and allows teams to adapt more quickly to changing requirements.

Agenda Highlights:

• Introduction to Agile Principles – We began with an overview of the Agile Manifesto and its core principles, which emphasize collaboration, customer satisfaction, and responsiveness to change. The team was introduced to the mindset shift required to move from traditional process management to Agile, focusing on delivering incremental improvements.
• The Scrum Framework – A deep dive into the Scrum framework followed, where we explored the key roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team) and how they relate to process reengineering initiatives. The team understood the importance of defining clear roles to ensure accountability and streamline decision-making during the process improvement cycles.
• Scrum Ceremonies – The team participated in activities around the essential Scrum ceremonies, including Sprint Planning, Daily Standups, Sprint Reviews, and Sprint Retrospectives. Through these activities, the team grasped how these ceremonies can support continuous feedback, timely adjustments, and better communication, all of which are vital for successful process reengineering.
• Agile Artifacts – We covered the key Scrum artifacts, such as the Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment, and discussed how these tools can be used to manage tasks, track progress, and ensure that improvements align with business goals. This session highlighted how using these artifacts in a BPR context could help prioritize the most impactful changes and visualize progress.

One of the most engaging parts of the workshop was the hands-on Agile activity, where the BPR team applied Scrum principles to a simulated business process reengineering project. They worked in small groups to create a product backlog, prioritize items, and plan a sprint to tackle the highest priority tasks. This exercise allowed the team to experience how Agile principles can be used to break down complex process improvements into manageable, actionable items that deliver value quickly.

Additionally, the team participated in a Sprint Retrospective activity, where they reflected on their simulated sprint and discussed what went well, what could be improved, and what they could implement to make their next sprint more efficient. This exercise reinforced the importance of a continuous improvement mindset, a key principle of both Agile and process reengineering.

By the end of the workshop, the Business Process Reengineering team walked away with a solid understanding of how Agile and Scrum could be applied to improve business processes. They gained valuable insights into how iterative development and continuous feedback can help identify inefficiencies and deliver improvements faster. The team was excited to integrate these new practices into their day-to-day work, and many expressed interest in experimenting with Scrum to manage their ongoing process improvement initiatives.

The workshop also reinforced the need for strong collaboration between the BPR team and other business units. By adopting Agile methodologies, the team can now engage stakeholders more effectively, prioritize the most impactful changes, and implement those changes in smaller, iterative steps that deliver tangible results. This shift towards an Agile approach will help the team create a more flexible, responsive environment for process improvement, one that continuously adapts to meet the changing needs of the business.

In conclusion, this workshop not only introduced the BPR team to the principles of Agile and Scrum but also empowered them to think differently about how to approach business process reengineering. With their new skills, they are now better equipped to tackle complex challenges, deliver improvements faster, and drive meaningful change across QBE Insurance.