ICON Blog & Webinars
What Does an AI-Native Firm Actually Look Like?
The four vectors of an operating model redesigned for AI-speed work, what changes on each, and the hard parts most...
How Can AI Accelerate your Agile Transformation?
Introduction
As organizations seek to become more adaptive and customer-focused, Agile Transformation remains a...
What Is PI Planning?
What Is PI Planning?
A Complete Guide to Program Increment (PI) Planning in SAFe®
How ICON Agility Prepares Organizations for AI Success
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept — it is transforming industries today. From...
Maximizing Innovation: Merging AI Strategy with Agile Transformation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping business models, customer experiences, and operational efficiencies at an...
AI-Enhanced Agile Strategies: Boosting Innovation and Speed
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way organizations operate — from automating routine tasks to...
Unlocking End-to-End Agility with ICON's Integration Strategy
In today’s digital landscape, true enterprise agility demands end-to-end visibility and collaboration—from strategic...
Scaling Agile in Fortune 500 Enterprises with ICON Agility
In today’s high-stakes business environment, agility at scale is no longer optional—it's essential. Yet, for Fortune...
Why Government and Regulated Sectors Trust ICON Agility for Agile Consulting
Agile adoption in government agencies and regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and defense is no small...
ICON Agility’s Proven Approach to Value Stream Mapping and PI Planning
Agile transformation at scale requires more than just team-level optimization. To achieve true enterprise agility,...
Optimizing Jira for SAFe: ICON Agility's Expert Solutions
Jira is one of the most widely used Agile tools in the world—but out of the box, it’s not designed for enterprise...
Why ICON Agility Stands Out for Comprehensive SAFe Training
Adopting the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) is a strategic decision that affects every level of an organization—from...
Seamless Enterprise Transition: Moving from Jira to Rally with ICON Agility
Switching Agile tools at the enterprise level isn’t just an IT project—it’s an organizational shift that affects how...
The Power of Pairing Agile Coaching with Tool Expertise
For organizations scaling Agile, it’s not just about choosing the right framework or tool—it’s about making them work...
Optimizing Rally at Scale: How ICON Agility Leads the Way
In enterprise Agile environments, Rally (formerly CA Agile Central) is more than a tool—it’s the backbone of work...
Transforming at Scale: How ICON Agility Leads Enterprise Agile Success
Today, in a complex business environment, organizations must adapt quickly to stay competitive. Yet for large...
Achieving Total Agility - Bridging the Strategy to Execution Gap with Clarity and Rally
Enjoy this terrific discussion between James Gaines, ICON Agility Services Strategy coach and Matt Gorbsky, Broadcom...
SAFe Made Simple: How Rally Brings Visibility & Alignment to Public Sector Strategy
Charlene Cuenca, Principal - ICON Agility SAFe Fellow & SPCT & Adam Mattis, General Manager - Scaled Agile SAFe Fellow...
A conversation about using SAFe for Hardware and Applying SAFe in Cyber-Physical Systems
The team discussed the unique challenges and opportunities in hardware development, emphasizing the need for a more...
Ethics-Driven AI: Balancing AI Advantages with Social Responsibility
Watch the video of ICON’s most popular AI webinar with Dr. Steve Mayner, Scaled Agile Fellow and AI expert; and Doug...
Program Increment (PI) Planning Challenges
Are you facing challenges with Program Interval (PI) Planning in your organization? ICON Agility Services is here to...
Getting Tactical with Organizational Agility: Techniques for Visualizing and Improving Flow
Introduction
Many organizations start small in their SAFe adoption by applying the Essential SAFe configuration to form...
Agile Executive Teams: Guiding Transformation and Strategy Across the Enterprise
Presented by Charlene M. Cuenca
The Crucial Role of OCM in Agile Transformation
In today’s fast-paced business environment, organizations are constantly seeking ways to adapt and thrive. Agile...
12 Tips for incorporating “security” into the responsibility of agile teams
Moving security and compliance “left” in the Agile development process means integrating these considerations early on,...
Navigating the Intersection of Agile and Engineering Excellence
Introduction
In the dynamic world of software development, the intersection of Agile methodologies and engineering...
Pragmatic Agile Coaches: Blending the Best from Many Methodologies
Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of project management, the Agile approach has emerged as a transformative...
Maximizing ALM/PPM Tools: The Indispensable Role of Expert Agile Coaches
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced and dynamic business environment, organizations are increasingly turning to Agile...
RTE Tips & Tricks Part 1: Automatically Update Agenda Times
Welcome to Tips & Tricks for RTEs
Today I am excited to release the first in a series of Tips and Tricks for Release...
Eight Agile Coaching-style Dysfunctions – Don’t be an Antipattern
The 8 Agile Coaching-style Dysfunctions – Don’t be One of These
The Death Marcher
These coaches like to reverse...
Technical VS Adaptive Problems in Agile
“The most common leadership failure stems from trying to apply technical solutions to adaptive challenges.” Ron Heifetz
Team-Level Agile
Do you want us to do your business agility for you?
Yes, I want ICON to do it for me | No thanks, I’d rather do it...
Agile Product Management
Do you want us to do your business agility for you?
Yes, I want ICON to do it for me | No thanks, I’d rather do it...
Agile Anti-Patterns
Do you want us to do your business agility for you?
Yes, I want ICON to do it for me | No thanks, I’d rather do it...
Agile Coaching Support
Need help with Agile or SAFe? CLICK HERE to speak to an expert today!
How coaching is effective when adopting the...
Lean Portfolio Management (LPM)
Do you want us to do your business agility for you?
Yes, I want ICON to do it for me | No thanks, I’d rather do it...
SAFe® Explained
Need help with Agile or SAFe? CLICK HERE to speak to an expert today!
What is Scaled Agile Framework?
The Scaled...
Agile Leadership
Need help with Agile or SAFe? CLICK HERE to speak to an expert today!
Advice for Middle Managers part of an agile...
Agile Technical Practices
Need help with Agile or SAFe? CLICK HERE to speak to an expert today!
Why should I invest in test automation?
There...
ICON Agility Services named a 2022 Top Workplace
July 8, 2022
ICON Agility Services was awarded a 2022 Top Workplaces honor by The St. Louis Post Dispatch and...
Free ICON Maturity Assessment Tool for your SAFe® Transformation
Apr 15, 2019
Let’s consider a common request from Agile Transformation teams and PMO offices: Have you assessed the...
SAFe® Benefits
Need help with Agile or SAFe? CLICK HERE to speak to an expert today!
SAFe Agile Improves Time to Market
There are...
7 Ways to Overcome the Obstacles of Adopting SAFe®
Dec 13, 2022
The best way to overcome obstacles of adopting the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is to approach the...
Agile Recruiters Look For These Key Things In Resumes
Nov 21, 2022
Making a resume can be stressful! You may ask yourself “What should I show? What are important...
Answer the client’s primary question: What value am I receiving in return for my check?
Nov 18, 2022
During every engagement someone on the client’s side wants to know “what are we getting for all this...
Why Companies Invest in a Scaled Agile Transformation
Nov 11, 2022
5 Qualifications Recruiters Look For In Agile Talent
Nov 4, 2022
Have you ever gone into an interview over-analyzing your strengths and weaknesses? The feeling that...
Release Train Engineer (RTE): What you need to know
Oct 26, 2022
5 Red Flags of an “Agile Imposter”
Oct 25, 2022
The Risks of Trusting an “Agile Imposter”
Many organizations are finding themselves in an “agile...
2021 SAFe® Summit Presentation – Epic Owners: The Key to Strategic Unification
Mar 24, 2022
Getting Unstuck in your Transformation: How to Evolve and Transform
Jan 27, 2022
Agile transformations in organizations have been occurring since before the Agile Manifesto made clear...
To BV or not BV?
Or “Is there value in assigning Business Value to PI Objectives?”
Dec 14, 2021
Every now and again you start a...
Episode 1 | Agile: Why We Need It
Dec 1, 2021
Length: 9min. 03sec
Leadership fads come and go, but Agile has endured beyond fads and has become the de...
Episode 2 | Agile: What It Is
Dec 1, 2021
Length: 16min. 01sec
In Episode 2 of this video series, ICON Coach, Dan James, cuts to the chase on what...
Best Online Resources for Protecting Mental Health in an Agile Team
Nov 15, 2021
Making team members a priority is the key to promoting productivity in an agile environment. After all,...
Conversations That Power OKR Agreement, Execution, and Retrospectives
Nov 1, 2021
Have You Ever Found Your Team Members Using Different Terms For The Same Things?
Sept 23, 2021
I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating it is to be in a contentious team discussion when we...
Quick Tips for Shared Services Teams in SAFe® PI Planning
Jun 11, 2020
5 Tips for Leading a Great Inspect & Adapt Workshop
May 17, 2019
OK, you’re an RTE or an SPC in the IP iteration at the end of your Planning Interval (PI). You’re...
5 Things to Know before Your First PI Planning
Nov 13, 2019
Your first Program Increment (PI) Planning event is on the calendar, and you feel ready to kick-off...
8 Common Reasons Why SAFe® Transformations Fail (and how to avoid them)
Aug 8, 2019
Introduction to DevSecOps
Sep 20, 2019
DevOps is a market buzzword, with nearly every enterprise trying to implement DevOps to remain relevant...
6 Videos that Reveal the Secrets of Lean-Agile Leadership
May 13, 2019
4 Reasons to Choose Lean Budgeting over Project Cost Accounting
Feb 1, 2021
Are you stuck in traditional budgeting approaches and looking for an alternative?
If you feel like...
How to Spot a Great Agile Coach (and a not-so-great one)
Dec 9, 2020
5 Common (and Wrong) Expectations of a SAFe® Transformation
May 8, 2019
“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its...
Pitching PI Objectives to the Sharks
Oct 25, 2019
Do you find that your teams and Business Owners have a hard time digesting PI Objectives, what they are...
Celebrations with Kanban – Applying Agile Practices to Party Planning
Nov 1, 2019
The Great Agile Transformation Misunderstanding
Jul 2, 2019
Have you ever said a word to someone, let’s say “puppy,” and got a positive reaction from one person,...
After COVID19: Learning and Preparation for SAFe® PI Planning
Need help with Agile or SAFe? CLICK HERE to speak to an expert today!
Introduction
Since 2007, I traveled weekly...
Agile Contracts- How changing the way you work with vendors can streamline your development
Apr 5, 2019
Agile is disciplined, not reckless.
If you’ve ever worked for an organization that has hired an external...
SAFe® 5.0 in a Nutshell for Executives
Jan 10, 2020
While that statement may sound extreme, it emphasizes a current reality: digital disruption is changing...
10 Teaching Tips for Your First SAFe® Classes
May 30, 2019
You’re a new SPC gearing up to teach your first class in the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®), i.e.,...
Creating Great Products with Enterprise Business Agility
Mar 15, 2019
Agile is disciplined; not reckless.
There have been many trends throughout the history of software...
Why Do We Need Business Agility?
Aug 1, 2019
…Because the world is moving too fast not to be Agile!
At the XP 2002 Conference, The Standish Group...
2019 SAFe® Summit Presentation: Pragmatic Lean Portfolio Management
Nov 1, 2019
Interview with a Coach: Virtual SAFe® PI Planning
Apr 14, 2020
COVID-19 has been an unwelcome catalyst into fully remote teams, but making optimal use of technology...
Do you have the 7 Dimensions of a Great SPC?
Jul 15, 2019
If you’re a newly minted SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), then congratulations! After all your...
2020 SAFe® Summit Presentation: Strategy to Execution – Business Owners are the Key
Nov 24, 2020
5 Little Changes that Make a Big Difference in your SAFe® Transformation
Jun 3, 2019
A colleague suggested I write this article, and I quickly agreed, thinking to myself, “No sweat! There are...
The Essence of Servant Leadership
Nov 4, 2020
In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins studies what differentiates great companies from good companies....
How to be Successful When Remote Teams and Coaching are Here to Stay
Oct 20, 2020
Beyond Automation: How to Succeed with DevOps
Feb 17, 2020
We’ve heard the message of DevOps: Automate Everything.
Automate code testing. Automate workflows....
4 Must-Dos for Leading a Safe and Successful DevOps Transformation
Sep 23, 2020
When a company invests in DevOps, it’s investing in speed: speed to market, speed to new ideas, speed...
Agile—What’s in It for the Teams?
Dec 5, 2019
As a coach who helps implement Agile and the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe), I’ve encountered many...
2019 SAFe® Summit Lightning Talk: Coming Down from the Ivory Tower- Agile Architecture with SAFe
Nov 18, 2019
2019 SAFe® Summit Presentation: Hardware Agility with SAFe’s Core Values
Nov 18, 2019
It is often stated that while agility works for software, it is not as easily applied to hardware. In...
Business Agility: What Leaders Learned from COVID-19
Aug 20, 2020
Agile Coaching & Organizational Healing
Apr 17, 2019
As Agile Coaches we are constantly faced with the responsibility of training, mentoring, facilitating,...
A Coach’s Guide to Spreading Agility through the Enterprise
Sep 18, 2019
How does a Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe) Transformation stick and sustain? An important key to...
3 Agile Strategies to Deal with Difficult Management
Dec 4, 2019
As a member of an Agile Team, have you ever had one of the following complaints about management?
- Their...
My Stakeholder Has Shiny Object Syndrome! Now What?
March 15, 2021
We see it more often than we’d like. The program or team is humming along, when a key stakeholder...
6 Must-Haves for Maximizing Virtual Dojo Engagement
6 Must-Haves for Maximizing Virtual Dojo Engagement
Mar 26, 2021
Finding Blind Spots in Your Steps to Creating a SAFe LACE Team
Need help with Agile or SAFe? CLICK HERE to speak to an expert today!
Leadership, Culture, and Behavior.
According to...
Free ICON Maturity Assessment Tool for your SAFe® Transformation
Let’s consider a common request from Agile Transformation teams and PMO offices: Have you assessed the Agile maturity...