Vacancies
Capacity expansion and providing seniority at Enexis
Agile Product Management

The challenge

Within the IT teams of Enexis, the Scrum framework is used and overarching, the SAFe framework is used. To facilitate work processes and deliveries according to these methodologies, various roles have been created to deliver timely and quality work.

Challenges for Scrummasters at Enexis:
  1. Change Resistance: Scrum masters must deal with resistance to the transition to agile working methods from employees accustomed to traditional processes.
  2. Complexity and Coordination: Managing complex projects that involve multiple teams and disciplines, and ensuring effective coordination.
  3. Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Promote clear communication between different departments and ensure involvement of internal and external stakeholders.
  4. Balance between Speed, Quality and Capacity: Ensuring high product quality while striving for rapid execution of projects within Enexis’ growing work package.
  5. Team Dynamics and Growth: Managing team dynamics and capacity growth related to the human aspects within teams to effectively contribute to strategic goals.

Our approach

From Isatis Business Solutions, several colleagues were deployed to meet capacity demands, support novice Scrummasters, and grow teams through our seniority.

Role of Scrummasters at Enexis:
  1. Facilitating Agile Teamwork: Scrummasters guide teams in applying agile practices to increase efficiency and flexibility.
  2. Removing Obstacles: By identifying and removing potential obstacles in work processes, scrum masters help teams achieve their goals.
  3. Strengthening Communication: Scrummasters promote good communication within teams and with other departments.
  4. Continuous Improvement: They foster a culture of continuous improvement, where teams regularly evaluate and optimize their working methods and performance.
  5. Supporting Teams: In their role as coaches, scrummasters ensure that team members grow in their competencies and collaboration.
  6. Promote Innovation: By embracing agile principles, scrum masters help Enexis quickly develop innovative solutions that fit within the energy transition.
  7. Transparency and Visibility: They provide clear reporting and visibility into the progress of various projects within Enexis.
  8. Supporting Strategic Goals: By helping to implement agile processes, scrum masters support Enexis’ strategic goals.
  9. Contributing to a Future-Friendly Energy System: Through their work, scrummasters contribute to more efficient grid expansion and connecting customers in innovative ways.

context

Enexis is one of six regional grid operators in the Netherlands, responsible for building and maintaining the gas and electricity grid. The company transports energy, such as from solar farms and wind turbines, to households and businesses. Enexis operates in the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, North Brabant and Limburg. The company focuses on the safe and reliable transmission of electricity and gas to end users and supports energy transition by facilitating decentralized energy production and smart grids. Enexis works to future-proof the energy network with innovative solutions, by promoting efficient use of network capacity and preventing overloading. In addition, the company strives for a reciprocal customer relationship, in which customers contribute to keeping the energy grid affordable.

The impact

From the Scrummaster perspective, important facets include:
  1. Stability: Creating stable teams with consistent velocity.
  2. Quality Delivery: Teams working collaboratively to create high-quality software that provides value to customers/stakeholders.
  3. Minimizing Technical Debt: Reducing technical debt by constantly checking the possibility for better quality.
  4. Prioritization: reviewing requests according to the 80/20 principle to determine which work provides the most value.
  5. Improved Efficiency: Scrum masters make teams work faster and more efficiently, allowing projects to be completed on time and on budget.
  6. Increased Flexibility: Teams are able to respond flexibly to changing needs and circumstances.
  7. Accelerated Innovation: By encouraging innovation and applying agile principles, scrummasters contribute to the development of new solutions that fit the energy transition.
  8. Better Team Dynamics and Culture: Scrummasters foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
  9. Efficient Problem Solving: By removing obstacles and rapid problem solving, scrum masters improve the quality and turnaround time of projects.

Why this case matters

Enexis, together with its grid management colleagues, faces the challenge of expanding the energy network and doubling its capacity within 25 years – a task that used to take 70 to 80 years. Thanks to our people, we can provide knowledge and expertise and ensure that new people are recruited to carry on the work. We are building the new generation by sharing our knowledge and experience.

Isatis business solutions

IBS helps organizations in the energy, government and financial sectors work effectively in Scrum.