From Chaos to Agile, and the demons along the way by Seemin Suleri

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Transitioning From Chaos to a Nimble, Agile World: An Exploration of The Transformation Journey at Two HH Group

Today, we will go on a journey— a journey into the heart of organisational transformation from absolute chaos into a nimble, agile world, one that we embarked upon at the Two HH Group. My name is Su Su, I was the head of Engineering and now am the head of project delivery. I hope that some of the insights I share will resonate with you, and perhaps inspire you to implement similar changes within your own organizations.

A Glimpse into the History of Two HH Group

Two HH Group, a parent company for various businesses divisions dealing with wide-ranging fields such as collectibles and babysitting services, embarked on its own technological journey about three to four decades ago. Recognising the limitations of manual, paper-based management, the company sought automation, building its first automated system in Cobalt. This system served as the foundation of the company's warehouse, invoicing, marketing, and customer management sectors, setting the stage for the future integration of online services.

The Online Takeover

Just over a decade later, the company decided it was time to move towards online territory. This decision emerged from the realisation that most of their customer base was shifting online. Thus, a new objective was established: to create a web presence for the company. Offline and online systems were made to run side by side. The transformation was successful with nearly 70% of their customer base shifting to the online businesses.

The Challenges of Digital Transformation

Fast-forward to roughly three to four years ago, the company stood at the cusp of another significant change - a digital transformation. Our main question was, “How can we innovate and stay ahead with a system rooted in Cobalt legacy?” The magnitude of this task led to my recruitment and the starting point of my challenge to transform the existing systems.

Where do you start in chaos?

  • Analyzing the system status and understanding the issues at hand was crucial. This was accomplished through conversations with team members, examining the systems, and understanding the organizational culture.
  • Recognising the chaos and taking responsibility for it was a game-changer. Working with the mindset that the chaos was my responsibility allowed me to initiate real change.
  • Though doubt and the impostor syndrome may occasionally creep in, embracing uncertainty, and using that energy was pivotal towards moving forward.

The Power of People in Agile Transformation

As the transformation journey unfolded, we quickly realized that the heart of any success lies within the people. Listening to team members, providing them with developmental opportunities, involving them in decision-making processes, and recognizing their value in the organization proved to be vital. Agile practices came in handy here, emphasizing that teams should be autonomous and equipped to organize themselves around the tasks assigned to them.

Creating a psychologically safe environment where team members can voice their opinions with confidence, and feel heard and acknowledged was particularly emphasized in the transformation process.

Moreover, effective leadership that functions more as a servant to the team rather than a traditional authoritative figure is another key aspect of Agile transformation. Leaders should foresee challenges, clear the path for their team, and ensure smooth functioning, all while being open to making mistakes and continuously learning from them.

Leadership's Role: Paving the Path for Transformation

Leaders are more than just decision-makers; they are role models, mentors, and most importantly, problem solvers for their teams. But this often means a new role, new expectations, and a new way of adding value to the organization. As such, leaders must be comfortable in their journey, withstand self-doubt, trust in their unique path, and embrace any feeling of unease or emotion.

Choosing Love As A Motivator

Overcome doubts, self-blame and the sense of being overwhelmed by utilizing love as a driving factor. Love for the team, work, product, and organization can transform challenges into adventurous undertakings. Two HH Group’s story of transformation is a testament to this approach. Our throughput and velocity have seen a tenfold and eightfold increase respectively, employee engagement and retention are at an all-time high, and, most importantly, we have an incredibly passionate team.

By sharing this narrative, my hope is to inspire others to face their challenges head-on, seek opportunities for growth and change, and successfully undertake their journey towards transformation.

Thank you for joining me on this journey through the transformation of Two HH Group. Whether you're facing similar challenges, or already in the midst of your own transformation journey, I hope these insights and reflections will provide some food for thought as you plan your next steps.


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