Business Agility Patterns and Antipatterns
“It has clear steps to follow in order to get better value, sooner, safer, happier”
An introduction into key patterns for business agility, sharing core concepts and practical stories of real experiences from experienced practitioners.
Access a wealth of knowledge, in a well-structured and highly collaborative environment. Create a great vision for your potential future state. Influence senior leaders and energise your organisation with a clear ‘why change’ narrative and jargon-free language. Let us help you achieve transformation through rapid small steps – start small, and start!
Experience and learn practices around how to focus on customer outcomes
"I got useful methods and tools to bring stakeholders to create a common understanding and ways to improve"
Create a great vision for your potential future state. This course will help you improve value delivery and achieve your goals by focusing on the outcomes and not the dates. Articulate your ambition with leading and lagging measures, and to optimise your system of work by determining success metrics.
The course is designed to enable you to connect the patterns for business agility with your own context, providing time to discuss and question, demystify theory and to illustrate with examples
Helping you to influence senior leaders and energise your organisation with a clear ‘why change’ narrative and jargon-free language. Finally, let us help you achieve transformation through rapid small steps – start small, and start!
"We covered pragmatic and adaptable patterns, discussed by real experts, using real life context."
"I learnt how to create change that sticks using hard and soft skills together (brain and heart)"
"I recieved practical and useful materials that I can use in my organisation"
Upcoming training: Book your place!
Want to join the next course? Register below and we will get you booked into upcoming dates
Who is this course for?
Create a great vision for your potential future state. This course will help you improve value delivery and achieve your goals by focusing on the outcomes and not the dates. Articulate your ambition with leading and lagging measures, and to optimise your system of work by determining success metrics.
This course will help you to influence senior leaders and energise your organisation with a clear ‘why change’ narrative and jargon-free language. Finally, let us help you achieve transformation through rapid small steps – start small, and start!
Ways of Working Lead
Centre of Enablement Leads
Transformation Directors
WoW Consultants
Heads of Change
Agile Coaches
Enterprise Coach
Northern & Western Europe, USA
Standard Pricing
£1,395 GBP Per Person
($1795 USD)
Earlybird Pricing
£1,255 GBP Per Person
($1615 USD)
Rest of the World
Standard Pricing
$1,895AUD per person
(Australian Dollars)
Early Bird
$1,694AUD per person
(Australian Dollars)
Course Pricing
What to expect
Price includes funding of a tree per participant making your participation in the remote class 200x carbon positive over the life of the tree, via our charity partner Treesisters.
Logistics
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This is a course of 4 modules is run as one of the 3 formats
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In person - 2 days x 6 hrs. e.g Monday and Tuesday, 6hrs daily, 9am - 4pm including an hour break
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Condensed - 4 days x 3 hr sessions. e.g Monday - Thursday, 3 hrs daily, 9am - 12pm
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Continuous learning - 8 x 90min sessions. e.g Tuesdays and Thursdays every week for over 4 weeks, 90 mins per session
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In addition it includes a 45 minute 1:1 coaching session
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A copy of Sooner Safer Happier as the course text
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Early bird discount of 10% available for bookings and payment made at least 1 month in advance. Use promo code EARLYBIRD10 when booking.
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For private classes, please enquire for availability and bulk discount
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Social and climate commitment
Course content
Learning Objectives:
Understanding Ways of Working: Grasp the importance of Ways of Working (WoW) and learn how to introduce WoW changes effectively, starting small and learning quickly.
Leadership Behaviours: Identify leadership behaviours that support the improvement of WoW.
Organizing Work and People: Organize work with a focus on outcomes, aligning from strategy to execution, and organize people around value streams, from the CEO to the Product Manager.
Addressing Impediments: Tackle governance, risk, and compliance challenges and overcome technical obstacles.
Enabling a Learning Organization: Foster a culture that supports continuous learning and adaptation.
Explaining Business Agility Patterns: Confidently explain 8 key patterns for business agility to colleagues without relying on frameworks or jargon
Applying Flow and Outcome Thinking: Implement best practices of Flow and Outcome thinking in the workplace.
Course syllabus
Module 1:
Agility Patterns (Part 1)
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Focus on outcomes – over doing an ‘Agile Transformation’
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Achieve big through small – over achieve big through big
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Invitation to optimise – over inflicting one way of working
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Leadership role models – over delegating the change
Module 2:
Value (Outcomes)
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Maintaining customer focus
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Write your own nested outcomes with key results
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Articulate thin slices of value
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Build alignment and transparency across the enterprise
Module 3:
Agility Patterns (Part 2)
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Whole organisation learning – over Agile in IT only
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Build the right thing – over water-scrum-fall projects
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Build the thing right – over one-size-fits-all controls
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Go slower to go faster – over a digital feature factory
Module 4:
Sooner (Flow)
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Visualise flow and discover sources of delay
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Create a focus on continuous improvement
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Measure for learning
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Using OpenSpace to pop the bubbles
Our Trainers
Our expert facilitators are able to spend more or less time on particular concepts as guided by participants so learning can be prioritised where it will be most valuable, and make sure that the core concepts are covered in the program.
Delivered virtually or in-person through back-of-the-room facilitation, we offer different training programs and courses that are engaging and interactive. Participants can sign-up for the publicly offered courses or private in-house sessions can be organised for groups within an organisation.
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Can you help me facilitate a workshop in my own organisation?Yes, we believe there is no one size fits all model, we provide private and tailored training for organisations. Our workshop offering extends past what is on the website - Contact us through and get in touch for more information.
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Do I have to have read the book before joining courses?No, you do not need to read our book before joining the course, this course is designed for everyone and though it uses concepts from the book, there are no requirements for prior reading for this course.
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How do the virtual classes work?Our experienced trainers would be connecting through ZOOM and conducting workshops with interactive activities on collaborative Miró boards.
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How Are Training Programs Delivered - Are your training programs offered in different formats?Yes, our training programs are available in both virtual and in-person formats. Participants can join publicly offered courses or arrange private in-house sessions for groups within their organization. Two-day course are run in one of 3 formats In person - 2 days x 6 hrs. e.g Monday and Tuesday, 6hrs daily, 9am - 4pm including an hour break Condensed - 4 days x 3 hr sessions. e.g Monday - Thursday, 3 hrs daily, 9am - 12pm Continuous learning - 8 x 90 min sessions. e.g Tuesdays and Thursdays every week for over 4 weeks, 90 mins per session
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What happens if I need to cancel my course attendance?If you need to cancel your course, please confirm your cancellation via email, either replying to your attendance confirmation email or by emailing info@soonersaferhappier.com. See the full Cancellation Policy in Section 4.4. The refund and charges will depend on the timing of your cancellation.
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What support will I get after the course?Continue your business agility journey after attending our training courses, we delightfully welcome attendees to join our slack channels for the most updated information, Jon Smart’s Wow Nudge and monthly community roundups.
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How can I prepare in advance before attending workshops and courses?We provide a range of resources on our website, feel free to download our quick learn flow glossaries, business outcome writings and flow mapping before attending our classes to get ahead and a full overview.
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How will I receive a refund if applicable?If your payment was made by credit card, any refund will be issued back to the same card. For payments made by other methods, the refund will be processed via direct bank transfer.
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Can you tailor training to our organization's specific requirements?Yes, our expert facilitators adjust the focus of the training to your context, focusing on themes most valuable to your team. We ensure that core concepts are covered while addressing your unique needs.
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Can a course be cancelled or rescheduled by Sooner Safer Happier?Yes, we reserve the right to cancel or change courses. In such cases, we'll provide notice as per Section 5 in the terms and conditions. Delegates will be entitled to a refund or suitable alternatives.
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What if I fail to attend a course without prior notice?In the event of a no-show without prior cancellation notice, please refer to our No-Show Policy in Section 4.1. A refund will not be provided. For more information, see the training terms and conditions
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What can you gain from our courses?The courses provide a comprehensive set of tools you can use in your context, take away and use in your organisation. You will be able to understand and practice the themes covered in the course in relation to your context.
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How can I transfer to a different course or date?Request to change dates or course must be confirmed by email and are subject to specific fees based on the timing of your request. See Section 4.3 in the terms and conditions for detailed information.
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Can workshops be run for my team?We offer private group classes for interested teams. Our experienced trainers will tailor course materials to the teams' context.
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How do your training programs contribute to a positive environmental impact?We are committed to sustainability. The price includes funding the planting of a tree per participant, making your participation 200x carbon positive over the tree's lifetime through our charity partner Treesisters.
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What makes Sooner Safer Happier's training programs stand out?Our training programs are led by highly experienced Ways of Working practitioners with over 20 years of hands-on experience in diverse industries. We're not just trainers; we're passionate practitioners who bring real-life stories and practical insights to your learning journey. Our courses are thoughtfully designed to maximize your learning outcomes. We emphasize connecting theory to your real-world context, encourage discussions shaped around practical exercises to demystify concepts. Case studies, group discussions, and scenario-based exercises are integral to our training.
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Can we arrange private training classes for our organization, and are there bulk discounts available?Yes, we can organize private classes to cater to your organization's needs and explore the themes in your context. Please inquire about availability and bulk discounts.
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Do the courses provide certificates?We provide certifications for our training courses, however we do not provide certificates for half day workshops.
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Do you offer programmes out of the UK?Yes, we have classes conducted in America, EMEA and Asia Pacific regions virtually. With experts from different countries you will be able to interact, ask questions and practice flow concepts within our classes.
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How can I get started with Sooner Safer Happier training?To enhance your skills and deliver value sooner, safer, and with happier teams, take action now! Join the learning community and be part of the movement towards better Ways of Working. Register for upcoming training on the course pages, or get in touch to enquire about alternative dates and private courses
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What are the benefits of the certificates provided?With our certificates, you will be able to enhance your business agility profile and professional knowledge on respective courses.
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Are there any discounts for courses?Early bird discount of 10% available for bookings and payment made at least 1 month in advance using promo code EARLYBIRD10 on payment. Bulk discounts for private classes, please enquire for availability.
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How will this workshop help me?Through this workshop you will be able to learn how to measure and track value, reduce risks, and increase their chances of success and achieve shared goals, leveraging diverse perspectives and expertise to create high-performing teams. The simulation delivers a high-stakes, high-reward experience that's perfect for anyone managing big budgets and investments. It is for anyone looking to test their organising for outcomes skills in a fun, engaging, and challenging environment.
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Who is this course designed for?This workshop is tailored for individuals eager to optimise value delivery, minimise risks, and enhance overall performance in their organisations.
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Who is this course designed for?This course is for product managers, senior managers, team leads and heads of …. All roles in IT Operations, especially in your current ITIL framework are relevant for this course. Anyone who is trying to improve a process inside an organisation and trying to make improvements to services where there are handoffs between teams causing delays are suitable for this course.
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How is the course structured?The course is broken down into 4 modules, Kanban as Evolutionary Change Method, Kanban for the Enterprise, Feedback Loops at all levels and Improvements techniques at a deeper level.
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Who will be training you?Matt Turner will be the main trainer for this course. Matt has over 20 years leading IT and business services, coaching and training teams in lean and agile practices, across various industries and sectors.
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Are there any prerequisites for this course?There are no prerequisites for joining this course.
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What is included in the course?A Free eBook “Kanban: Successful Evolutionary Change for your Technology Business” by David Anderson, US$10 off of the eBook “Kanban From The Inside” by Mike Burrows. A Membership to the Sooner Safer Happier Slack channel giving access to our alumni community. A Kanban University certificate of attendance. And eligibility to become a member of Kanban University will be included in the course.
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Do I need to know anything about flow before joining the course?A basic understanding of the ways of working would be useful for this course, however this workshop is designed to introduce the concepts of flow in a very simple, accessible and practical way. An in-depth understanding or prior knowledge is not required.
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How long does it take to complete this workshop?This is a 3-hour workshop that can be completed virtually or in-person. Additional hours can be added upon request, get in touch with us now for more information.
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Will I be able to solve my own flow problem?You will be able to explore the concept of flow and its impact on organisational productivity, efficiency. Also learn how to visualise flow and identify impediments such as value stream mapping, differentiate between local optimisation and end-to-end optimisation, and discover how the latter enhances overall business agility. In this workshop we will emphasise on learning practices to create focus on continuous improvement. To focus solely on your context, you can book a private workshop with your teams.
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Can this workshop help me to improve my team efficiency?By applying the principles of flow, you will learn how to create a visual representation of your work, identify bottlenecks, and eliminate sources of delay, these are all actionable ways you will be able to maximise efficiency in your organisation.
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Who is this workshop designed for?This course is suitable for coaches, consultants and influences who understand something about flow. Anyone who is trying to improve a process inside an organisation and anyone concerned with work is taking too long to complete.
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Who are our partners in creating this course?Team Foundations: Unlocking High Performance was created in partnership with Adventures with Agile to give a practical overview of unlocking High Performance. This course is ICAgile certified. ICAgile is a leading global agile accreditation and certification body, and Adventures with Agile and is a international training and coaching company operating at the leading edge of the industry.
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Can this training help me to improve?In this course you will learn how to focus on outcomes and flow, create high performing teams, collaboration and continuous improvement practices, experience the importance of short feedback loops, the benefits of higher autonomy, create safe space and maintain a high trust environment.
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Who is this course designed for?This new interactive course supports high performance team mobilisation. It is designed to help new teams to orientate rapidly around customer goals and establish working patterns and key roles. The course is equally valuable for existing teams needing to reboot their customer focus, rethink their culture and establish new team norms.
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How is the course structured?The course is broken down into 4 modules with a focus on agility patterns, value creation and flow. The first two parts consist of learning materials on focusing on outcomes , leadership role models, and defining measurable outcomes (OKRs) with leading and lagging indicators. The second two parts focus on organising for outcomes, value alignment, lean control process, learning organisation, visualising and optimising flow.
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How long will this course last?This is a 2-day class running as 2 x 6 hr or 4 x 3 hr sessions. In addition it includes a 45 minute 1:1 coaching session. You can also contact us now for tailored courses for your own organisation.
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How is this course structured?This course is broken down into 4 modules, Value Outcome Lead Role & Mindset, Product Vision & Customer Focus, Value Roadmap & Measuring Value, Strategy to Execution. You can see a more detailed syllabus here. You will be able to explore the concept of flow and its impact on organisational productivity, efficiency. Also learn how to visualise flow and identify impediments: value stream mapping Differentiate between local optimization and end-to-end optimization, and discover how the latter enhances overall business agility. In this workshop we will emphasise on learning practices to create focus on continuous improvement. To focus solely on your context, you can book a private workshop with your teams.
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Who is this course designed for?Product Owners, Value Outcome Leads, Value Stream Leads, Portfolio Managers, Programme Managers…etc. This course role models the behaviours needed to optimise for value delivery, to learn practices to know your customer needs, map journeys, define measurable outcomes with leading and lagging indicators, connect strategy to execution, prioritise using cost of delay, improve the flow of value.
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How big should my organisation be?The principles and practices that you will learn in the training are relevant whether you are in a small enterprise or large organisation, and are applicable in all industries. This course explores the concept of flow and its impact on organisational productivity, efficiency.
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How is the course structured?The course is broken down into 4 modules, The Kanban Method, Experiencing Flow, Systems Thinking Approach to Introducing Kanban (STATIK) and design your Kanban System.
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Who is this course designed for?This course is for product managers, senior managers, team leads and heads of …. All roles in IT Operations, especially in your current ITIL framework are relevant for this course. Anyone who is trying to improve a process inside an organisation and trying to make improvements to services where there are handoffs betweens teams causing delays are suitable for this course.
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Who will be training you?Matt Turner will be the main trainer for this course. Matt has over 20 years leading IT and business services, coaching and training teams in lean and agile practices, across various industries and sectors.
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What is included in the course?A Free eBook “Kanban: Successful Evolutionary Change for your Technology Business” by David Anderson, US$10 off of the eBook “Kanban From The Inside” by Mike Burrows. A Membership to the Sooner Safer Happier Slack channel giving access to our alumni community. A Kanban University certificate of attendance. And eligibility to become a member of Kanban University will be included in the course.
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Are there any prerequisites for this course?There are no prerequisites for joining this course.
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How will this workshop help me?In this workshop you'll learn how to maintain a laser-sharp focus on your customers, write your own nested outcomes with key results, articulate thin slices of value, and build alignment and transparency across your enterprise. Understanding some of these concepts will create a shift in mindset in the long term and will create a shift in culture. You will be able to understand the significance of outcomes and distinguish between leading and lagging indicators to improve customer experience, and drive success in your organisation through setting outcome canvas (OKRs). We will provide a learning emphasis on understanding and empathising with your target audience or customers, explore your customer needs, pains and gains and to map the existing (as-is) customer journey.