Stage 1: Foundation
Blocker
No process or templates are in place to support the team.
Solution
Set up a few simple processes & templates.
❌ We Don’t Want This
When starting an agile team, we don’t want to bury them in meetings and ceremonies.
At this stage, the biggest constraint isn’t lack of process — it’s getting work flowing.
The goal is to keep things light, fast, and easy to adapt as the team builds momentum.
✅ We Want This
We want just enough structure to keep the team moving forward — without getting in their way.
Our baseline: three team touchpoints per week.
Monday: Week Plan with the team
Wednesday: Midweek Sync
Friday: Week Review
This simple setup runs on the PDCA cycle (Plan–Do–Check–Act):
Use a clear PDCA cadence
Plan — Start the week (doesn’t have to be a sprint yet) with one clear question: What do we aim to get done, and by when?
Do — The team gets on with the work.
Check — At a reasonable point (midweek or every other week, depending on complexity) we check progress and adjust if needed.
Act — We act on the feedback, lock in improvements, and move forward.
Why keep it simple.
Avoid Meeting Creep — Foster a culture of quick chats and in-person collaboration instead.
Get the Ball Rolling — The biggest constraint early on is momentum. Optimize for that.
Adapt Slowly — Only add process when the team actually needs it.