Atlassian has been in hyper-growth for the last 5 years, exploding from 200 employees to over 1700. We've worked tirelessly to implement strategic planning while staying true to our agile roots and upholding our culture and values. To the surprise of no-one, it ain't easy. Learn about three practices we developed – and scaled – to help our teams deliver more compelling stories, and the strategic framework they all feed into.

1. WENDELL KEUNEMAN • OFFERING LEAD • ATLASSIAN • @WENDO
Tools for better storytelling
at scale

2. A little bit about me

3. Long tenure
50 person team
Entirely co-located
All Sydney based
Small-medium size
Average tenure was 3-5 years
Confluence
team

4. Atlassian Playbook > Flow
• Idea, team, project setup • Design, build and ship • Continuously test and learn
Envision It Make It Improve It

5. Early warning signs
Envision It Make It Improve It
Ideal
Actual
Envision It Make It …
*RELATIVE TO COMPLEXITY

6. Newly formed teams
Our team doubled in size to +130
Remote teams
Multi-geo and timezones
Team size doubled
Many new triads in the mix
Boy, that
escalated
quickly

7. Danger Will
Robinson!

9. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace

10. Scaling problems
Inconsistency
Time division Onboarding
Language

11. Scaling problems
Inconsistency
Time division
Onboarding
Language
{Expectations

12. It’s not a
memo…
it’s a mission
statement

13. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace

14. Creativity Inc.

15. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace

16. DEMO
TRUST
PROJECT
POSTER
HEALTH
MONITOR
http://bit.ly/projecthealth

17. DEMO
TRUST
PROJECT
POSTER

18. Project
poster
Rails for storytelling

19. Project
poster
Three main phases:
Progressive completion
Linear journey:
Minimum set of envision artefacts
Notion of a time:
Concept, Validate, Story

20. Project poster phases
Concept Validate Story
• What, Why, Who?
• Success looks like?
• Solution ideas
• Already know
• Need to know
• Experiments
• Guiding principles
• Customer value
• Solutions explored
ENVISION IT MAKE IT

22. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace
Demo Trust
Forum for storytelling

23. Demo Trust
Authentic demos:
Access to leads and experts
Timely guidance:
Share notes and sparring
Regular cadence:
Build a credible story

24. Demo Trust 101
• Pre-sharing agenda
• Pass on notes
• Writing forces thought
• Reflect phase of flow
• Link to project poster
• Capture time in phase
• What’s next preview
• Address feedback
• Demo credibility
Passing Notes Phased Feedback Gauge Confidence

25. Demo Trust learnings to date
faster cadence early1
focus is imperative for direction2
ideas -> trade-offs -> pillars -> journeys3
demo trusts evolve with flow4
qtr team goals mapped to strategy5

26. Story FirstEngage TeamsStrategic Planning
Use our tools for storytelling
Continually engage your
teams to share/discuss
their contribution
Create lightweight
tools to augment
agile practices
Empower teams with
tools to act and deliver
high quality projects

27. Before implementing these tools
Envision It Make It Improve It
Expected
Actual
Envision It Make It …
*RELATIVE TO COMPLEXITY

28. After implementing these tools
Envision It Make It Improve It
Ideal
Actual
*RELATIVE TO COMPLEXITY
Envision It Make It Improve It

29. Connect your teams to strategy
• Progress toward goals
• New developments
• Celebrate wins
• Goals of experience
• Measurable outcomes
• Align to strategic metrics
• Project Posters
• Qtr goal per stream
• Leading indicators
All Hands Demo Trusts Teams

30. Thank you!
WENDELL KEUNEMAN • OFFERING LEAD • ATLASSIAN • @WENDO