In 2015 Atlassian pivoted its flagship product from one app with a series of add-ons to a platform with multiple, purpose-built products built on top. Join Megan and Matt, two Atlassians on the front lines of this transformation, as they explore the planning and engineering shifts that needed to occur in order to make this massive change a success for millions of end users.

1. MEGAN COOK • PRODUCT MANAGER • ATLASSIAN • @MEGANWCOOK
From product to platform
MATT WATSON • DEVELOPER MANAGER • ATLASSIAN

2. The Model T
Image Source: http://www.wallpaperup.com/142175/1926_Ford_Model-T_Tudor_Sedan_retro.html

3. Image Source: http://static.betazeta.com/www.fayerwayer.com/up/2013/03/Mail-660×350.jpg Image Source: http://myautoworld.com/ford/history/ford-t/ford-t-5/ford-t-6/ford-t-6.html
Image Source: http://myautoworld.com/ford/history/ford-t/ford-t-5/ford-t-6/ford-t-6.html Image Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/WeirdWheels/comments/2mzktr/tiny_house_built_on_a_ford_model_t_c1926/

5. Picture of DJ Kanban crushing it
Photo: Steve King

6. Image Source: http://imgkid.com/usps-truck.shtml
Image Source: http://st.biglion.ru/cfs13/deal_offer_photo/53/f9/53f90bf3166b01f29fb9fec8445f819a.jpg Image Source: http://motorhome.prevostcar.com/converter/millennium-luxury-coaches
Image Source: http://www.mascus.kz/selhoztehnika/rulonnye_press-podborschiki/case-ih-464-rotorcutter/kqe5pvi5.html

7. Our Team

8. Satellite Teams

9. Everyone involved

10. people~250

11. people~250
developers~175
lines of code5,000,000
users1,000,000’s

12. Big
Statement
Toto, I’ve got
a feeling
we’re not in
Kansas
anymore
Image Source: http://www.themost10.com/famous-film-quotes/

13. Test early and often

14. Platform
Source Code

15. Platform

16. Platform
Project Types User RolesLicensing

17. As if it wasn’t complex enough . . .

18. Don't
#@!%
the
Customer!
Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamescridland/613445810

19. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace
Two Teams
Two Paths
Image Source: http://imgbuddy.com/split-path.asp

20. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace
But if we split…
Image source: http://www.motorship.com/news101/industry-news/mol-comfort-final-report

21. Image source:https://www.vesselfinder.com/news/1222-UPDATE-on-MOL-Comforts-Accident-PHOTOS
We don’t want two ships…
… because they sink!
Image source: http://tmcmarine.com/mol-comfort/ Image source: http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1890123

22. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace
Image source: http://www.havingtime.com/strength-in-numbers-sticking-together-to-accomplish-our-goals/
One Team

23. Get to Work

24. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace
Image source: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Ops-XIV/
Make a better plan

25. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace
Image source: http://theglobalsuccessacademy.com/2015/04/25/ted-talks/

26. Image source: http://beefeaters.com/

27. • Big cool statistic
• 2,56
9
• Add-Ons in Marketplace
Image source: http://randomwire.com/japan-earthquake-safety-training
Dress rehearsals

28. Empower everyone to be
responsible
&
Foster a culture of support

29. Backlog
Team
Communication
Bugs / breakages
How we normally work

30. Take a picture of Bruce
looking sad and stressed,
maybe with a pile of
papers
disclaimer: some
dramatisation may have
been applied

31. Backlog
Team
Communication
Bugs / breakages
How we changed

32. 97 Blog posts in 200 days!

33. Credit : Stephen J. Cannell Productions

34. Poorly shop pics
of the JIRA A-
team’s faces on
these guys
Credit : Stephen J. Cannell Productions

35. Forewarned is forearmed
Developers
Dogfooding
Production

36. Early warnings of breakages

37. Early warnings of breakages

38. Early warnings of breakages

39. Standardise on reporting
not process

40. Working together in our
own special wayImage source: http://fishllustration.blogspot.com.au/

41. Getting to predictable

42. Getting to predictable
Data-driven realistic forecast

43. Frequent communication

44. Picture of Simone juggling
Simone
The glue

45. Screenshot of project central
Project Central

46. Key learnings for your next large project
Frequent
communication
Empower everyone
to be responsible
Standardise on reporting
needs not process
Foster a culture of
support
Test early and
often

47. Thank you!
MEGAN COOK • PRODUCT MANAGER • ATLASSIAN • @MEGANWCOOK
MATT WATSON • DEV MANAGER • ATLASSIAN