Tata Communications adopted Scrum in 2011 starting with training for IT teams. They developed a Scrum maturity model focusing on adaptability, leadership support, trained resources, business involvement, and metrics. Early Scrum projects were simple, then grew in ambition and visibility. A key success was a high-risk CES project that demonstrated value within 3 months of a 12 month timeline through business involvement, a motivated young team, and learning a new product. Scrum values of commitment, focus, openness, respect, and courage were mapped to the organization's culture.

1. Scrum Journey at Tata
Communications

2. Introduction
• Fakhruddin J Bandukwala (FJB)
– Certified Scrum Master
– IT Architecture Design & Development @ TCL

3. Tata Communications Ltd
• VSNL was formed in 1986
• Launched internet in India on 15th Aug
1995
• First Indian PSU to be listed on NYSE in
2000
• Part of the $100bn Tata group since
2002
• VSNL International launched in 2004
• Acquires Tyco and Teleglobe in 2005-06
• Becomes world’s largest provider of
submarine cable bandwidth
• Re-branded as Tata Communications in
2008
• Offices in 80 cities in 40 countries

4. SCRUM – Birth of an idea
• Introduction to Agile - PMI session in Sep 2011
• Formal definitions and processes adopted as
opposed to equating flexibility with agility
• Agile fundamentals training for IT teams at
TCL
• Global exercise initiated to cover large number
of people
• Scrum trainings as part of quarterly HR
calendar

5. Scrum Maturity Model
• Adaptability - Grassroot level need
• Orientation - Leadership support
• Capability - Trained and experienced resources
• Valuation - Business expectations and involvement
• Communication and collaboration
• Agile Project metrics

6. Scrum project selection
• Initial phase – Simple to low complexity
projects selected to demonstrate value and
build capability
• Growth phase – Ambitious and high visibility
projects selected with good risk factors to
demonstrate robustness
• Momentum phase – Aim for >80% of work to
be initiated in Scrum with business, IT and
leadership sold on value of scrum

7. What made Scrum click
• Success stories – CES project
• New technology, new resources, new vendors
• High risk project to initiate
• Value was demonstrated within 3 months for a 12 month
project
• Business involvement was kept at high levels throughout
• Team had high energy individuals with proven past
achievements
• Young motivated team hungry for success
• Challenge of learning on a new platform with a new
product introduced recently with no steady state
installations

8. Mapping Scrum Values
• Commitment
• Because we have great control over our own destiny, we become more committed
to success.
• Focus
• Because we focus on only a few things at a time, we work well together and produce
excellent work.
• Openness
• We practice transparency, progress is visible to all, and we learn to express what we
are doing, express how we are doing, express our concerns so that they can be
addressed
• Respect
• Respect is a default state of existence and is given as well as expected
• Courage
• Have the courage to commit, to act, to be open and to expect respect