A tailored course, built for your situation
Sources and specific examples on hand when peers push back
Build unshakable reasoning for Agile and Lean choices , grounded in field patterns, not opinion
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
The situation this course is for
Who this is for
Senior Agile and Lean practitioners leading transformation efforts in complex technical environments
Who this is not for
Those new to Agile coaching or seeking introductory frameworks
What you walk away with
- Articulate the historical and empirical roots of each method you recommend
- Reference specific projects and implementation trade-offs when challenged
- Distinguish when a method fits , and when it doesn’t , using field data
- Ground team resistance in context-specific reasoning, not abstract doctrine
- Turn pushback into a structured dialogue using proven decision frameworks
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Mapping the lineage of core Agile patterns
Trace key practices back to original implementations in automotive, software, and manufacturing. Understand how Scrum, Kanban, and XP evolved from specific constraints, not theory.
12 chapters in this module
- Origins in Toyota’s production system
- First software adaptation at IDX
- How Spotify’s model diverged
- Lean Startup’s pivot from customer development
- Extreme Programming’s test-first mandate
- SAFe’s enterprise translation
- Misinterpretations in mid-tier rollouts
- When cadence replaced reflection
- The cost of skipping retrospection
- Scaling frameworks vs. scaling mindset
- From co-location to distributed teams
- Reconstructing intent from diluted practices
Module 2. Decision archaeology: why choices were made
Learn to reverse-engineer past decisions from artefacts , standup logs, board layouts, planning docs , to explain current state with precision.
12 chapters in this module
- Reading standup notes for decision clues
- Mapping board swimlanes to org structure
- Tracking scope changes in Jira exports
- Inferring leadership pressure from sprint goals
- Finding constraints in velocity plateaus
- How planning poker shapes delivery
- Detecting political compromises
- Uncovering hidden dependencies
- Tracing RACI drift over time
- Identifying where autonomy was ceded
- Diagnosing cultural resistance points
- Linking metrics to incentive structures
Module 3. Field-tested variations and their trade-offs
Compare how different industries adapted core methods , from finance to healthtech , and the costs and benefits of each twist.
12 chapters in this module
- Regulated vs. startup environments
- Safety-critical retrospectives
- Audit trails in healthcare Agile
- Sprint zero in fintech
- Compliance as a backlog item
- Pair programming in regulated code
- Change control vs. continuous deploy
- Documentation debt in Lean UX
- Risk burndown charts
- Incident-driven backlog grooming
- BAU integration challenges
- Vendor-managed Agile pitfalls
Module 4. Detecting misapplications early
Spot when a method is being misapplied due to cultural mismatch, incentive misalignment, or capability gaps , before resistance hardens.
12 chapters in this module
- Signs of cargo cult Agile
- Velocity without value tracking
- Retrospectives as box-ticking
- Daily standups as status reports
- Backlogs filled with IT requests
- Mandated cadence without autonomy
- Certification-driven adoption
- Leadership using Agile for control
- Misaligned promotion criteria
- Tool-driven process design
- Over-indexing on metrics
- Ignoring emotional debt
Module 5. Constructing defensible rationale documents
Learn to build lightweight, source-backed briefs that preempt pushback by showing precedent, context, and anticipated trade-offs.
12 chapters in this module
- Pre-mortem for new rollouts
- Stakeholder-specific framing
- Linking methods to business outcomes
- Including counterargument sections
- Citing original authors
- Benchmarking against peer firms
- Mapping to regulatory expectations
- Including exit criteria
- Documenting assumptions
- Versioning rationale over time
- Embedding sources in templates
- Making it team-owned
Module 6. Responding to pushback with precision
Replace assertion with reference: turn challenges into opportunities to share field data, not defend ego.
12 chapters in this module
- Classifying types of resistance
- Technical vs. political objections
- When data resolves the debate
- When values are in conflict
- Reframing 'this won’t work' statements
- Using historical examples
- Comparing to similar teams
- Inviting co-investigation
- Naming the real constraint
- Offering pilot alternatives
- Knowing when to let go
- Documenting dissent gracefully
Module 7. Building team-specific decision logs
Create living records that show why each adaptation was made, so new members and auditors can follow the trail.
12 chapters in this module
- Starting the decision log
- Capturing context at rollout
- Updating after incidents
- Linking to incident reports
- Including dissenting views
- Archiving deprecated choices
- Tagging by risk type
- Annotating with metrics
- Cross-referencing tooling
- Versioning with tool changes
- Making searchable
- Training new members
Module 8. Navigating leadership challenges with evidence
Present choices not as opinion, but as reasoned responses to specific constraints, using comparable implementations as anchor points.
12 chapters in this module
- When execs demand faster
- Handling budget-driven cuts
- Justifying investment in retrospection
- Explaining technical debt
- Pushing back on scope creep
- Linking quality to velocity
- Defending team autonomy
- Showing cost of churn
- Naming opportunity cost
- Using competitor benchmarks
- Balancing innovation and stability
- Measuring cultural debt
Module 9. Creating reusable pattern libraries
Develop internal repositories of decisions, adaptations, and outcomes to compound learning across teams and engagements.
12 chapters in this module
- Structuring pattern entries
- Including failed experiments
- Adding context tags
- Rating confidence levels
- Linking to original authors
- Versioning across cycles
- Integrating with onboarding
- Connecting to tooling
- Automating capture points
- Curating by domain
- Updating based on audits
- Sharing across geographies
Module 10. Teaching teams to reason, not repeat
Equip teams to explain their methods , so they defend with data, not dogma, when challenged.
12 chapters in this module
- Workshop on decision tracing
- Running pattern analysis sessions
- Creating team charters
- Documenting local adaptations
- Running internal critique forums
- Rotating facilitation roles
- Building internal case studies
- Linking to business KPIs
- Encouraging dissent logs
- Rewarding reasoning over compliance
- Measuring understanding
- Avoiding cult formation
Module 11. Auditing for defensibility, not compliance
Shift internal reviews from checklist compliance to depth of reasoning , rewarding teams that can explain their choices.
12 chapters in this module
- Designing the audit framework
- Scoring depth of rationale
- Including counterfactuals
- Evaluating source usage
- Assessing adaptation logic
- Reviewing decision logs
- Testing team understanding
- Benchmarking against field data
- Highlighting strong examples
- Reporting upward with nuance
- Avoiding punitive tone
- Incentivizing transparency
Module 12. Scaling defensible practice across engagements
Deploy a consistent standard for reasoning across clients and teams, so every coach operates from shared depth.
12 chapters in this module
- Standardizing rationale templates
- Curating cross-client libraries
- Training new coaches
- Onboarding client teams
- Aligning with client audit cycles
- Conducting joint retrospectives
- Building client-specific pattern banks
- Managing IP boundaries
- Adapting to regulatory regimes
- Linking to ThoughtWorks assets
- Updating per feedback loops
- Measuring adoption depth
How this maps to your situation
- When rolling out a new Agile framework
- During internal audit cycles
- Facing leadership skepticism
- Scaling across geographies
Before vs. after
Before
Relying on experience and intuition to justify Agile and Lean choices
After
Walking into any challenge with documented, field-validated reasoning and specific examples to back every decision
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: Approximately 2 hours per week over 12 weeks
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic Agile certifications, this course focuses on depth of reasoning, not rote frameworks. It’s designed for practitioners who already lead transformations , not those learning the basics.
Frequently asked
Who is this course for?
Senior Agile and Lean Coaches who need to defend their approach with depth, not just delivery.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Does this cover SAFe, Scrum, or Kanban?
Yes , but through the lens of real-world adaptations, trade-offs, and defensible choices, not prescribed roles or events.
$199 one-time. Approximately 2 hours per week over 12 weeks.
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours