more guidance, less process: the atlassian playbook

DOM PRICE • @DOMPRICE

More Guidance, Less Process

Introducing the Team Playbook

CONFIDENCE

IT TAKES A TEAM

THE CHALLENGES

Scaling Multiplier Time

1 2 3

GREAT TEAMS

right practicesright tools+

What makes a team successful?

WE HAD: WE NEEDED:

metrics on TEAM health

reviews of INDIVIDUAL performance

The spectrum (and the tradeoffs you’re making)

The Old Way The Atlassian WayCreate process & standardizationWritten centrally & mandatedEliminate variabilityEngineered for predictabilityFocus on outputsCommand & controlCentralized decision-makingLarge monolith teams(LOTS) of hierarchy

Provide plays & guardrailsCrowdsourced & shared laterally

Embrace variability where valuableFreedom for rhythm & cadence

Focus on outcomesEmpowerment

Decision-making at the coalfaceSmall, nimble teams with high agility

Autonomy

The Health Monitors

PROJECT LEADERSHIP SERVICE

BBB

Making the connection between attributes and action

OUR EUREKA MOMENT:

How it works

SET THE STAGE

1

RATE THE ATTRIBUTES

2

How it works

DISCUSS THE RATINGS

3

How it works

AGREE ON FOCUS AREAS

4

How it works

Shared understanding

Full-time owner

Balanced team

Value & metrics

Proof of concept

One-pager

Velocity

Managed dependencies

PROJECT

Shared Understanding

Yellow / red ratings? Don’t panic.

How it works

RUN PLAYS

5

Project Kick-off

RUN PLAYS Designed to address this specific problem, and get your team back on track

DACI Elevator PitchProblem

Framing

Your team is struggling with conflicting priorities

WHAT IF

500+health monitors later,

are we better off?

Who cares! Let’s do one now

➡ Decide to get healthy

The Doctor’s “orders”

➡ Go to the playbook ➡ Pick a team type

➡ Click on template➡ Focus on one attribute

www.atlassian.com/team-playbook

Healthy teams aren’t built in a day, but they are built each day

JUST A REMINDER

Thank you!

DOM PRICE • @DOMPRICE