Episode Summary: Lean Change Management with Carmen Jurado
Podcast: Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile Storytelling from the Trenches
Host: Vasco Duarte, Agile Coach, Certified Scrum Master, Certified Product Owner
Guest: Carmen Guerra Jurado, Agile Coach and Consultant
Episode Title: Lean Change Management, How to Design Change with Those Affected
Release Date: April 30, 2025
Introduction to Guest and Topic
In this enlightening episode, host Vasco Duarte welcomes Carmen Guerra Jurado, an experienced Agile Coach and Consultant, to delve into the intricacies of Lean Change Management. Carmen brings a wealth of knowledge from her dual experience as both a Scrum Master and a consultant, providing unique insights into effective change implementation within organizations.
Understanding the Change Process
Initial Steps and Transition into Consulting
Carmen begins by sharing her professional journey:
“I started off as a Scrum master and following that I transitioned into consulting. And if you're into labels, I would label myself an Agile coach.”
(01:46)
She emphasizes the typical scenarios consultants face, such as being hired by managers or executives to tackle specific issues or implement pilot projects aimed at increasing effectiveness and efficiency. Her work predominantly involves Scrum and Kanban methodologies, alongside leading large-scale transformations across various organizations.
Key Insight: Importance of Communication and Involvement
A central theme Carmen highlights is the critical role of communication and employee involvement in successful change management:
“Imposing change without any adequate communication or involvement of the operation can really be detrimental.”
(03:29)
She explains that when employees are merely informed about new methods without prior discussion or understanding, it fosters resistance born from misunderstanding or fear of the unknown:
“Fear of the unknown. And unknown is because the communication was lacking, let's be honest.”
(03:32)
Carmen advocates for involving employees early in the transformation process to foster ownership and collaboration, making the change sustainable and more likely to achieve desired outcomes.
Balancing Involvement and Progress
Selective Participation for Effective Change
Addressing the challenge of involving employees without stalling progress, Carmen suggests a balanced approach:
“You can have a representative of the different... business units or the different teams and have them participate in maybe like feedback sessions on the change plans or maybe contribute during the brainstorming phase.”
(05:09)
She advises against involving the entire organization directly due to practicality but stresses the importance of including representatives to gather diverse perspectives and facilitate smoother transitions.
Empowering Teams through Facilitation
Carmen shares a practical example from her experience:
“We had a manager contact us to see if we could maybe facilitate a session for a couple of hours for a relatively big group... I made a counteroffer... have one of your own Scrum Masters facilitate the session... write a facilitation guide for them.”
(05:09 - 06:57)
This approach not only empowers internal team members but also fosters their growth and professional development, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the change process.
Co-Creating Change
Embracing Collaborative Change Design
Drawing parallels with Jason Little’s concept of co-creating change from the book Lean Change Management, Carmen underscores the necessity of collaborative design in change initiatives:
“Change gets co-created. We may set a direction and a vision but then we need to co-create the way there.”
(08:27)
She encourages involving key stakeholders, including critics, to gain diverse insights and improve the change strategy:
“Try involving your biggest critic also and make them a co-creator... It's really easy to... yell things at the football team... But try being one of the coaching teams or an actual player yourself.”
(09:08)
Leveraging Diverse Perspectives
Carmen highlights the value of including dissenting voices in the change process:
“They bring a different perspective. They don't come in with... rosy glasses. They're predisposed to find the flaws and the problems... done respectfully and collaboratively, is an incredible resource.”
(10:14)
This strategy ensures that potential issues are addressed proactively, enhancing the robustness and acceptance of the change initiative.
Practical Tools and Techniques
Throughout the discussion, Carmen shares actionable tips and techniques that have proven effective in her change management endeavors:
- Representative Involvement: Select key individuals from various departments to participate in feedback and brainstorming sessions.
- Facilitation Guides: Provide structured guides to internal facilitators to maintain consistency and effectiveness in sessions.
- Inclusive Decision-Making: Ensure that employees are part of the decision-making process to foster ownership and reduce resistance.
- Engaging Critics: Actively involve dissenting voices to leverage their unique perspectives and improve change strategies.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Carmen Guerra Jurado offers a compelling perspective on Lean Change Management, emphasizing the importance of communication, selective involvement, and co-creation in successful change initiatives. Her insights highlight that sustainable change is rooted in collaboration, empathy, and strategic inclusion of diverse team members.
Key Quotes:
- “Imposing change without any adequate communication or involvement of the operation can really be detrimental.” (03:29)
- “Fear of the unknown. And unknown is because the communication was lacking, let's be honest.” (03:32)
- “Change gets co-created. We may set a direction and a vision but then we need to co-create the way there.” (08:27)
- “They bring a different perspective... done respectfully and collaboratively, is an incredible resource.” (10:14)
Final Thoughts
For Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and organizational leaders seeking to implement effective change, Carmen’s experiences and strategies provide valuable guidance. Her emphasis on meaningful communication, representative involvement, and collaborative design offers a blueprint for navigating the complexities of organizational transformation.
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