One of the most important Agile books since The Phoenix Project.
Charles Betz, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research
It is a real pleasure to read a book that doesn’t assume 'Agile is the solution, now what is your problem?' This is a realistic approach to adopting (or not adopting) agile in your organization. The theory is sound; the practice is extensive. I strongly recommend this book.
Dave Snowden, Chief Scientific Officer, Cognitive Edge, Creator of Cynefin
Most organizations would say they have a solid strategy, and some are pursuing new ways of working to achieve that strategy; however, often not in an optimal way. BVSSH is the unlock for organizations, and this book gives the practical guidance to WIN.
Courtney Kissler, VP, Global Technology, Nike
Sooner Safer Happier nails the point that many leaders miss—transformation in itself is not a worthy goal, it is a vehicle for optimizing business outcomes. This book provides an indispensable guide for leaders who wish to run truly agile organizations. Sooner Safer Happier is a must-read for any business leader looking to succeed in the digital age.
David Silverman, coauthor of Team of Teams and CEO of CrossLead
I can’t recommend this book enough. BVSSH is kind of a 'meta framework'—flexible yet explainable, realistic yet capable of step changes in effectiveness. Jon is a master coach and guide. Read, read again, and share.
John Cutler, Product Evangelist, Amplitude
There are many books on WHAT was done and WHAT excellent firms do in their quest for success...This gem of guidance is destined to become the manual on HOW to deliver better value, sooner, safer, and happier.
Michael Harte, Researcher, Advisor, Investor, Director, Ex-COO/CIO Santander, Barclays, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, PNC, Citi, Fonterra
This book is not just a great handbook to draw from to assist you on your journey, it is also a great read!
Sally Clark, Executive Coach, NED, Strategic Advisor and Avid Agilist
If you want to improve how your organization works, read this book!
Julian Birkinshaw, Professor and Deputy Dean, London Business School
A true business-wide perspective on Digital Transformation and the need for the whole business agility.
Adam Banks, Non Executive Director and Former CTIO of AP Moller Maersk
This book is a treasure trove for anyone involved or interested in the theory and practice of business agility...A game-changer for our organization and I'm confident for others' too.
Richard James, Ways of Working Enablement Leader, Nationwide Building Society
...a handbook for overall organizational effectiveness and successful transformation...
Werner Loots, EVP Transformation, U.S. Bank
Highly recommended. This book is an absolute must-read for business leaders responsible for leading transformational change.
Brijesh Ammanath, CIO, Trade & Working Capital, Barclays
This is a book that can be picked up by anyone across the business and is one that I will certainly be recommending to all our business and technology partners alike.
Chris Orson, Head of Digital and Data, HSBC Securities Services
[Sooner Safer Happier] has so many valuable enterprise agility lessons that it could be used for an MBA course.
Leah Jochim, Experienced Enterprise Leader on Agile Ways of Working
Better Value Sooner Safer Happier. These five words, taken to heart, could very well change everything...The book itself is a masterpiece of both insight and practical advice... I couldn't stop reading.
Evan Leybourn, Co-Founder and CEO, Business Agility Institute
This advice comes 'from the trenches' and has been proven to work in practice. You will return over and over to this book for strategies to make your transformation a success.
Scott Ambler, Vice President and Chief Scientist of Disciplined Agile
This book is essential reading for organizations stuck with large 'scaling' frameworks that treat people and teams as interchangeable units.
Manuel Pais, Co-Author of Team Topologies
What [Jon] has achieved and created to help others succeed is nothing short of exceptional.
Barry O'Reilly, Business Advisor, Entrepreneur, and Author of Unlearn and Co-Author of Lean Enterprise
[Jon] and his co-authors' observations and lessons succinctly summarize and teach what decades of books have failed to do.
Gene Kim, Bestselling Author of The Unicorn Project and The Phoenix Project, Researcher, and Multiple Award-Winning CTO
... a very practical guide on how to embrace agility in an ever increasingly digital, chaotic, and challenging world where the path to delivering outcomes is uncertain.
Ian Buchanan, Independent Board Director and Advisor, Former CIO/COO Barclays, Societe Generale, Nomura
Sooner Safer Happier covers business agility learnings thoroughly... Compelling.
Patrick Eltridge, Seek, Westpac, Telstra, RBS, Nationwide
... a must-read for leaders who have recognized the need to connect the cultural and the technological aspects of digital transformation.
Mik Kersten, CEO, Tasktop
This is as close to a field guide as I have seen, and speaks of real and practical experience.
Dawie Olivier, GM for Enterprise Transformation, Westpac
[Sooner Safer Happier] describes a set of patterns and antipatterns—with a great set of skills—to help you understand what is happening to stop teams delivering SSH and why it may be happening.
Jenny Wood, Delivering Customer Value
[Sooner Safer Happier] is a must-read book if you want to stay relevant in your market and run a forward thinking organization.
Christian Metzner, CIO, Volkswagon Financial Services UK
Truly a great and essential book for every agilist, leader, or change agent!
Ahmed Sidkey PhD, President of the International Consortium for Agile (ICAgile) and Head of Business Agility at Riot Games
This book is an invaluable guide for change agents looking to help organizations to remain relevant and indeed thrive in an increasingly challenging business environment.
Mark Lines, Co-Creator of Discipline Agile
Jonathan Smart's book is a timely call to action for organizations that wish to survive and thrive in the emerging digitally enabled, people-centric landscape.
Matthew Skelton, Co-Author of Team Topologies
It's no secret that we are living in the Digital Age. Technology companies make up seven of the world's ten largest firms by market capitalization.
And the key to their success is the key to all modern organizations.
Jonathan Smart, business agility practitioner, thought leader, and coach, reveals the patterns and antipatterns that will help organizations from every industry deliver better value sooner, safer, and happier through high levels of engagement, inclusion, and empowerment. Through his decades of experience in the technology world, Smart provides business leaders with a blueprint for creating a world-class organization of the future.
Through Agile and Lean ways of working, business leaders can empower teams to improve production, grow together, and create better services for their customers.
These better ways of working have overflowed from the IT department to every corner of successful organizations, taking root in every industry from aerospace to accounting, insurance to shipping.
This book is not about software development.
It is not a book about the computer industry. This book is about applying agility across the entire organization. It's a book that will put you at the front of change and ahead of the competition.
What's inside
#BVSSH — Learn the definition of Better Value Soon Safer Happier and how antipatterns prevent you from achieving it.
Individual Context — Written and designed with the reader in mind, this book is specifically written and designed to allow you to concentrate on each chapter and antipattern/pattern-set to fit your specific context.
Patterns & Principles — Discover the 26 antipatterns, 26 patterns, and 29 principles that will help guide an organization to desired outcomes and Better Value Sooner Safer Happier.
All Levels — This resource-rich book should be on the desk of every practitioner across the entire organization.
