The Catalyst for Change

AirBNB Uber

Netflix

We must adapt

How to Build a GuildJames Kitney – Guild Master @ IAG

May 2016@JamesKitney @IAGAust

Equipping Ourselves for a Digital Future• Continuous Learning

• Increasing collaboration & connectivity

• More autonomy

• Faster delivery, faster feedback

• Fostering Innovation

• Automate, Automate, Automate

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Enabling the QA’s of the futureManual

Testing with UI

Automation

Automate close to the

code

Independent “Checking” in isolation

Pairing & Collaboratio

n

Centralised Testing

Function

Cross Function Delivery

So, How did we equip our people?

We started a Guild!

What is a Guild?

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Guilds @ IAGDelivery Team

Guild

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Guilds @ IAG

A Guild is a group of people that have expert technical skills in a particular subject matter. As a community we develop our skills further, collaborate and help to create a connected culture. In doing so, Guilds share learning’s, drive consistency, give people opportunities to raise concerns and help raise visibility of career paths. Guilds allow its members to restore a sense of pride and satisfaction within their work. Guilds are an important building block for our organisation.

How we got started?

• Define the landscape

• Form a seed group

• Launch the Guild

• Lots of Lunchtime Learning sessions

We hit some snags

• Not everything worked

• People provided valuable feedback

• Culture impacts your approach

• Initial excitement from launches wore off

• Purely organic approach lacks alignment

• Not everyone understood Guilds or their objective

So we pivoted…

GROW CONNECT PASSION

Where we are now?

• Increase in motivation & engagement

• Innovative ideas

• We are seeing our first thought leaders publishing and speaking

• People are excited to get involved

• People are wanting to work with us

Where to next?

• Turning initiatives into an experience

• Making it scale

Key Takeouts

• Experiment Experiment Experiment – Start small, measure, get feedback - expand

• Be Brave! – It’s OK to fail

• Be transparent

• Guilds have personalities

Thank you.

Twitter: @JamesKitney

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