https://engineering-leadership.hinshelwood.com/tags/working-agreements/ Recent content in Working Agreements on Engineering Leadership in AI & Software Hugo en Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:40:35 +0000 https://engineering-leadership.hinshelwood.com/videos/3-best-ways-to-wreck-kanban-don't-have-a-working-agreement/ Fri, 01 Mar 2024 07:00:17 +0000 https://engineering-leadership.hinshelwood.com/videos/3-best-ways-to-wreck-kanban-don't-have-a-working-agreement/ Not having a working agreement causes chaos, misalignment, and inefficiency in teams using Kanban or similar frameworks. Clear agreements on roles, goals, processes, and workflows are essential for team alignment and success. Development managers should ensure their teams regularly create and review working agreements to avoid confusion and improve outcomes. https://engineering-leadership.hinshelwood.com/tags/working-agreements/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:17:24 +0000 https://engineering-leadership.hinshelwood.com/tags/working-agreements/ Working agreements are foundational norms and principles that teams establish to improve collaboration and effectiveness in their work processes. Originating from the need for clear communication and decision-making frameworks, these agreements delineate how team members interact and fulfil their responsibilities, thereby fostering a shared understanding of expectations. Their importance is underscored in agile and DevOps environments, where accountability and trust are essential for delivering consistent value. By aligning on working agreements, teams can minimise interpersonal conflicts and distractions, allowing them to concentrate on their objectives and engage in continuous improvement. Furthermore, these agreements facilitate long-term systemic change within organisations by empowering teams to self-organise and adapt to challenges, enhancing resilience and agility. By embedding working agreements into the team’s culture, organisations can create an environment conducive to collaboration, ultimately leading to improved performance and value delivery. The clarity and commitment provided by working agreements are vital for navigating the complexities of modern product development, ensuring that teams remain aligned with their goals and values.