naked Agility on naked Agility with Martin Hinshelwood

Martin Hinshelwood

Martin Hinshelwood — Sat, 23 May 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Joanna Płaskonka, Ph.D.

Martin Hinshelwood — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Russell Miller

russell@scrumsimple.com — Sat, 23 May 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Jim Sammons

Martin Hinshelwood — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Dan Brown (KanbanDan)

Martin Hinshelwood — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Engineering Excellence in Action: How NKD Agility Helped SLB Streamline Build and Release Across 90 Teams and 13 Countries

Martin Hinshelwood — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Client Context

SLB (formerly Schlumberger), a global energy technology company, had over 90 engineering teams in 13 locations across 9 countries contributing to a single product: Petrel. Each team operated independently, choosing its own source control system, build environment, and branching strategy. Some used Git, others Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC), SVN, or even in-house tools.

The result? A sprawling mess of incompatibilities, blind spots, and inefficiencies.

The Ask: Build System Simplification and Consolidation

Martin Hinshelwood from NKD Agility was asked to assess the situation and recommend a path forward. The goal: consolidate build and source control processes to enable faster, more reliable, and more autonomous development.

Diagnosis: Extreme Fragmentation and Build Fragility

Martin’s assessment uncovered:

An overloaded central build team: Eight engineers were running 11,000 builds a day, producing 27 petabytes of data annually just to generate one working version of the product per month.
Inconsistent tooling and branching: Each team used their own tools and created custom branches, making traceability and integration nearly impossible.
Lack of ownership and accountability: The build process was treated as someone else’s problem. Teams weren’t accountable for build quality or integration readiness.

Approach: Advisory Engagement Rooted in Engineering Principles

Martin didn’t implement the solution directly. Instead, he provided:

A clear architectural recommendation: Migrate to a single source control system (initially TFVC, later Git) and adopt a consistent branching model across all teams.
Branching strategy and build design consulting: Martin guided SLB on how to design a scalable branching structure that balanced autonomy and alignment.
Education on engineering accountability: He helped reposition build and release as shared engineering responsibilities, not something delegated to a separate team.
Ongoing consultation throughout implementation: While SLB owned the execution, Martin provided iterative guidance and validation.

Outcomes: Ownership, Speed, and Significant Cost Reduction

Shifted ownership of build and release to engineering teams: 90+ teams began managing their own builds and branches, removing bottlenecks.
Reduced central build team from 8 to 2 people: A leaner core team focused on platform support, not firefighting.
Improved developer autonomy and morale: Teams had the tools and responsibility to manage their own work, increasing throughput and engagement.
Simplified engineering processes: With one source control system and a standard branching model, release management became predictable and transparent.

Strategic Reflection: Engineering Excellence Through Real Ownership

This case represents a core NKD Agility principle:

Real engineering excellence isn’t about tighter control, it’s about giving teams the right structure so they can take responsibility for quality, speed, and stability.

Martin’s advice helped SLB do just that: reframe build and release as team-owned practices rather than operational burdens.

Why It Matters for CTOs and Tech Leaders

Technical Leadership: Empowering engineers to own build and release is a foundational move toward scalable, resilient development.
Engineering Excellence: This engagement demonstrates how structural advice, not new tooling alone, can unlock better results across distributed teams.
Strategic Impact: Simplification enabled better forecasting, reduced overhead, and made SLB’s engineering system more future-ready.

Final Takeaway

When engineers own the system they work in, magic happens. NKD Agility helps organizations create the clarity, structure, and culture where that ownership can thrive.

From Fragmentation to Flow: How NKD Agility Helped SLB Consolidate Systems and Standardize Engineering Practice Across 800+ Teams

Martin Hinshelwood — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Client Context

SLB , a global energy technology company with thousands of engineers and product teams worldwide, had grown through decades of decentralized decision-making. The result? Chaos.

They had:

27 Azure DevOps/TFS “collections” (or orgs)
Over 800 projects
900+ custom processes and workflows

Even teams working on the same product were using different fields, forms, and tracking systems. This made it virtually impossible for technical or business leadership to get a coherent view of delivery, performance, or investment.

The Ask: Consolidation and Standardization

SLB engaged Martin Hinshelwood from NKD Agility to lead a massive transformation initiative. The ask? Standardize processes, consolidate collections, and make collaboration across teams and locations possible, all without disrupting work.

Diagnosis: Fragmented Systems, Incoherent Reporting, Organizational Friction

Martin surfaced three root causes:

Inconsistent process definitions: Each team had tailored their DevOps process, creating a sprawl of incompatible metadata that broke dashboards, blocked rollups, and made reporting almost meaningless at the organizational level.
Siloed work structures: Funding and product decisions were tied to regional “technology centers,” creating duplication and misalignment across teams working on the same product.
Poor visibility and governance: Leaders could see code flowing and features emerging but had no insight into the flow of value, obstacles, or team performance across the enterprise.

Approach: Build the Tools. Lead the Migration. Enable the Change.

Martin designed and delivered a multi-year transformation program:

Built custom Azure DevOps migration tools: The scale of the problem demanded automation. Martin built PowerShell scripts (eventually formalized as the Azure DevOps Migration Tools) to handle process standardization and data migration.
Created a standard process: A unified, organization-wide process was defined to support work item consistency, traceability, and governance, without forcing teams into rigid workflows.
Led phased migrations: 800+ teams were migrated through a combination of in-place transformations and cross-collection moves. Projects were grouped into seven primary collections, down from 27.
Enabled buy-in through mandate and coaching: Senior leadership issued a mandate for standardization, but Martin and his team negotiated with each team to ensure their needs were honored within the new system.
Established a DevOps consulting unit: NKD Agility helped build a permanent internal team to train, coach, and support teams post-migration.

Outcomes: Control, Collaboration, and Strategic Clarity

Reduced collections from 27 to 7: Simplified governance, administration, and license management.
Standardized work item tracking: Enabled cross-team reporting, simplified dashboards, and made organizational flow visible.
Enabled inner sourcing and reuse: By bringing projects into fewer collections, teams could now discover, reuse, and collaborate across shared tools and services.
Cut infrastructure costs: Migrating from on-premise TFS to Azure DevOps Cloud eliminated data center bottlenecks and increased uptime.
Improved delivery confidence: With consistent data and centralized visibility, CIOs, CTOs, and product leaders could now spot delivery risks early, forecast more reliably, and make more informed investment decisions.

Strategic Insight: Consolidation as a Prerequisite for Engineering Excellence

This wasn’t just a tooling change. It was a systems intervention.

Martin’s key lesson: “It’s never too late to clean up. Even if you’ve got 900 custom processes and 800 projects, the right system-level thinking, paired with automation and a mandate, can bring order and momentum back to your engineering organization.”

Why It Matters for CTOs and Engineering Leaders

Achieving flow at scale requires architectural coherence, in process, in tooling, in reporting.
Technical leadership isn’t about enforcing rules, but enabling visibility, adaptability, and quality.
Engineering excellence depends on clean systems. This program enabled teams to spend less time wrestling with tooling and more time delivering valuable software.

Final Takeaway

If you want technical leadership, you need system clarity. And that means consolidating where fragmentation is slowing you down.

Product Development Mentoring Program

Martin Hinshelwood — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Product Development Mentoring Program

Course Code: NKD-PDMP

Overview

A comprehensive mentoring program integrating Agile, DevOps, and platform engineering to foster engineering excellence and leadership in modern product development teams.

Target Audience

Developers
Lean Agile Practitioners
Product Development Teams

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

Apply Agile and DevOps practices to navigate engineering uncertainty.
Enhance communication and collaboration between teams and stakeholders.
Prioritize engineering tasks for maximum value delivery.
Implement Kanban strategies to optimize workflow and delivery.
Make evidence-based engineering decisions.
Adapt to technological and market changes using Lean Agile practices.
Foster high-performance engineering teams and leadership.
Scale Agile and DevOps practices across organizations.
Cultivate a culture of continuous engineering innovation.

Course Topics

Agile Product Development Foundations
Integrating Engineering Excellence with Agile
Scrum Framework and Team Dynamics
Code Quality, Technical Debt, and Agile Architecture
Test-Driven Development, Pair Programming, Agile Testing
DevOps Integration with Scrum
Kanban and Flow Principles for Software Development
Managing Work in Progress (WIP) and Predictability
Scaling Agile with the Nexus Framework
Organizational Alignment and Value Delivery
Evidence-Based Management and Continuous Improvement

Delivery Format

Immersive mentoring program
Includes accredited training modules and hands-on application
Real-world consulting and coaching

Proficiency Level

Intermediate

Course Length

Not explicitly stated; includes multiple phases and accredited courses (typical duration varies by organization)

Trainer/Designer

Martin Hinshelwood

Vendor

NKDAgility

Certification

Participants receive access and exam attempts for the following Scrum.org certifications:

Professional Scrum Master™ I (PSM I)
Professional Scrum Developer™
Professional Scrum™ with Kanban
Scaled Professional Scrum™

Note: This program includes accredited Scrum.org courses as part of its phased curriculum.

Break organisational silos and stop tolerating bad branching models

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Modern software organisations don’t fail because of weak teams; they fail because leadership tolerates bad system design , in code, in team structure, and in delivery practice.

This issue calls on CTOs and development managers to step up as technical leaders who shape the system, not just manage people.

1. End Branch Chaos: Kill Topic Branches

Topic branches feel safe , they are not.
They delay integration, block feedback, and increase risk.

Leadership must enforce:

Trunk-based development.
Fast merges, continuous integration, and automated validation.
Feature toggles, not deferred integration.

You need to stop promoting code through branches tied to environments and instead build a system optimised for flow.

2. Dismantle Silos: Build Adaptive Delivery Systems

Organisational silos create handoffs, disconnect accountability, and slow down value delivery.

Leaders must:

Restructure around cross-functional product teams.
Push decision-making to the team level.
Use observability and automation to replace manual coordination.
Define and broadcast clear, shared system goals.

This is not reorg theatre; it’s redesigning the delivery system for adaptability.

3. Refactor Leadership: Remove Business Logic from the Database

Stored procedures carrying business logic are a leadership-smuggled bottleneck.
They:

Tangle persistence with domain logic.
Obstruct testing and refactoring.
Introduce invisible complexity and hidden risks.

As a technical leader, you must set non-negotiable architectural boundaries:

Keep business logic in the application layer.
Treat databases as persistence engines, not logic hubs.
Demand CI/CD coverage across the full system.

Leadership Accountability

Technical leadership is not optional decoration. It is the deliberate shaping of:

Architectures that enable agility.
Teams that maximise flow.
Governance that reinforces adaptability.

If you hold the title of CTO or development manager, you are accountable for systemic delivery health , not just delivery reports.

Want an external assessment or alignment session? Schedule time with us and tackle the technical debt at the leadership level , because that’s where real transformation begins.

I look forward to continuing our work together. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Best regards,
Martin Hinshelwood
Naked Agility Ltd.

What’s New

We continue to offer our mentor programs and training programs for new and existing customers. We have changed how out customers work with us with the same great content and delivery.

Check out our latest resources and updates:

Recent Podcasts

Engineering Excellence: The Quiet Discipline Behind Great Teams

Martin Hinshelwood — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Why Engineering Matters More Than Methodology

When teams struggle to ship reliably or sustain quality, the instinct is to reach for a new framework or management model. But engineering excellence isn’t a process problem, it’s a system problem. Poor flow, brittle architecture, and invisible feedback loops can’t be fixed by reorganising teams or renaming roles.

Scrum, Kanban, and DevOps all depend on a foundation of disciplined engineering. Without it, every method collapses into chaos. Engineering excellence is about building that foundation deliberately: through habits, clarity, and technical mastery.

Engineering Excellence Mentorship in 1 hour a week!

What We Mean by Engineering Excellence

It’s not perfectionism. It’s the steady pursuit of better:

Design for maintainability and flow. Clear architecture enables adaptation without fear.
Build quality in. Automated tests, peer review, and CI/CD turn rework into learning.
Make work visible. Observability and flow metrics surface where value slows.
Iterate deliberately. Short feedback loops make improvement a habit, not a project.

When teams apply these principles, they gain predictability and confidence , not by working harder, but by working with greater clarity.

How to Build It – One Hour at a Time

Improving engineering capability doesn’t require grand transformation programmes. It requires sustained, focused attention on the system of work.

The Engineering Excellence Mentorship provides structure for that discipline:

Observe reality. Examine how work actually flows through the system , from commit to customer.
Expose constraints. Identify where technical debt, unclear ownership, or missing feedback loops block flow.
Experiment. Introduce small, measurable changes in practice , from better branching to improved release automation.
Reflect and adapt. Review results, learn, and refine the system.

One hour a week is enough to create continuous momentum when it’s focused on real work, not theory.

What Teams Learn Over Time

Reliability – Deployments become routine, not stressful.
Speed – Flow improves as waste is removed.
Learning – Observability makes causes visible instead of hidden.
Sustainability – Engineering capacity grows instead of being consumed.

These gains compound. As teams stabilise delivery, they recover the space to innovate.

Lessons from the Field

A cross-border product team once approached this mentorship seeking help with product ownership. What they discovered instead was a gap in engineering flow. Eight weeks of focused mentorship aligned product and engineering, cut cycle time by 30%, and rebuilt collaboration around shared outcomes. The shift wasn’t cultural theatre – it was structural improvement.

Engineering Excellence as a Strategic Asset

Engineering capability determines how fast an organisation can learn. The faster you can validate, adapt, and ship with confidence, the faster strategy becomes reality. That’s why technical excellence is the real enabler of agility.

Take the Next Step

Start by examining your own system of work:

Where does work queue or stall?
How confident are you in your releases?
What information do you wish you had sooner?

Then invest a single hour a week to inspect and improve those answers. Over time, that rhythm builds the conditions for real agility – one deliberate improvement at a time.

Engineering Excellence Mentorship in 1 hour a week! or go straight to booking your first session

Beyond Training: How NKD Agility’s Mentorship Model Transformed a Product Management Team Across Borders

Martin Hinshelwood — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Client Context

A mid-sized UK-based insurance software company serving platforms like ComparetheMarket found themselves at a critical inflection point. Product management teams in the UK and engineering teams in Poland struggled to align. The challenge? Building products for a UK market that Polish engineers had no context for, combined with a broader confusion around roles, strategy, and delivery.

They had five product owners and a senior product manager, but no clarity on how to move away from top-down leadership to an agile, outcome-driven approach. Communication gaps, context loss, and fractured collaboration were stalling progress.

The Ask: Product Owner Training

The initial request was standard: product owner training. But Martin Hinshelwood, Founder of NKD Agility, saw a bigger opportunity. He proposed a Product Management Mentorship Program, an immersive, work-integrated model rooted in deliberate practice.

Diagnosis: A System Problem, Not a People Problem

Martin quickly identified systemic dysfunction:

A lack of shared understanding about what a Product Owner actually does: Roles had titles, but little clarity on responsibilities, decision-making rights, or how success was measured. This confusion crippled prioritization and value delivery.
Engineers disconnected from the business domain: Developers in Poland were building features for the UK insurance market without understanding its regulatory nuances or customer expectations. This lack of context led to misaligned solutions.
Misaligned priorities across geographies: Product management in the UK and development in Poland were operating on different assumptions and uncoordinated timelines, leading to delivery friction and rework.
Teams stuck between command-and-control habits and agile aspirations: The organization wanted agility but was still making centralized decisions and enforcing control structures that prevented real empowerment.

This wasn’t about introducing a new framework. It was about re-engineering how learning, decision-making, and leadership happened day to day.

Approach: Mentorship as Infrastructure

Over 8 weeks, Martin delivered a customized mentorship experience combining:

Core product management concepts from Scrum.org : Grounding the team in a shared language and foundation of modern product thinking.
Real-world examples and mirrors from other organizations: Helping participants see that their challenges weren’t unique, and that other teams had overcome them.
Weekly assignments to apply new practices inside real work: Instead of theory, the team had to apply what they learned inside their backlog, sprints, and stakeholder conversations.
Live coaching and feedback loops: Each week provided space for reflection, challenge, and iteration, not just learning, but changing.

Instead of theory in a vacuum, teams got support applying change where it mattered: inside their system of work.

One week, two sub-teams were given the same assignment. One said, “We can’t do this here.” The other succeeded. Same org, same resources. That contrast sparked peer learning, reflection, and creative problem-solving, real agile in action.

Outcomes: Engagement, Capability, and Real Change

Within 8 weeks:

Product owners became more confident, capable, and collaborative: They moved from passive coordinators to active shapers of value, engaging stakeholders and engineering with greater clarity.
Engineering engagement increased as context improved: Developers began to understand why features mattered, not just what to build, resulting in better technical decisions.
Communication between UK and Poland became more fluid and effective: With aligned language, goals, and rituals, the distributed teams began working as one.
Teams began solving previously intractable problems on their own: Empowered by deliberate practice, teams stopped escalating every challenge upward and started experimenting with local solutions.

The CEO later remarked:

“After a full day of training and a time zone shift, they were still engaged, still asking questions, still figuring out how to make this stick. That tells me we’ve got something special happening here.”

Strategic Impact for CTOs and Tech Leaders

This case demonstrates what every CTO is seeking:

Technical Leadership: By clearly defining roles, empowering decision-making, and supporting mentorship, the organization unlocked a stronger product-engineering partnership.
Engineering Excellence: With better context, reduced rework, and stronger feedback loops, the engineering function was able to improve both quality and throughput.
Organizational Agility: Instead of pushing frameworks, NKD Agility helped create conditions where people could own problems and lead change from where they stood, a hallmark of resilient, adaptive organizations.

Martin Hinshelwood doesn’t deliver courses. He delivers transformation, in context, in flow, and in partnership.

Final Takeaway

Immersive mentorship is not a luxury. It’s the only path to sustainable, scalable change in complex environments.

Why Resilience Demands More Than Survival

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In resilient organisations, resilience is not about bouncing back; it is about bouncing forward. Teams that survive chaos but leave behind technical debt are not resilient , they are brittle.

Real resilience comes from embedding rigorous engineering discipline. Every time you patch a production issue, you must ask:

Did we improve our automated tests?
Did we harden CI/CD pipelines?
Did we strengthen observability and monitoring?
Did we reinforce the architecture or code quality?

Without these, you are not resilient , you are hiding behind Agile theatre.

Detecting Agile Bullshit in Resilience Talk

Here is how to spot teams and leaders pretending they are resilient:

“We’re Agile!” but they cannot deliver usable product every sprint.
“We do Scrum!” but there is no working increment, just carryover.
“We’re resilient!” but they rely on manual rollbacks and hero debugging.
“We have CI/CD!” but deployments are locked behind manual approvals or compliance bottlenecks.

If you hear these, stop and challenge them. Resilient systems show up in empirical delivery, not in slide decks or postmortem write-ups.

Technical Health: Your Best Resilience Investment

Operational resilience is engineered in the small:

Small batch sizes
Continuous delivery to expose issues early
Automated recovery processes
Telemetry and feedback loops driving change

Resilience is a leadership accountability. Product Owners set priorities that invest in system health, not just features. Scrum Masters challenge process rot and technical compromises. Engineering leaders fund cross-team technical enablement.

Without technical health, there is no sustainable delivery. Without sustainable delivery, there is no real resilience.

I look forward to continuing our work together. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Best regards,
Martin Hinshelwood
Naked Agility Ltd.

What’s New

We continue to offer our mentor programs and training programs for new and existing customers. We have changed how out customers work with us with the same great content and delivery.

Check out our latest resources and updates:

Recent Podcasts

Martin Hinshelwood in EST: Book Expert Support for Engineering Excellence

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Now in EST. Ready to Raise the Bar?

For the next six months, I’m operating in Eastern Standard Time (EST). That means real-time access for organisations in the US and Mexico looking to raise the bar in engineering excellence and technical leadership.

If your teams are stuck gaming metrics, stuck behind theatre, or just stuck , this is your chance to bring in real help that cuts through the noise and gets to the core of how delivery systems work.

As usual newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive insights and resources and the current focus is on breaking the estimation trap that’s holding back so many teams. These are preview posts that are not yet published on the main site.

Preview Highlight Post: The Estimation Trap (Publishes in 46 days)

If you’re still tracking estimate vs actual to manage delivery, you’re not managing delivery. You’re performing theatre.

The Estimation Trap breaks this down:

“When performance is judged by how closely estimates match actuals, teams shift into survival mode. You don’t get more predictability. You get fear, silence, and a culture optimised for hiding reality.”

That fear poisons delivery. Here’s what I’m seeing in real teams:

Engineers pad estimates to hit targets.
Risky work gets buried or ignored.
Delivery optics become more important than user outcomes.
“Green” dashboards mask red-hot fires.

And it’s not just dysfunction. It’s organisational self-sabotage. The teams know it. Leadership suspects it. But no one says it out loud.

I do.

Other upcomming posts in preview this month include:

We are seeking feedback and comments on all of these posts, so please feel free to leave your thoughts on the posts.

What We’re Fixing Right Now

In the last month alone, I’ve worked with teams to:

Kill off fake velocity metrics and build actionable flow dashboards.
Dismantle harmful estimation rituals that only serve PowerPoint.
Design delivery systems built on evidence, not compliance.
Align engineering effort with measurable product value, not stakeholder guesswork.

The result?
Faster feedback, fewer surprises, and less theatre.

Book a Real Conversation - No Fluff, No Pitch

If you’re ready to stop pretending and start improving, let’s talk.
We’ll take 30 minutes, inspect your current system of delivery, and explore what’s holding your teams back.

👉 Book a free 30-minute call

There’s no sales script. Just candour, technical expertise, and pragmatic options.

See you soon.
Martin Hinshelwood
Principal Consultant, naked Agility
Focused on engineering excellence and delivery leadership

DevOps Technology Consulting that delivers

Martin Hinshelwood — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

DevOps consulting that creates coherent delivery systems, not tool sprawl. We provide operating model design, pipeline architecture, DevSecOps integration, and team enablement for organisations serious about flow, quality, and engineering economics.

Agentic Agility: Why You Need Both Human and AI Agency

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Agility today is not about ceremonies or frameworks. It is about agentic agility , the deliberate interaction between human agency (people making meaningful, accountable decisions) and AI agency (systems that can act and adapt on their own).

Most organisations fail because they only get one side right:

They empower humans but leave automation gaps.
Or they throw AI at problems without human mastery, making the system brittle.

Neither works. You need both.

Why This Should Matter to You

As a leader, you are accountable for outcomes. That means:

Ensuring your teams self-manage and own delivery , they are not process-followers.
Leveraging AI and automation to extend human capability, not replace it.
Delivering measurable value by combining human feedback loops and adaptive systems.

This is not theoretical. Companies that miss this either drown in complexity or waste time automating the wrong things.

What We See in the Field

From years of consulting, here’s what we know works:

Teams with clear human accountability (Product Owners, Scrum Masters, developers) outperform those stuck in roles without ownership.
Teams using AI and automation for telemetry, deployment, testing, and feedback loops reduce failure, cut cycle time, and build delivery confidence.
Organisations that combine both see 10–40% better throughput and quality , not because of magic, but because they shape the system of work, not just the tools.

What You Should Do Next

Here’s your short, sharp checklist:

Identify where humans must make decisions. Clarify their accountability.
Identify where AI or automation can remove waste, amplify insights, or increase speed.
Design your system of work to bring both together. This is not an either-or game.

If you only focus on humans, you burn out. If you only focus on AI, you build fragility.

Ready to Move?

If you want to build a system where humans and AI work together to drive continuous delivery of value, let’s talk. We help leadership teams align goals, practices, and enabling technology.

Agentic agility is not a buzzword. It is your competitive baseline.

I look forward to continuing our work together. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Best regards,
Martin Hinshelwood
Naked Agility Ltd.

What’s New

We continue to offer our mentor programs and training programs for new and existing customers. We have changed how out customers work with us with the same great content and delivery.

Check out our latest resources and updates:

Recent Podcasts

Policing for the 21st Century: How NKD Agility Enabled Organisational Change in the Ghana Police Service

Martin Hinshelwood — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Client Context

The Ghana Police Service (GPS) , one of West Africa’s largest public institutions, faced entrenched structural challenges: rising crime, limited public trust, and decades of fragmented reform efforts. With over 33,000 officers and 14,000 support personnel, modernising such a vast and hierarchical system demanded more than surface-level change.

Under the leadership of Inspector General of Police (IGP) David Asante-Apeatu , GPS aimed to become one of the world’s top ten police forces within four years, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 16. The question wasn’t just what to change, but how to change in a system optimised for command and control, not learning and adaptation.

The Ask: Transformation Through Scrum

The IGP had experienced Scrum firsthand during his time at Interpol. GPS didn’t ask for training. They committed to transformation. The objective: build an empirical, accountable, and transparent system of work that could enable change at every level, from headquarters to regional commands.

Diagnosis: A System Built for Control, Not Adaptation

NKD Agility, working with regional partner Akaditi , quickly identified that the core dysfunction wasn’t knowledge or commitment, it was structural:

Command-and-control practices stifled initiative and learning.
No empirical mechanism for change meant reforms lacked follow-through.
Fragmented efforts and no change network prevented scale.
Technology adoption was disconnected from operations, limiting impact.

GPS needed more than Agile practices. They needed a social technology for coordinating learning and leadership across a hierarchy.

Approach: Embedding Empirical Change Through Professional Scrum

Martin Hinshelwood from NKD Agility delivered the first-ever Applying Professional Scrum (APS) classes in West Africa, designed not as workshops, but as hands-on, full-sprint experiences.

Rank-and-file officers built working software, despite most having never written code. This forced practical, collaborative learning.
Scrum was introduced as a system for organisational change, not just product delivery.
Civilians and officers trained together, reflecting the cross-functional nature of future transformation teams.
Sprint Reviews and Retrospectives were used to reflect on their own institution, not abstract examples.

Meanwhile, at the leadership level, NKD Agility, in collaboration with Akaditi, supported the IGP in establishing the Transformation Programme Office (TPO), a full Scrum implementation using the Evidence-Based Management (EBM) framework. The IGP acted as Product Owner, setting objectives for 28-day Sprints that drove transformation initiatives from drone squads to ePolicing rollouts.

Outcomes: Real Change, In Every Sprint

New capabilities delivered every Sprint: GPS launched a public mobile app, digitised CID forms, and introduced a new website and internal SMS platform.
Scrum Teams formed across regions to initiate change initiatives with local ownership.
A national backlog of transformation items was created by officers themselves.
Empirical feedback loops were embedded from the IGP’s war room to regional precincts.

Even officers initially skeptical of Scrum were converted through experience: not by persuasion, but by building, delivering, and improving.

Strategic Insight: Change Must Be Practised, Not Preached

This engagement reframed change as a professional discipline.

The Ghana Police Service didn’t wait for a perfect plan. With Akaditi & NKD Agility’s support, they created a system for learning in public, led by the IGP and backed by the President of Ghana. Their transformation wasn’t top-down, but distributed, enabled by structure and experimentation.

Final Takeaway

Scrum didn’t modernise the Ghana Police Service. It gave them a system to modernise themselves. And that’s the point.

July 2023 NKDAgility: Introducing NKD Agility's Next Generation of Agile Practitioners: Transforming Work, Building Success, and Achieving Greatness in the 21st Century!

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:51:34 +0000

Dear NKD Agilists!

We are thrilled to unveil our latest endeavour in revolutionizing how we work, build, and achieve results in the 21st century. Brace yourselves for an extraordinary announcement: NKD Agility proudly presents our new multi-week immersive learning experiences designed to empower individuals like you with the skills, knowledge, and competence to become the next generation of agile practitioners.

In this rapidly evolving world, where adaptability and innovation are essential, the demand for agile professionals has never been greater. At NKD Agility, we believe that true transformation begins with a deep understanding of methodologies such as scrum , agile leadership , product ownership, and the application of professional scrum . Our immersive learning experiences are meticulously crafted to take you on a journey of personal and professional growth, equipping you with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace.

Picture yourself immersed in an environment that fosters collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement . Our expert trainers will guide you through a series of hands-on exercises, real-world case studies, and interactive workshops, ensuring that you not only grasp the theoretical foundations but also develop the practical skills to excel in an agile setting. Imagine being able to take what you have learned, apply it in your working environment, and then return to class the following week, armed with questions and reviews of what worked and what didn’t work.

Imagine a learning experience that blends the best of training, coaching , and consulting. Live, real-time, on-the-job.

NKD Agility leads with a deep commitment to nurturing a new breed of agile practitioners who excel in their craft and champion the values of collaboration, adaptability, and continuous learning . We believe that the true measure of success lies in delivering exceptional products and services, building high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of innovation.

By joining our multi-week immersive learning experiences, you become part of a community of like-minded individuals who share a common aspiration: to transform how we work, what we build, and what we achieve. Together, we will redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in the 21st century.

So, are you ready to embark on a transformative journey that will unlock your full potential as an agile practitioner? Join NKD Agility today and be at the forefront of the agile revolution. Together, let’s shape the future of work and create a lasting impact on the world around us. Remember, you get a 30% discount on all courses if you are an NKD Agility ALUMNI. We also have a 20% discount referral program that you can leverage to optimize your training investment.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ypVIcgSEvMc

https://youtu.be/IXmOAB5e44w

Yours in agile excellence,

Martin Hinshelwood

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“20”]

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

Our Trainers

[wpv-view name=“2023-Newsletter-Trainers” limit=“6”]

What have we been up to?

A short list of our blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work In Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

Agile Actually Podcast

What Classes are Right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are or would like to be!

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help Product Managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Contact me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

Business Agility Consultancy

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Consulting that aligns strategy, delivery, and organisational structure to create faster decision-making, clearer visibility, and the ability to respond to change without losing control.

Exclusive Webcast #2: "Agile Leadership & Agile Transformation" with Dr. Joanna Płaskonka & Martin Hinshelwood

Martin Hinshelwood — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 12:31:09 +0000

🌟 Exclusive Webcast #2: “Agile Leadership & Agile Transformation ” with Dr. Joanna Płaskonka & Martin Hinshelwood 🌟

Dive into the world of Agile with two of the industry’s foremost experts, Dr. Joanna Płaskonka and Martin Hinshelwood, in an enlightening 18-minute webcast that promises to reshape your understanding of Agile Leadership and Transformation.

https://youtu.be/tPX-wc6pG7M?si=rI _rH8uOmMHUCOcu

🔍 What Awaits You?

Expert Insights: With Dr. Płaskonka’s academic prowess in Agile methodologies and Hinshelwood’s vast industry experience, expect a harmonious blend of theory and practice.
Transformational Strategies: Learn the key elements that drive successful Agile transformations and how leadership plays a pivotal role.
Interactive Q&A: Engage directly with the experts, seeking answers to your most pressing questions.
Actionable Takeaways: Walk away with practical strategies to lead and champion Agile transformations in your organisation.

🚀 Why This Webcast?

Whether you’re an executive, a manager, or an Agile enthusiast, this webcast is tailored to provide insights into the evolving landscape of Agile leadership and the nuances of organisational transformation. Gain a competitive edge by understanding the principles that underpin successful Agile transformations.

📅 Reserve Your Spot!

Spaces are limited, and this unique opportunity to learn from the best won’t last long. Sign up now and embark on a journey that promises to elevate your Agile leadership and transformation strategies!

Yours in agile excellence,

Martin Hinshelwood

Upcoming Training Classes for Leaders

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“20” course=“11878”]

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

What classes are right for leaders?

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are or would like to be! For leaders specifically we would recommend the following:

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Contact me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

May 2023 NKDAgility: Leveling up giveaway of Professional Scrum

Martin Hinshelwood — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:52:53 +0000

The world is spinning faster than ever, with more players than ever.

The introduction of Chat GPT has excited a few people but alarmed many. Sure, Chat GPT is nowhere near as bright as many of the other AI projects in play. Still, it is already showing how mediocre, repeatable work can be designated to AI or automated. This a glimpse of a future where the minimum standard won’t be enough, and you’ll need to dig deeper and deliver high-value work.

As a member of our NKD Agility tribe, we do not doubt that you’re not canon fodder for AI, but it does beg the question of where and how you will level up. What are you doing to future-proof your work capabilities in future? Many people have completed the PSM course, but never progressed. Others have invested in the PSPO course but never progressed. Think about the people who have progressed and invested in coaching , mentoring , and skills development programs. Think about the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.

Agile and Scrum encourage and promote tough conversations. Moments of truth when we look each other in the eye and ask hard questions. Questions enable us to think about what tomorrow looks like, how we will contribute value – to our own lives and in our professional lives, and how we will stay one step ahead of our competitors – current or emerging.

If you’d like some career consulting or to ask a few questions about what better could look like, reach out to me at martin@nkdagility.com or my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinhinshelwood/

As part of our commitment to building the next generation of super scrum stars, we’re paying for two people to level up in one of our APS (Applying Professional Scrum ) or PSM II (Advanced Professional Scrum) courses. Simply go to my LinkedIn post for the competition and nominate a friend, a family member, a colleague, or a peer, and they could win a course. If you want to be the person who wins the course, ask your friends to nominate you on the LinkedIn posts, and we’ll count those recommendations.

We look forward to your thoughts on how you will level up in 2023. Drop us a line or a comment on LinkedIn.

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“20”]

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

Our Trainers

[wpv-view name=“2023-Newsletter-Trainers” limit=“6”]

What have we been up to?

A short list of our blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work In Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

Agile Actually Podcast

What Classes are Right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are or would like to be!

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help Product Managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Contact me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

April 2023 NKDAgility: Applying Professional Scrum

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:22 +0000

Learning about scrum is important, but growing your capability to deploy and implement scrum effectively is way more important.

All the theory in the world doesn’t help if your team are grappling with the action elements. Actively doing the work, creating the product implement, integrating customer feedback and data into decision-making for the next product evolution. It often isn’t scrum that is the problem, it is a fundamental lack of knowledge and understanding around the core pillars of Empiricism that under pin scrum.

Transparency . Inspection. Adaptation.

One of my favourite courses to present, and most effective workshops to run with teams, is called Applying Professional Scrum (APS) and it may be the perfect opportunity for you.

If you can’t build momentum and leverage continuous improvement .
If you keep tripping on the basics and can’t effectively remove impediments.
If you use scrum terms and attend scrum events, but don’t see improved times to market, increased customer satisfaction , and reduced costs.
If you aren’t achieving your desired returns on agile investment.

If this looks and feels like you, watch a few of the videos below and gain some insight into how applying scrum professionally may be a game-changer for you.

News: Agile Actually Podcast

My good friend Simon Reindl and I just started a podcast and the first episode is live on https://youtu.be/YiQFgl0JCRE :

Welcome to Agile Actually, the podcast that brings you authentic agile concepts, insights, and wisdom from two of the industry’s most respected, progressive agile experts. Hosted by Martin Hinshelwood and Simon Reindl, both of whom have extensive experience working with agile in a variety of industries in some of the most diverse applications on Earth, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their agile practice.

Episode 1: Life coaches masquerading as Agile Coaches

In this month’s edition of #agileactually, Simon Reindl and Martin Hinshelwood explore the latest trend in #agile for a life coach to present themselves as an #agilecoach to organizations. In most cases, an #agilecoach or #agilecosultant will have years of experience as an #agilepractitioner, actively working in an #agileteam, followed by certification and practise as an #agilecoach leading multiple #agileteams in multiple applications.

That’s why it’s controversial that someone with very little #professionalcoaching skills and #agile knowledge would present themselves to organizations as an #agilecoach. Good? Bad? Or just plain ugly? Find out in this month’s Agile Actually Podcast.

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“20”]

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

Our Trainers

[wpv-view name=“2023-Newsletter-Trainers” limit=“6”]

What have we been up to?

A short list of out blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work In Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

Agile Actually Podcast

What Classes are Right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are, or would like to be!

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help Product Managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Reach out to me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

Agile Kata and a whole lot more with facilitation, backlog management, and evidence based management!

Martin Hinshelwood — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 12:35:48 +0000

The new year is now fully underway, and the immersive 8-week PSPO, PSM, and PAL are all running… we have a full house! next up is the set of complimentary Skills classes from Scrum .org as well as the new Agile Kata class and we have them all.

Agile Kata Professional - The first class is next week, with Joanna at the helm. This will be awesome. Transform your agile journey with our Agile Kata course, designed to o**vercome the common challenges in agile transformations**.
Professional Scrum Facilitation Skills (PSFS) with Certification - Hosted by the Awesome Kanban Dan this immersive facilitation class will help new Scrum Masters and experienced hands navigate the goan zone of conflict within the team.
PAL-Evidence Based Management (PAL-EBM) with Certification - Another one with Joanna leading, which is in our new immersive format. It shows how leaders can guide their teams toward continuously improving customer outcomes, organizational capabilities, and business results. EBM focuses on customer value and intentional experimentation to systematically improve an organization’s performance and achieve its strategic goals .
Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills (PSPBMS) with Certification - Ill be facilitating this immersive Backlog Management class just before going on paternity leave! Catch me while you can and unlock the secrets of effective backlog management, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making. Whether you’re a seasoned Scrum Master or an aspiring Product Owner , this course promises to elevate your skills, offering a blend of theory and real-world application.

Remember, change is easier with a friend: Buy 1, Get 1 FREE still applies until the end of March!

-MrHinsh

P.S. Hurry, the exclusive 20% discount offer is valid for a limited time only! Enrol today and start your journey to becoming a Product Owner, Scrum Master or Agile Leader. Your future self will thank you!

Martin Hinshelwood Professional Scrum Trainer, Professional Kanban Trainer, & Microsoft MVP: DevOps

naked Agility with Martin Hinshelwood | https://nkdagility.com +44 7493 404 468| https://wa.me/447493404468

Upcoming Training Classes

20% DISCOUNT ON ALL CLASSES UNTIL 31ST MARCH 2024!

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“8”]

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

Economic Returns from Engineering

Martin Hinshelwood — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Transform engineering from cost centre to competitive advantage through flow economics, strategic visibility, and evidence-based decision-making that connects technical work to business outcomes.

Product Management Mentor Program

Martin Hinshelwood — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Product Management Mentor Program

Course Code: NKD-PMMP

Overview

A comprehensive, immersive mentoring program designed to develop visionary product leaders by equipping participants with advanced Agile, product management, and evidence-based leadership skills.

Target Audience

Product Managers
Product Owners
Lean Agile Practitioners
Teams seeking to elevate product management practices
Individuals aspiring to become influential product leaders
Organizations embedding Agile principles

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

Apply Agile methodologies to navigate uncertainty and adapt to market changes.
Align stakeholders and enhance communication for improved collaboration.
Master prioritization techniques for complex product environments.
Integrate user experience (UX) principles into product development.
Make evidence-based, data-driven decisions.
Build and lead high-performing, innovative teams.
Scale Agile practices across the organization.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Course Topics

Value-driven product development
Agile product management
Hypothesis-driven product management
Integrating user experience in Agile teams
Evidence-based management and decision-making
Stakeholder alignment and engagement
Lean backlog management
Scaling Agile practices
Continuous improvement frameworks

Delivery Format

Immersive mentoring program
Includes accredited training modules, real-world consulting, and coaching
Community support and ongoing post-completion engagement

Proficiency Level

Intermediate to Advanced

Course Length

Not explicitly stated; program includes multiple phases and accredited courses. (Contact vendor for details.)

Trainer/Designer

Martin Hinshelwood

Vendor

NKDAgility

Certification

Participants receive access and exam attempts for the following Scrum.org certifications (one per phase):

Professional Scrum Product Owner™ I (PSPO I)
Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II (PSPO II)
Professional Scrum™ with User Experience Certification (PSU)
Professional Agile Leadership™ – Evidence-Based Management™ (PAL-EBM)

Engineering Excellence in One Hour A Week

Martin Hinshelwood — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Weekly engineering support that provides clear visibility into delivery systems, technical debt, and flow constraints, enabling better decisions about modernisation, quality, and predictable delivery.

2024 Learning journeys and extending the learning process

Martin Hinshelwood — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 12:00:50 +0000

We have already had great success with our immersive learning classes, with the 8-week Professional Scrum Product Owner gaining high acclaim not only from the students but also from their managers and leaders:

Five of the participants were from this one company, and the message above was from the CEO! I loved the experience, but I love the feedback even more.

Below, you will find our 24Q1 schedule and the awesome classes and bundles that we are bringing and we have added a 20% discount on all classes until April 2024!

Extending the Learning Process

Our courses are traditionally interactive 2-day learning experiences within a classroom setting, emphasizing valuable, hands-on outcomes. Immersion Training offers a refreshing alternative, breaking the class into shorter sessions across several weeks. This format not only extends learning into real-world business applications but also incorporates reflective sessions for continuous improvement , making it a highly effective and practical approach.

Incremental Classroom Learning: In Immersion Training, classes are concise, live sessions spanning several weeks. Each session introduces and practices a new concept, allowing students to digest the material at a comfortable pace and ensuring a deep understanding before moving forward. Sessions are capped at 4 hours to keep learners engaged and to foster an effective learning environment.
Outcome-Based Assignments: These assignments, tied to each classroom session, are designed to apply the concepts learned directly. They focus on outcomes rather than outputs, catering to various backgrounds and skill levels. The emphasis is on innovation and boundary-pushing, not just completion, making the assignments relevant for both new and seasoned learners.
Facilitated Reflections: After the initial session, each class starts with a reflection period. Here, students and their Professional Scrum Trainer discuss the assignments, sharing challenges and successes. These sessions are vital for learning, encouraging peer interaction and actionable feedback, and fostering collective growth and understanding.

Starting in 2024, we will be running immersive classes in bundles as Learning Journeys that you can book together, or

BOOK TODAY <– Bulk discount available & alumni discounts apply!

You can get them on their own or as a bundle, public or private!

Yours in agile excellence,

-MrHinsh

Martin Hinshelwood Professional Scrum Trainer, Professional Kanban Trainer, & Microsoft MVP: DevOps

naked Agility with Martin Hinshelwood | https://nkdagility.com +44 7493 404 468| https://wa.me/447493404468

Upcoming Training Classes

20% DISCOUNT ON ALL CLASSES UNTIL 31ST MARCH 2024!

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“8”]

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

What have we been up to?

A short list of our blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work in Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

Agile Actually Podcast

What classes are right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are or would like to be!

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help product managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Contact me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

February 2023 NKDAgility: How much of an impact can a strong, skilled product owner have?

Martin Hinshelwood — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 09:31:15 +0000

Over the past few months, we’ve seen mass layoffs from tech giants around the world. From Amazon to Meta, and heaps of smaller organizations across the board.

In conjunction with this, we’ve also seen a great deal of predictions for a rough 2023 from an economic perspective. A deep recession that is anticipated to last until the second quarter of 2024.

So, what does your organization need to focus on to initially survive, and then thrive, through this period of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity? How do you focus on consistently delivering value to customers and build competitive advantage when you have less people and financial resources than before? How do you galvanize the teams you have around creating and capturing value for customers in a way that aligns with organizational strategic objectives and goals?

Product Ownership is a great place to start.

A great product owner acts like the CEO of the product and works closely with product development teams, customers, and product stakeholders to focus on building the most valuable product or solving the most compelling problems. They are laser focused on prioritizing work that delights customers and aligns with core organizational objectives – such as increasing customer loyalty and referrals – to ensure maximum returns on product development investments.

Tough gig, but it’s also a game-changer when you get it right. In this short video, I talk about the kind of impact a strong, skilled product owner can have in your organization.

Community

The Lean-Agile Practitioners Community has grown to over 1300+ members, and new usability updates by our platform team will hopefully make it an even bigger success this year.

It’s free to join the community, and our students get access to the Professional Scrum space for 1-on-1 Coaching , The Situation Room, & Tails from the Trenches!

Thank you very much to all who are making this community more extraordinary.

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“20”]

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

Our Trainers

[wpv-view name=“2023-Newsletter-Trainers” limit=“6”]

What have we been up to?

A short list of out blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work In Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

What Classes are Right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are, or would like to be!

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help Product Managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Reach out to me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

NKD Insights™

Martin Hinshelwood — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Team assessment tool that creates visibility into collaboration quality and teamwork effectiveness based on research evidence. Assess one team or many, receive specific feedback, and track improvement over time.

Assessment Tools:

Questionnaire: https://questionnaire.nkdagility.com

Team Dashboard: https://teamsdashboard.nkdagility.com

Coaching Centre: https://coachingcenter.nkdagility.com

Upskilled Engineering Teams

Martin Hinshelwood — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Build engineering capability that becomes competitive advantage. Teams gain the confidence, technical depth, and modern practices to deliver reliably without external dependency or knowledge concentration.

Unlock the Power of Effective Backlog Management with our new course from Scrum.org

Martin Hinshelwood — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 13:30:46 +0000

Dive deep into the world of Scrum ’s Product Backlog Management with our meticulously crafted course. Master the nuances of understanding your product’s core, engaging with stakeholders, and making data-driven decisions. Elevate your Scrum journey with insights from seasoned Professional Scrum Trainers. 🚀

Why This Class Is Essential For Your Corporate Team

The Product Backlog is the heart of every Scrum project. But managing it effectively is an art that requires a deep understanding of your product, its stakeholders, and the market dynamics. Our ‘Professional Scrum Product Backlog Mastery’ course offers a blend of theory and real-world application, ensuring your team is equipped to turn Scrum visions into actionable strategies. Dive deep into product essence comprehension, stakeholder engagement mastery, and empirical decision-making. With our guidance, your team will not only understand the intricacies of the Product Backlog but also harness its power for unparalleled project success.

NKDAgility can help!

If your corporate team finds it hard to manage the product backlog effectively or struggles to engage with stakeholders transparently, my team at NKDAgility can assist. We can provide tailored training sessions, ensuring your team is equipped with the skills needed for success.

You can request a free consultation: https://nkdagility.com/agile-consulting-coaching/

Because you don’t just need agility, you need Naked Agility.

Yours in agile excellence,

Martin Hinshelwood

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“8” course=“49829”]

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

Our Trainers

[wpv-view name=“2023-Newsletter-Trainers” limit=“6”]

What have we been up to?

A short list of our blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work in Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

Agile Actually Podcast

What classes are right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are or would like to be!

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help product managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Contact me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

Futureproof Yourself With Skills, Capabilities And Certifications That Companies Care About

Martin Hinshelwood — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:06:08 +0000

As a fellow agilist, you’ll know that agility is critical to success in the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous 21st-century marketplace.

Why? Because it empowers us to run experiments, frequently inspect, and regularly adapt. That’s how we navigate complexity. That’s how we create value, despite uncertainty, regardless of the industry or environment we serve.

How much Tupac have you got? How skilled, competent, and capable are you in navigating the competitive landscape we find ourselves in? What sets you apart from the pack?

Suppose you’ve watched Twitter and Facebook let go of thousands of employees and Amazon dropkick thousands of executives into touch. In that case, it’s because organizations are walking into a deep, dark, hard recession and are looking to cut back on people who aren’t clear about the value they bring to the table. People who might be good at executing basic orders but aren’t great at innovating and creating value.

People who aren’t in touch with their Agile, powerful, creative selves.

So, if you’ve brought your CV to HR and it sounds like Shania Twain’s 20-year reunion for ‘that don’t impress me much!’, maybe it’s time to upskill.

Maybe it’s time to combine everything you have learned since we last saw you for a Scrumorg course and build on that rock-solid foundation with a certification and skillset that does bring HR and hiring managers to the yard. I know the certification is valuable, but it’s what you’ll learn that it’s infinitely more valuable. What you’ll be capable of doing with these skills, models, and practices will set you apart.

Who knows, maybe that creative prowess extends into creating your own business or product? With our Applying Professional Scrum and Professional Scrum with User Experience (UX) courses, you’ll be flexing something fierce and demonstrating why you’re the most valuable employee/colleague/start-up partner of 2023. Remember to apply your alumni discount at checkout to capitalise on the benefits of being a naked Agility fan.

You’re welcome.

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or would like a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“10”]

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or would like a private class for your organization.

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

Recent Videos

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-preview” feeds=“nkdagility-youtube” limit=“1”]

The Future of Work In Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-preview” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“1”]

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

What Classes are Right for you

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters - Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams - Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers - training to help Product Managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers - Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Reach out to me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

Exclusive Webcast with Joanna Płaskonka, Ph.D. & Martin Hinshelwood: Dive Deep into Product Ownership & Lean Product Development!

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 10:27:27 +0000

Join us for an enlightening 18-minute journey with two of the industry’s leading experts, Dr. Joanna Płaskonka and Martin Hinshelwood, as they unravel the intricacies of Product Ownership and Lean Product Development .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFX3SRUlunc&ab _channel=nakedAgilitywithMartinHinshelwood

🔍 What to Expect?

Insights from the Experts: Dr. Płaskonka, with her profound academic background, and Mr. Hinshelwood, renowned for his hands-on industry experience, come together to provide a balanced and comprehensive perspective.
Real-World Examples: Understand the principles of Lean Product Development through tangible examples and case studies.
Interactive Q&A Session: Get your burning questions answered directly by the experts.
Actionable Takeaways: Equip yourself with practical strategies and tips to implement in your own projects and teams.

🚀 Why Attend?

Whether you’re a budding product owner , an experienced developer, or someone passionate about lean methodologies, this webcast promises to offer valuable insights that can propel your product development journey to new heights.

📅 Mark Your Calendar!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from the best in the business. Sign up now and be a part of an engaging discussion that could redefine the way you approach product development!

Yours in agile excellence,

Martin Hinshelwood

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“20”]

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

Our Trainers

[wpv-view name=“2023-Newsletter-Trainers” limit=“6”]

What have we been up to?

A short list of our blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work in Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

Agile Actually Podcast

What classes are right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are or would like to be!

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help product managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Contact me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

Introducing the Professional Product Validation and Discovery Workshop from Scrum.org

Martin Hinshelwood — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 20:09:50 +0000

Dear Innovators and Product Enthusiasts,

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming Professional Product Validation and Discovery Workshop from Scrum .org, a transformative experience designed to elevate your product development journey to new heights. If you are committed to developing products and features that resonate deeply with customers, this workshop is your gateway to achieving that goal.

Why This Workshop?

In today’s fast-paced and competitive market, understanding your customers’ needs and ensuring your product meets those needs is paramount. This workshop will empower you with the tools and techniques to validate your product ideas, discover real customer problems, and create solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply valued by your target audience.

By attending, you will:

Master Customer-Centric Development: Learn how to place your customers at the heart of your product development process, ensuring every feature and product you create is aligned with their true needs and desires.
Enhance Validation Techniques: Acquire practical skills in rapid prototyping, hypothesis testing, and iterative feedback loops to validate your ideas early and often, saving time and resources.
Refine Discovery Processes: Discover how to efficiently uncover market opportunities, understand customer pain points, and create compelling product visions that drive your team’s efforts and inspire stakeholders.
Boost Team Collaboration : Develop strategies to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation within your team, ensuring everyone is aligned and working towards a common goal.

Meet Your Trainer: Dr. Joanna Plaskonka

Leading this workshop is none other than Dr. Joanna Plaskonka, a distinguished PhD in Robotics and Professional Scrum Trainer. Joanna’s journey in the world of complex product development and cutting-edge technology makes her the perfect guide for this course.

With a background that blends deep technical expertise and agile mastery, Joanna has:

Navigated the Complexity: Joanna has thrived in some of the most challenging agile applications on Earth, solving problems that have never been solved before and creating solutions that have never been developed. Her experience in robotics and high-stakes product environments provides a unique perspective on overcoming obstacles and driving innovation.
Led High-Performing Teams: She has a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to success, ensuring that every member is engaged, motivated, and aligned with the product vision. Her approach fosters a collaborative environment where creativity and problem-solving flourish.
Driven Customer-Centric Solutions: Joanna’s expertise in product validation and discovery is rooted in her commitment to understanding and addressing customer needs. She brings a wealth of knowledge on how to create products that not only meet but exceed customer expectations.

Join Us

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a true expert in the field. By the end of the workshop, you will be equipped with actionable insights and strategies to develop products that your customers will love and that will stand out in the marketplace.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“20” course=“51412”]

Why Choose Us?

Expert-led training
Immersive learning experiences
Comprehensive resources

Special Discounts:

Alumni: 30% off
Retraining: Pay later options

Book Your Seat Now

Invest in your future as a product developer and join us for the Professional Product Validation and Discovery Workshop. Together, let’s create the next generation of products that captivate and delight customers.

Warm regards,

Martin Hinshelwood

Principal Agile Consultant and Professional Scrum Trainer

What have we been up to?

A short list of our blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

Agile Actually Podcast

Seasons Greetings & Upcoming Professional Scrum training classes

Martin Hinshelwood — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 13:06:34 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_48602” align=“alignnone” width=“800”] Seasons greetings and a happy new year for 2023[/caption]

News for 2023

We want to share with you that naked Agility is expanding!

People

We have been working with more trainers to improve your training experience. For quite some time, we have worked with Martin Hinshelwood , Russell Miller , & Jim Sammons, who have delivered 50+ Scrum .org classes in 2022 alone. To compliment that, we have added Joanna Płaskonka, PhD & Simon Bourk for 2023, with over 30 private classes already booked for Q1. We have a rigorous process to find trainers with the highest levels of competence in the subject being taught and its implementation within organisations. You can find the complete list of trainers we work with on our About Us .

If that was not enough, Jessica Baez Calderin joined us in Business Development and Daryn Basson in marketing.

Phew! Any more news, and we will fall off our chairs!

Community

The Lean-Agile Practitioners Community has grown to over 1300+ members, and new usability updates by our platform team will hopefully make it an even bigger success this year.

It’s free to join the community, and our students get access to the Professional Scrum space for 1-on-1 Coaching , The Situation Room, & Tails from the Trenches!

Thank you very much to all who are making this community more extraordinary.

Training

The latest updates to our training classes:

[wpv-post-link item=“48025”] - BRAND NEW - Develop proficiency in facilitation skills to help your Scrum Team better solve problems, create a shared understanding, and foster transparency . Learn how to become a better facilitator to improve Scrum Team , stakeholder and customer interactions.
[wpv-post-link item=“10045”] - The APS has been updated to incorporate the new Camp Site case study, developed by Simon Bourk , that increases the level of collaboration and complexity by having participants wor together to create aa usable campsite in Minecraft for Education.

And remember to book your place in the upcoming classes.

Alumni Engagement

If you have taken a class with us before please

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“10”]

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

Our Trainers

[wpv-view name=“2023-Newsletter-Trainers” limit=“5”]

What have we been up to?

A short list of out blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

Recent Videos

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-preview” feeds=“nkdagility-youtube” limit=“1”]

The Future of Work In Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-preview” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“1”]

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

What Classes are Right for you

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help Product Managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Reach out to me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

March 2023 NKDAgility: The magic of immersive classes

Martin Hinshelwood — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:19:52 +0000

While all of our courses are centred around valuable learning outcomes achieved through experiential learning within a classroom environment, they are most often delivered as intense consecutive 2-day or 4-half-day experiences.

This compresses learning into a short space of time and minimises not only the amount that folks remember but also denies them the ability to try things and come back to the trainer.

To combat this we have already moved from a 2-full-day format to 4-half-days and added:

self-paced learning resources where students read, watch and write
60 minutes of additional one-on-one consulting for every student

It’s just not enough!

Enter the “immersion program”! The Immersion Program is an alternative format that extends the learning experience beyond the classroom by allowing students to apply what they have learned to real-world settings. This format is enhanced by incorporating retrospectives for improvement, making the learning experience highly effective and practical.

Our first Professional Scrum Product Owner Immersion (PSPO-I) will run from 3rd July 2023 and be delivered over 8 weekly 4h live sessions.

What is an Immersion Program?

An Immersion Program is a method of learning where students are actively engaged in the material and apply their knowledge in real-world contexts over an extended period of time.

Benefits of an Immersion Program

Students gain practical experience by applying their learning to their real-world context.
Students can affect a positive change in their environments immediately
Real-world application of learning increases the engagement, motivation, and personal investment of students, leading to more effective learning
Experiential classroom learning provides students with valuable practice in a safe environment before experimenting in their real-world context
Opportunities for students to collaborate and create a dynamic learning environment that exposes students to a variety of ideas and ways of thinking, deepening their understanding of the topics discussed in class
Retrospectives allow students to reflect on their learning with each other and the Professional Scrum Trainer to make improvements and gain deeper insights

What Do You Get With an Immersion Program?

Eight half-day interactive group class sessions guided by a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST)
Opportunity to attempt a Professional Scrum assessment
Assignments to apply learnings in your real working environment with inspection and adaptation together with your peers and your Professional Scrum Trainer

Who Is an Immersion Program For?

The application of learning during an Immersion Program is core to the concept. Participants should have the opportunity to work with a real team on a real product during participation in the program. If you do not have this opportunity while participating in the program, you can either find a partner to pair with, or you should consider attending a traditional class .

Immersion Programs are an extension to our existing course offerings, not a replacement. We believe that learners have preferences and unique situations, to which we intend to offer greater variety in course delivery methods to meet these needs. The below characteristics of learners are generalized and intended to help guide you towards the learning method you think might suit you best.

Learners who register for an Immersion Program:

Are committed to applying their learning and are willing to conduct small experiments at work throughout the learning experience.
Find it easier to fit a half-day classroom session once a week into their schedule and independently focus on intersession assignments.
Learn best by doing.
Prefer to gain knowledge, practice in a safe environment, and then apply.
Want to learn enough to try something quickly, then inspect and adapt to improve and grow.

Learners who register for a traditional Scrum.org course:

Are committed to taking ownership of their learning experience which is dependent on full and active participation over a short period of time.
Find it easier to fully focus on the class and learning for two consecutive days.
Prefer to learn as much as possible in a condensed time-frame.
Learn best through discussions and conversations with their peers and instructor.
Want to gain a broad understanding of the subject and use it as a foundation for further independent learning.

Reach out to me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

Community

The Lean-Agile Practitioners Community has grown to over 1300+ members, and new usability updates by our platform team will hopefully make it an even bigger success this year.

It’s free to join the community, and our students get access to the Professional Scrum space for 1-on-1 Coaching , The Situation Room, & Tails from the Trenches!

Thank you very much to all who are making this community more extraordinary.

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“50”]

Find a class and timezone near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

Our Trainers

[wpv-view name=“2023-Newsletter-Trainers” limit=“6”]

What have we been up to?

A short list of out blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work In Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

What Classes are Right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are, or would like to be!

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help Product Managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Reach out to me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

January 2023 NKDAgility: What is the difference between traditional and empirical approaches

Martin Hinshelwood — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 19:17:22 +0000

Welcome to this month’s edition of NKDAgility.

In today’s fast-paced, rapidly changing world, agility has become more important than ever. The ability to quickly adapt to new situations, pivot when necessary, and continuously improve is key to success in the 21st century.

In this edition, we will explore the importance of agility in today’s world and how it can help organizations stay competitive and achieve their goals. We’ve selected a few of our most loved articles and videos on Agility and hope you find it valuable in your own journey towards agility.

The difference between traditional and empirical approaches If your organization has become successful using traditional and project management approaches, it can be difficult to understand why change is necessary. In short, traditional approaches work just fine if you’re working in a simple or complicated space – such as building bridges or roads. You know how to do the work, you know all the variables, and you have a fair idea of how long it will take and how much it will cost to get the job done. In complex environments, everything changes, and you need a new style of working if you’re going to build products that customers love and outcompete innovative competitors. That’s where Empiricism comes into its own. In this short video, Martin Hinshelwood explains the difference between traditional and empirical approaches.
Overview of The Scrum Framework with Martin Hinshelwood Scrum is a lightweight framework that helps people, teams, and organizations generate value through adaptive solutions for complex problems. The Scrum Framework is made up of five values, three Accountabilities, three artefacts, and five events.In this video, I’ll go through an overview of each one, explaining what they are for and why they are there. The focus will be on the process itself, and we will leave the complementary practices until later.

Community

The Lean-Agile Practitioners Community has grown to over 1300+ members, and new usability updates by our platform team will hopefully make it an even bigger success this year.

It’s free to join the community, and our students get access to the Professional Scrum space for 1-on-1 Coaching , The Situation Room, & Tails from the Trenches!

Thank you very much to all who are making this community more extraordinary.

Upcoming Training Classes

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“20”]

Find a class and location near you or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for or want a private class for your organization.

Our Trainers

[wpv-view name=“2023-Newsletter-Trainers” limit=“6”]

What have we been up to?

A short list of out blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work In Scotland Webcasts

[wp-rss-aggregator template=“newsletter-list” feeds=“future-of-work-scotland-youtube” limit=“5”]

What Classes are Right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are, or would like to be!

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” ids=“10045” limit=“5”]

Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44705” limit=“5”]

Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44700” limit=“5”]

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help Product Managers improve their abilities.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44704” limit=“5”]

Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

[wpv-view name=“2023-CourseCatalogByAudience-Newsletter” type=“1” wpvrelatedto=“44706” limit=“5”]

Reach out to me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

Strategic Decision-Making

Martin Hinshelwood — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Move from opinion-based decisions to evidence-driven strategy. Connect board-level intent to delivery reality through clear metrics, aligned operating models, and systems that create confidence rather than debate.

Unlock Your Potential in 2024: Master Scrum with NKDAgility - Exclusive 20% Discount!

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 15:32:50 +0000

As we enter the promising year of 2024, it’s time to turn our aspirations into actions and truly master our craft. At NKDAgility, we’re committed to fueling your journey toward excellence with our immersive learning scrum training courses. It’s not just about learning; it’s about transforming and leading in an agile world.

Why Master Scrum?

In today’s fast-paced environment, Scrum and Agile methodologies are not just buzzwords but essential frameworks that drive successful projects and innovative teamwork. Mastering Scrum means mastering efficiency, adaptability, and leadership . Whether you’re looking to enhance your team’s productivity or elevate your own career, Scrum training is the key.

What Makes NKD Agility Different?

Industry experts lead our immersive learning courses with years of practical experience. They’re interactive, engaging, and, most importantly, focused on real-world applications. You’ll leave with knowledge and a skill set that’s immediately applicable and highly sought-after.

Exclusive 20% Discount - A New Year’s Commitment to Excellence (on top of the 30% alumni discount)

As part of our dedication to your growth in 2024, we offer an exclusive 20% discount on all our Scrum training courses. This is more than a promotion, it’s an investment in your potential. Enrol now to:

Gain In-Depth Understanding: Dive deep into Scrum principles, roles, events, and artefacts.
Engage in Hands-On Practice: Apply what you learn through practical exercises and collaborative sessions.
Receive Personalized Feedback: Benefit from the insights and guidance of experienced Agile coaches.
Join a Community of Practitioners: Connect with a network of peers and experts committed to continuous improvement .

Act Now - Your Future Awaits!

Don’t let another year slip by with unfulfilled potential. Take the leap and commit to mastering Scrum in 2024. With our expert-led courses and a 20% discount, there’s never been a better time to invest in your skills and your future.

To claim your discount and embark on your journey to mastery, visit our website https://nkdagility.com and choose the course that best fits your career aspirations.

Let’s make 2024 the year of action, mastery, and success. Join us at NKD Agility and unlock your full potential!

Warm regards,

-MrHinsh

P.S. Hurry, the exclusive 20% discount offer is valid for a limited time only! Enrol today and start your journey to becoming a Product Owner , Scrum Master or Agile Leader. Your future self will thank you!

Martin Hinshelwood Professional Scrum Trainer, Professional Kanban Trainer, & Microsoft MVP: DevOps

naked Agility with Martin Hinshelwood | https://nkdagility.com +44 7493 404 468| https://wa.me/447493404468

Upcoming Training Classes

20% DISCOUNT ON ALL CLASSES UNTIL 31ST MARCH 2024!

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

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Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

What have we been up to?

A short list of our blogs, videos, and webcasts!

Recent Blog Posts

Are there any blog posts that you would like me to write?

The Future of Work in Scotland Webcasts

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Agile Actually Podcast

What classes are right for you

All of our classes are listed on our site, but here is a list of classes based on who you are or would like to be!

Product Owners / Product Managers

training to help product managers improve their abilities.

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Managers

Manage Scrum Teams indirectly.

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Contact me directly if you would like to schedule a private course at your organization.

Everyone - Working in an evolving company

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Scrum Masters

Courses to help Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers improve their skills

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Developers / Scrum Teams

Courses to help all members of the Scrum Team improve their skills

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Reduced risk Increased Stability

Martin Hinshelwood — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Deploy with confidence and sleep at night. Gain the stability and security that lets you move fast without breaking trust, reputation, or business continuity.

Azure DevOps Migration Services

Martin Hinshelwood — Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Migration services for organisations moving from TFS, TFVC, or Azure DevOps Server to Azure DevOps Services. Assessment, architecture design, execution, and team enablement.

Azure DevOps/TFS to Github Migration Services

Martin Hinshelwood — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Move from Azure DevOps or TFS to GitHub with code history preserved, workflow modernisation, and team capability building. Migration services that improve how you ship, not just where.

Change is easier with a friend: Buy 1, Get 1 FREE!

Martin Hinshelwood — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 13:00:30 +0000

Kickstart 2024 with Our Unmissable Scrum Training Offer: Buy 1, Get 1 FREE!

As the new year unfolds, it’s time to double up on success! For the entire month of January, enrol in any of our Scrum training courses and bring a colleague, friend, or team member along for absolutely FREE! It’s the perfect opportunity to elevate your Agile skills and boost your team’s performance.

We have six amazing options for you that all come with a free friend with “Buy 1, Get 1 FREE”!

Professional Agile Leadership [8 weeks]
Professional Agile Leadership + Evidence-Based Management [12 weeks]
Professional Scrum Master [8 weeks]
Professional Scrum Master + Facilitation Skills [12 weeks]
Professional Scrum Product Owner [8 weeks]
Professional Scrum Product Owner + Backlog Management Skills [12 weeks]

You can also book just the skills courses as well! You will need to click through for prices as we apply a price-by-country model to enable equality of opportunity for folks worldwide. From an additional 10% for the UK and Netherlands to 60% for Ghana and Palestine, it automatically applies based on your country!

-MrHinsh

P.S. Hurry, the exclusive 20% discount offer is valid for a limited time only! Enrol today and start your journey to becoming a Product Owner , Scrum Master or Agile Leader. Your future self will thank you!

Martin Hinshelwood Professional Scrum Trainer, Professional Kanban Trainer, & Microsoft MVP: DevOps

naked Agility with Martin Hinshelwood | https://nkdagility.com +44 7493 404 468| https://wa.me/447493404468

Upcoming Training Classes

20% DISCOUNT ON ALL CLASSES UNTIL 31ST MARCH 2024!

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

[wpv-view name=“2022-CourseSchedule-Newsletter” limit=“8”]

Find a class and location near you, or search for more classes. Contact us if you don’t find what you want or want a private class for your organization.

naked Agility on naked Agility with Martin Hinshelwood

Martin Hinshelwood

Joanna Płaskonka, Ph.D.

Russell Miller

Jim Sammons

Dan Brown (KanbanDan)

Engineering Excellence in Action: How NKD Agility Helped SLB Streamline Build and Release Across 90 Teams and 13 Countries

Client Context

The Ask: Build System Simplification and Consolidation

Diagnosis: Extreme Fragmentation and Build Fragility

Approach: Advisory Engagement Rooted in Engineering Principles

Outcomes: Ownership, Speed, and Significant Cost Reduction

Strategic Reflection: Engineering Excellence Through Real Ownership

Why It Matters for CTOs and Tech Leaders

Final Takeaway

From Fragmentation to Flow: How NKD Agility Helped SLB Consolidate Systems and Standardize Engineering Practice Across 800+ Teams

Client Context

The Ask: Consolidation and Standardization

Diagnosis: Fragmented Systems, Incoherent Reporting, Organizational Friction

Approach: Build the Tools. Lead the Migration. Enable the Change.

Outcomes: Control, Collaboration, and Strategic Clarity

Strategic Insight: Consolidation as a Prerequisite for Engineering Excellence

Why It Matters for CTOs and Engineering Leaders

Final Takeaway

Product Development Mentoring Program

Product Development Mentoring Program

Overview

Target Audience

Learning Outcomes

Course Topics

Delivery Format

Proficiency Level

Course Length

Trainer/Designer

Vendor

Certification

Break organisational silos and stop tolerating bad branching models

1. End Branch Chaos: Kill Topic Branches

2. Dismantle Silos: Build Adaptive Delivery Systems

3. Refactor Leadership: Remove Business Logic from the Database

Leadership Accountability

What’s New

Recent Posts

Recent Videos

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Recent Podcasts

Engineering Excellence: The Quiet Discipline Behind Great Teams

Why Engineering Matters More Than Methodology

What We Mean by Engineering Excellence

How to Build It – One Hour at a Time

What Teams Learn Over Time

Lessons from the Field

Engineering Excellence as a Strategic Asset

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Take the Next Step

Beyond Training: How NKD Agility’s Mentorship Model Transformed a Product Management Team Across Borders

Client Context

The Ask: Product Owner Training

Diagnosis: A System Problem, Not a People Problem

Approach: Mentorship as Infrastructure

Outcomes: Engagement, Capability, and Real Change

Strategic Impact for CTOs and Tech Leaders

Final Takeaway

Why Resilience Demands More Than Survival

Detecting Agile Bullshit in Resilience Talk

Technical Health: Your Best Resilience Investment

What’s New

Recent Posts

Recent Videos

Subscribe to Martin's newsletter

Recent Podcasts

Martin Hinshelwood in EST: Book Expert Support for Engineering Excellence

Now in EST. Ready to Raise the Bar?

Preview Highlight Post: The Estimation Trap (Publishes in 46 days)

What We’re Fixing Right Now

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Book a Real Conversation - No Fluff, No Pitch

DevOps Technology Consulting that delivers

Agentic Agility: Why You Need Both Human and AI Agency

Why This Should Matter to You