In previous blogposts, we’ve discussed decision-making in a self-organised team and considered how to deal with conflicts. These internal processes help the team move forward. However, collaboration with external partners is also important for pragmatic solutions: outsourcing various tasks allows everyone to concentrate on their core activities.
But how do we guarantee agile working methods in collaboration with external partners? Are there differences in comparison with hierarchically structured companies?
External partners assume key tasks
At pragmatic solutions, external partners also carry out key tasks, participating in our work processes, taking on more responsibility and helping to make decisions. In order to facilitate this, we work with them on an equal footing and on an agile basis. pragmatic solutions chooses its external partners with great care, as our goal is a long-term collaboration based on mutual trust.
How does it work?
In practice, this means that pragmatic solutions also assigns and prioritises tasks for external partners, and defines the criteria for success. However, the partners are then free to plan, divide up and implement the work as they wish. We hold weekly phone calls to ensure a personal connection. Tools such as chat, Slack and Trello enable us all to stay constantly up to date on ongoing tasks while maintaining transparency. Using these tools, we can make changes to our priorities at any time and know that these will be visible to everyone, even if we don’t have the opportunity to speak to each other directly.
Agile working methods create common goals and the desire to improve ourselves on an ongoing basis. At pragmatic solutions, external partners work together with us, participate actively and support the company so that we can all succeed.
