Driving a Data & Analytics COE for Agile Value Delivery
A critical Data and Analytics (D&A) team at a major sportswear retailer in Portland, OR, underwent a complex, high-stakes reorganization. The mandate was to merge multiple, previously disparate data teams into a unified Center of Excellence (COE), despite possessing fragmented processes and inconsistent role definitions.
The Opportunity
Our primary aim was to expedite and facilitate the comprehensive adoption of this organizational change by actively bringing all affected teams together. The core objective was to collaboratively define a new, high-efficiency organizational operating model specifically designed to significantly enhance service delivery and value to the core business units.
What We Delivered
Intending to foster a unified 'one team' identity and shared purpose, we led a series of strategic, collaborative sessions that empowered the merged group to collectively define their future state and solve immediate operational challenges:
Conducted Leadership Alignment Sessions: We led intensive leadership teaming sessions to collaboratively articulate a big, bold, and unifying vision for the newly formed D&A COE.
Defined the Hybrid COE Model: We designed a sophisticated hybrid COE model, featuring a centralized technology team complemented by strategically embedded data product owners within every major business unit (Product, Supply Chain, Marketing, and HR).
Hosted Capability-Defining Workshops: We facilitated a series of deep-dive workshops to meticulously value-stream map core business services and rigorously define essential organizational capabilities (e.g., Data Product Management, Data Science, Data Engineering, and Data Visualization).
Defined Supporting Role Competencies: We established detailed supporting competencies, precise role descriptions, and clear skill levels necessary for the growth and maturation of each core data capability.
Developed Standardized Role Descriptions: We crafted unified, enterprise-wide role descriptions for various job types, titles, and seniority levels, ensuring precise mapping to the corporate pay band structure.
Engineered a Business Intake Process: We developed a streamlined, efficient intake process for all primary business requests, simultaneously identifying and enabling the necessary tools in partnership with business stakeholders.
Adopted Agile Ways of Working: We successfully implemented and upskilled teams on Agile methodologies, including advanced training on PI and sprint planning, developing outcome-based user stories, and managing squad-based delivery.
Developed an Executive Rollout Presentation: We created a polished, executive-level 'all hands' presentation to strategically communicate and roll out the updated operating model to the entire organization.
What Made a Statement
The newly merged team achieved unprecedented clarity regarding the strategic value they now bring to the business. This translated directly into significantly improved partnering methods for quickly and effectively intaking and serving business needs, now supported by the right talent in the right roles.
