Latest AI, Agile and OKR Insights

From Strategy to a Working Portfolio in Three Days

Three days on site with a US smart-building manufacturer — portfolio canvas, enterprise OKRs, WSJF, ADKAR and a working Kanban. Plus three takeaways you can steal.

2026 OKR Mentors Gathering: Strategy Execution as a Discipline

Three years in to the OKR Mentors community. Why strategy execution has matured into a discipline — and where Agentic AI is changing the rhythm.

Strategy Execution in Practice: 3 Principles From a Denver PMO Workshop

Two days in Denver with a US client — eight strategy execution principles, three deep dives, an AI thread, and an exercise you can run with your own team next week.

AI Maturity Assessment: Where Does Your Organisation Really Stand on AI Adoption?

Most organisations think they're further along with AI than they actually are. Take our free AI Maturity Assessment to get an honest, data-driven picture of where you stand and what to do next.

The AI Strategy Canvas: Plan Your Organisation's AI Adoption on a Single Page

Most AI strategies fail before they start. Download our free AI Strategy Canvas template to align your leadership team on AI vision, priorities, and 90-day experiments — all on one page.

Redesigning Sprint Retrospectives with AI: A Practical Guide

Sprint retrospectives are stuck in a rut. Learn how AI tools can transform retros from repetitive gripe sessions into genuine improvement engines — with practical steps to start this sprint.

AI Agents in OKR Execution: What They Actually Do (And Don't Do)

AI agents are transforming OKR execution. Learn what they can realistically do — monitor progress, flag risks, surface insights — and where human judgement remains essential.

Viva Goals Is Dead. Now What? A Migration Guide for 2026

Microsoft is retiring Viva Goals. If your organisation runs OKRs on the platform, you need a migration plan — and a decision on what replaces it.

OKRs vs KPIs: When to Use Each (And How to Connect Them)

OKRs drive change. KPIs monitor health. Learn when to use each, how to connect them, and why the best organisations use both — explained through a Disneyland road trip.

The AI Champion Model: Building Internal AI Capability That Lasts

Centralised AI teams drive adoption but create dependency. The AI Champion Model distributes capability across the organisation — building the internal expertise that makes AI adoption stick.

The 9-Box Agile Implementation Template | Free Download

Download our free Agile Implementation Template used in real UK agile transformation workshops. 9 practical boxes to plan your agile journey, from vision to 90-day action. Built by experienced agile consultants.

OKR Software Is Not Enough: Why You Need an Execution Engine

OKR platforms are goal-setting tools, not execution tools. The gap between the two is where most OKR programmes die — and AI is the bridge.

How to Measure Agile Transformation ROI: Metrics That Boards Actually Care About

Move beyond velocity and ceremony compliance. A practitioner's framework for measuring agile transformation success in terms executives and boards understand.

Agile Ceremonies That AI Has Made Obsolete

Not all Agile ceremonies survive the AI era. Here is an honest assessment of which to keep, which to redesign, and which to kill.

OKR Examples for UK Businesses: 30+ Templates by Department and Sector

30+ practical OKR examples for UK businesses across Sales, Marketing, Product, Engineering, HR and Finance. Includes good-vs-bad comparisons and a scoring guide.

How to Run an AI Adoption Sprint in 2 Weeks

A structured 2-week AI Adoption Sprint gives teams a focused, safe environment to experiment with AI tools and embed new habits before rolling out at scale.

The OKR Check-In Playbook: Weekly Rhythms That Actually Drive Progress

A step-by-step guide to running effective weekly OKR check-ins. Structure, agenda, scoring tips, and the cadence that helps teams complete 43% more objectives.

AI Transformation vs. Digital Transformation: What’s the Difference?

Digital transformation and AI transformation are not the same thing. Understanding the distinction is the difference between a technology project and a genuine capability shift.

From SAFe to AI-First: What Happens to Scaled Agile in 2026?

SAFe's relevance is being questioned as AI reshapes delivery. What should organisations keep, adapt, and abandon from their SAFe implementation? A practitioner's honest assessment.

Blending OKRs and PDRs: A Guide to Getting It Right

A practical manager’s guide to using OKRs with PDRs without turning them into scores. Reduce tension, improve performance, and drive growth.

Hybrid Delivery Models in 2026: When Agile Alone Isn't Enough

Hybrid delivery is the dominant model in 2026. Learn when to blend agile with traditional governance, how to do it without losing agility, and why the best teams have stopped arguing about frameworks.

The OKR Health Check: How to Audit Your Objectives in 10 Minutes

A practical 10-point diagnostic for evaluating the health of your OKR programme — identify the most common failure patterns before they cost you a quarter.

Why Your Agile Transformation Failed (And What to Do Instead)

Most Agile transformations fail not because Agile is wrong, but because the transformation was designed for a world that no longer exists. Here is what to do differently.

OKR Implementation Guide 2026: How AI Changes Everything

OKR implementation in 2026 looks fundamentally different from 2020. AI tools are changing how objectives are written, tracked, and executed.

What Is AI-First Delivery? A Complete Guide for Engineering Leaders

AI-First Delivery is not another Agile variant — it is a fundamental redesign of how software teams work. This guide explains what it means, why it matters, and how to start.

Applying Goodhart's Law in OKRs: Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Strategic Execution

How Goodhart’s Law derails OKRs and strategy execution, and three practical ways to keep your measures honest and focused on real outcomes.

Maximizing Performance with OKRs: A Practical Guide for Success

Boost your team's performance with effective OKRs. Discover practical strategies for success in our guide. Read more to elevate your goals!

Powering Up 2026: Inside Our Denver OKR Squad Kick-off

If you are planning your 2026 OKRs and still debating formats, cadence, or roles, this is one to steal. It blends the best of Big Room and PI Planning with practical OKR execution.

Mastering Agile Strategy Execution for Effective Organisational Change

Discover practical strategies for effective agile execution and navigate organizational change with confidence. Read the article to enhance your approach.

Top OKR Consultants UK: Driving Success Through OKR Squads

Discover top OKR consultants in the UK who can enhance your performance and drive success through OKR Squads. Read more to find the right fit!

How Executives Can Leverage AI with Agile and OKRs

Leaders are seeing AI deliver tangible benefits in efficiency and decision-making.

From Chaos to Clarity – 10 Strategy Execution Lessons from The Bear

Learn 10 strategy execution lessons from The Bear Season 4. From managing growth to building trust, discover how kitchen chaos mirrors business challenges.

OKRs and Change Management: Change That Sticks - Rolling Out OKRs with ADKAR | McKenna Agile Consultants

The ADKAR model helps you build awareness, spark desire, share knowledge, practice consistently & reinforce the habits that matter. That’s how strategy gets done and gets done well.

How OKRs and AI Are Shaping the Future of Strategy Execution

Insights from the 2025 OKR Mentors Gathering on strategy execution challenges, AI integration and the role of OKR champions in bridging the gap between strategic intent and real impact.

Enhancing OKRs with the Rule of Three: Insights from Our Denver Workshop with our OKR Coaches

Discover how the Rule of Three can transform your OKR framework, bringing clarity, memorability, and balance to your strategic goals. Read insights from our Denver workshop.

From Statistics to Stories: Making Strategy Communication Stick | McKenna Agile Consultants

Discover why stories trump statistics in making strategy stick. Learn how you can transform your agile strategy from forgettable metrics into memorable narratives that drive engagement and results.

Decoding Strategy Communication: Insights from Our COO’s Talk

Discover key insights from our COO Aaron McKenna’s expert panel discussion on ‘The High-Impact Strategy Playbook.’ Learn common OKR pitfalls, best practices for strategy execution, and how AI can enhance strategic clarity.

Making OKRs Stick: Key Lessons from the OKR Forum - An OKR Consultancy Perspective

Aaron Mckenna spoke at OKR Forum about how to move beyond setting OKRs to truly embedding them into the way work gets done. Watch the full talk here.

Coaching Leaders and Teams to Create Impactful OKRs: A Guide Inspired by Michael Bungay Stainer’s "The Coaching Habit"

Crafting impactful OKRs goes beyond templates—it’s about strategic, intentional conversations. Taking a coaching stance can transform how teams set and achieve goals.

The Product Operating Model: Transforming How Companies Build and Deliver Products

What is next for agile in 2025 and beyond? One thing that is starting to come up in conversations with our customers is the Product Operating Model. Learn more.

Agility and Adaptability Aren't Going Anywhere, Folks!

Agility and Adaptability aren't going anywhere. They are, and will continue to be, the secrets to sustainable success now and in the future. Read this guest post from Carol McEwan for more.

OKRs: Stop Being SMART, Just be FAST

Traditional goal-setting frameworks like SMART can stifle innovation and slow progress. Instead, consider adopting FAST goals into your OKR writing process! Learn more.

OKR Consultants for Growing Businesses in the UK: Driving Strategic Growth and Team Alignment at Numatic

Over four months, we delivered tailored OKR training, facilitated workshops and provided ongoing consultancy to ensure the successful adoption of OKRs.

Writing OKRs: Guiding Carmy and His Team in 'The Bear'

With the new season of “The Bear” starting, we thought it would be fun to delve deeper into how Carmy and his team could utilize OKRs to drive their success even further.

5 Reasons OKRs Fail and How OKR Coaching Can Help

Many organisations struggle to implement OKRs effectively resulting in unmet objectives and frustration. Here are 5 reasons why OKRs fail.

OKR Mentors Annual Gathering - Key Takeaways

Join McKenna Agile at the OKR Mentors Collective Barcelona event. Learn expert insights on Objectives & Key Results, strategy, and execution methods.

Streamlining PI Planning in FMCG Manufacturing

Discover insights from our Toronto PI Planning event with a global FMCG company. Business-focused planning across all plant functions, not just IT.

Strategy Execution Challenges: The Future of Agility and Overcoming 3 Hurdles | McKenna Agile Consultants

In this post, we shed light on some common stumbling blocks around strategic execution and unveil the power of embracing agility to overcome them.

Unlocking Business Success with our AI-Powered OKR Assessment Tool

Our AI-powered strategy and OKR assessment tool helps organisations implement and manage their OKR framework efficiently using artificial intelligence.

Key Takeaways from Our Agile Yorkshire Talk on OKRs

Discover insights from our 'Supercharging Alignment with OKRs' talk given at a recent Agile Yorkshire event. We've shared some best practices and key takeaways .

Agile Lessons From The Kitchen

"The Bear" meets agile methodology. McKenna Agile Consultant finds surprising connections between the Chicago restaurant drama and agile transformation.

The Power of Agility: Why Choose a Boutique Agile Consultancy?

We answer common client questions about our boutique consultancy. Learn why "Great Relationships, Solid Delivery" sets us apart from big firms.

OKR Implementation Guide: Navigating the Landscape with Field-Tested Lessons

In this post, we’re going to share some of our key learnings from a 12 week OKR adoption and execution project with a US-based organisation.

Bring A Laser Focus to Your 2024 Goals With OKRs

Now is the time to consider what your goals are for 2024. One way to supercharge your goal setting is by creating OKRs that align with your vision. Learn more.

Running An Agile Book Club

We're often asked what we've been reading, so we asked Aaron, our Enterprise Transformation Director, to share the agile books that are taking up space on his bedside table.

Lean Agile Transformation: Building a Culture and Elevating Portfolio Performance by 9% | McKenna Agile Consultants

New SAFe Lean Portfolio Management engagement begins with US charity. Learn how LPM practices elevate agile transformation efforts.

Powering Change with the Scarf Model Change Management and User Personas in SAFe LPM | McKenna Agile Consultants

We combine David Rock's SCARF model with user personas for SAFe LPM change management. Learn people-centric approaches to make change stick.

Implementing Lean Portfolio Strategies: Bridging the Gap Between Strategy and Execution

How can you supercharge your portfolio by aligning strategy and execution through implementing Lean Portfolio Management. Read our blog to find out more.

Checking Your Agile Pulse: The Agile Health Check | McKenna Agile Consultants

This blog post will delve into the concept of the agile health check and its significance in monitoring and improving the agility of your teams and processes.

Navigating Change: Agile Consultancy Services

Organisations need agile consultancy services to navigate change effectively. Explore how agile consultants drive successful transformations.

Mastering the Art of Agile Leadership: Essential Tools and Techniques for Success | McKenna Agile Consultants

Unlock your potential as an agile leader by learning and applying these 5 must-have tools and techniques for effective agile leadership.

Agile Prioritisation Techniques – WSJF is a Skill, Not Just a Tool

Learn how we use WSJF to bring objectivity to prioritisation, build alignment between stakeholders, and implement consistency to drive better economic outcomes.

Using Agile for Successful SAP Agile Development Deployments

We've worked with a multinational client to deliver agile training & coaching to one of the biggest SAP deployments in the world. Here's what we learned.

How to Get The Most Out of an Agile Assessment

Are you thinking of undertaking an Agile Assessment? Take a look at this post to learn 6 of our expert tips for creating value from an Agile Assessment.

Being Agile in Practice – Part 4: Technical Excellence

Part 4 of our Being Agile in Practice series focuses on Technical Excellence. Nick McKenna shares his expertise and top tips to achieve technical excellence.

Being Agile in Practice – Part 5: Speed to Decision

In part 5 of our Being Agile in Practice series, we share some tips and tools that agile leaders can implement today to accelerate your decision-making process.

Being Agile in Practice – Part 6: Mastering Agile in Practice

Here's the final instalment of our Being Agile in Practice series. Take a look at this post for all of our top tips that will help you master agile in practice.

Being Agile in Practice – Part 2: Stable Teams

Stable teams are needed to execute the work that you’ve identified. Committing to this stability is the key to achieving genuine agility and resilience.

Being Agile in Practice – Part 3: Deliver Often

The ultimate goal of any development team is to deliver value to their customers. With that in mind, what’s stopping so many teams from being able to do so?

Being Agile in Practice – Part 1: Healthy Backlogs

If you don't have a clear, well-formulated backlog of work, you’ll likely end up with a whole host of challenges. Learn more about Healthy Backlogs in part 1.

Agile Coaching vs Mentoring - What’s the Difference?

In this post we're taking a look at one of the most common questions that we hear – “what’s the difference between agile coaching and mentoring?”. Learn more.

Agile Consulting and Coaching: Misconceptions of Agile Coaching | McKenna Agile Consultants

In this article, we address the common misconceptions around the role of an agile coach, delving deeper into the true definition, and sharing some ideas on how to overcome them.

A Leader’s Guide to Successful Agile Transformation

A question we're often asked by managers and leaders is “What can I do to ensure that this Agile transformation is successful?”. Well, we answer that question here.

Transitioning from Waterfall to Agile Development

If you’re about to transition from waterfall to agile development, thinking about transitioning, or in the midst of a transition, this is the perfect post for you.

How to build an Agile Transformation roadmap

Looking to set yourself up for a successful Agile Transformation & build your own Roadmap? Read our 10 tips on creating an Agile Transformation Roadmap.

Register For The Workshop Extravaganza - Remote Collaboration Workshops

McKenna Agile Consultants are co-organisers of the Workshop Extravaganza with Lisette Sutherland and Collaboration Superpowers.

Desktop Kanban

We explore how to apply agile techniques when working alone. Discover innovative solutions for solo productivity and task visibility challenges.

360 Degree Dinner and Agile Appraisals - An Alternative to Annual Performance Reviews

McKenna Consultants have transformed performance reviews using a unique blend of 360 Degree Dinners and Agile Appraisals!

Using Management 3.0 with SAFe

At McKenna Consultants, we have been experimenting using Management 3.0 techniques with some of our customer who are implementing the Scaled Agile Framework.

Tips For Working With Distributed Agile Teams

Global competition creates distributed teams. We explore how remote collaboration impacts agile consulting and software development projects.

Build Your Own Manifesto In Action!

Download our "Build Your Own Manifesto" training game. See how 4Com plc used this hands-on approach to understand Agile Manifesto principles.

How To Be A Better Leader - Management 3.0

McKenna Consultants become Management 3.0 Licensed Facilitators after Stockholm training. Learn how leaders can "be more agile" beyond team methodologies.

Become a More Effective Leader - Management 3.0 Training in Leeds

Become a more effective agile leader with McKenna Consultants at the Management 3.0 two day training course in Leeds. Discover the future of management.

McKenna Consultants - Management 3.0 Licensed Facilitators

McKenna Consultants become UK Management 3.0 Licensed Facilitators after Stockholm training. Innovative agile leadership approach for modern organizations.

Build Your Own Manifesto!

McKenna Agile shares "Build Your Own Manifesto" training game. Help students understand Agile Manifesto while gauging experience levels in the classroom.

Download Build Your Own Agile Manifesto

Download our free Build Your Own Agile Manifesto game — a fun, engaging activity for establishing the knowledge and experience level of your group.

4Com Technologies PI Planning Event Success!

McKenna Consultants kicked off 4Com Technologies' first Agile release train with a highly energised PI Planning Event in Bournemouth.

SAFe® 4.0 Program Consultant

Our principal trainers, Nick McKenna and Aaron McKenna have both passed the exam to each become a SAFe® Program Consultant 4.0 (SPC4).

SAFe® Planning In Action - Agile Yorkshire And Beyond

McKenna Consultants are taking our SAFe® Planning In Action tour to Agile Yorkshire and beyond in the coming months. Find out about where to catch us here!

Is The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) Right For Me?

Is The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) Right For Me?

SAFe® Planning In Action Workshop At Lean Agile Scotland 2015

SAFe® Planning In Action Workshop At Lean Agile Scotland 2015

SAFe® Planning In Action Workshop

SAFe® Planning In Action Workshop

Discounted Public Leading SAFe® Training Course and Certification

Discounted Public Leading SAFe® Training Course and Certification

SAFe® Planning In Action Workshops - UPDATED!

SAFe® Planning In Action Workshops - UPDATED!

Large Scale Agile with SAFe® Free PDF Download

Large Scale Agile with SAFe® Free PDF Download

SAFe Planning In Action Workshops

SAFe Planning In Action Workshops

Agile Training and Coaching with Local Council

Agile Training and Coaching with Local Council

SAFe Training Courses

We now offer a full range of SAFe training courses including Leading SAFe, SAFe ScrumXP, SAFe Product Manager and more.

The Basics Of SAFe

SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) is a method for organising large-scale agile programs within large organisations. It has been around for a few years and is gaining a lot of momentum. There are other methods for managing agile on a large scale such as LeSS, but SAFe is in version 3…

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Program Consultant

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Program Consultant

Try A Festive Agile Retrospective!

Christmas is approaching and you're coming to the end of your sprint... why not capitalise on the season of goodwill and hold a festive themed agile retrospective! In order to keep things nice and simple for you, I am going to use my favoured template to help lead and shape…

An Agile Letter To Santa!

Wouldn't it be great if Santa Claus was more agile? I mean, by now we all know that it is crazy to work for 364 days a year and then do a delivery within a 24 hour period! Wizard definitely had the right idea, wishing that it could be Christmas…

Stand Up! (and be counted)

It's 8:35am and my Outlook is ringing at me - time for our daily stand up. I perform a variety of roles in my team, from Product Ownership to marketing and sales to agile coach. This doesn't mean that I sit out the meeting and leave it to the devs…

How To Justify A 60" TV To Your Boss

Christmas is fast approaching, so it's time to ask your boss for a present for you and your development team - a 60" TV. Imagine the shock on your boss's face when you ask them to buy you a Samsung 60" Full HD LCD TV (other brands are available!!), or…

Establishing A Stable Velocity

I am continually astonished at the number of teams I meet who have not yet established a stable velocity! I was speaking at DDD North recently and I asked the audience out of interest how many of them did something Agilish. About 70% of the audience were doing something Agile…

Agile Awards 2014 Nomination!

Agile Awards 2014 Nomination

There Are No New Ideas In Agile

Those of you who have read my articles on Ancient Agile will know that I think that the Agile ideas and principles exist thousands of years into our racial past. What makes a great agile implementation? The key attributes I think I see in great Agile implementations are: Continuous improvement…

Agile On The Beach 2014

Agile On The Beach 2014 - McKenna Consultants

Certified Scrum Professional

Aaron has successfully completed his Certified Scrum Professional accreditation from the Scrum Alliance, demonstrating commitment to continuous improvement.

Agile Team Health Check

We've been thinking a lot recently about how to work out if an Agile team is healthy. By healthy I broadly mean happy and productive. It's not as easy as it sounds. Sick teams will sometimes effectively hide the fact that they are poorly from their managers as they feel…

What Do I Do When My Team Goes Agile?

Agile methods are pretty clear about what ScrumMasters, developers, testers, UX designers do on a team, but a lot of other people start to worry when the Agile train arrives in town! The people who tend to get nervous are: Project ManagersTechnical ArchitectsDatabase Admins / Experts and other people who…

Why Should We Build Small User Stories?

The topic of feature (or User Story) size is usually a surprising one for teams that are new to Agile. Teams are frequently used to working and releasing very large user stories. Although there is no definite "correct" size for a user story, my vague rule of thumb is that…

Certified Scrum Coach!

After seven years of training and coaching on Scrum, Agile and lean practices, becoming 1 of only 57 Certified Scrum Coaches in the world.

There Is No Agile: What Agile Has Taught Me

"Before I learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch and a kick was just a kick. When I studied martial arts, a punch was no longer just a punch and a kick was no longer just a kick. Now I understand martial arts, and a punch is just…

There Is No Agile: What Agile Has Taught Me

"Before I learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch and a kick was just a kick. When I studied martial arts, a punch was no longer just a punch and a kick was no longer just a kick. Now I understand martial arts, and a punch is just…

Agile Software Development

There are many people credited with being an Agile Software Development guru, but would you consider Sir Alex Ferguson to be one of them?

Agile Software Testing

Our approach to Agile testing hasn't really changed much over the years, although we have got better at formalising it. After seven years of using whiteboards, we recently moved over to a web-based solution (Jira with the Greenhopper plugin), so my piccie below is of our electronic board. I've done…

Agile Planning And The Planning Fallacy

If you have been planning and your implementations never seem to match your plans, you are not alone. No plan survives the battlefield. Fundmentally this tends to be because the underlying plan is flawed due to the Planning Fallacy. Anyone interested in this topic should read Why Plans Fail: Cognitive…

Estimating Is Good

Agile estimation is good. #NoEstimates is gaining ground as a credible alternative to estimating, and I do not think that this a good thing in a lot of commercial circumstances. I realise that this is not a fashionable view, but I think it is easily justifiable. What are the benefits…

Agile Testing With Data Anonymisation

In addition to developer-drive unit and integration testing, it is very important to create realistic data sets for acceptance / gui / performance / "ility" etc testing. Creating such a realistic data set is challenging. Realistic data is not ideal data. It is frequently "invalid" data that should not even…

Agile Testing

Agile Testing

What Is A Sprint / Timebox / Iteration For?

Sprints, timeboxes and iteratons. 3 words that in agile generally mean the same thing. This article aims to shed some light on what it means!

Agile In Highly Dynamic Environments

How do you make agile work in a highly dynamic environment, where the other thing that is constant is change?