NAB expands agile adoption

The National Australia Bank's cards, acquiring and payment systems (CAPS) technology team is crediting its move to agile software development for improved communication and teamwork, greater transparency and a boost in staff motivation.

The 200-strong team, led by CAPS manager Graeme Horne, has been running agile for around six months. It is the bank's second team to implement the method behind NAB's digital and online channels workforce.

“We deal with some very core applications for the bank and traditionally it’s been waterfall,” Horne told iTnews.

“What we’re looking to do is try to improve the speed of our delivery but retain the same or better level of quality as we go.”

Horne said the approach went hand-in-hand with the bank’s Kaizen program, which is similarly focused on ongoing, incremental improvement.

But with agile, the adoption has been from the ground up, Horne said.

“We chose seven champions and they were well respected members of the teams, some of which had some agile background, but most of which had not who were keen to learn it and help roll it out.”

The bank uses Kanban standups - group meetings focusing on workflow -with up to nine running at any one time.

Horne said the team was now working more closely with the business side of the bank to help deliver projects more quickly, but needed to continue communicating the benefits of the method.

Like many within NAB, Horne’s team will soon be moving offices, following the completion of the bank’s second flagship building at 700 Bourke Street in Melbourne’s Docklands.

“One of the questions when we were moving was: are we going to be able to have the Kanbans at the new location?” Horne said.

The decision was eventually made for them to move into NAB’s slightly older 800 Bourke Street building, which has more walls and offices than the new building. Staff will hot-desk at the new location.