Business Consultants or Atlassian Consultants

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the distinction between being a business consultant and an Atlassian consultant, emphasizing the need to choose a specialization. They highlight the importance of understanding the technical aspects of tools like Jira for Atlassian consultants and the process-oriented focus for business consultants. The speaker also touches on the value consultants bring to organizations through their experience and the significance of tool setup for efficient delivery and collaboration in agile environments like Scrum or Kanban.

Takeaways

• 🔧 The speaker discusses the distinction between being a business consultant and an Atlassian consultant, emphasizing the need to decide whether to focus on the technical or business aspects of consulting.
• 🛠️ Atlassian consultants are expected to have in-depth knowledge of the tools they work with, such as Jira, and should be able to add value by setting up and troubleshooting the tool for clients.
• 💼 Business consultants, on the other hand, may not need to be experts in the tool itself but should have a solid understanding of business processes and methodologies like Scrum or Kanban.
• 📈 The speaker highlights the importance of delivery and efficiency when using tools like Jira, stating that the primary goal should be to facilitate on-time delivery and cost savings.
• 👥 Collaboration and remote work are key aspects that tools like Jira aim to improve, making it easier for teams to find information and work together effectively.
• 💬 There is an overlap between the roles of business consultants and Atlassian consultants, as both may need to understand the business side and the technical aspects of using tools like Jira.
• 💼 The speaker suggests that business consultants should focus on the process and methodology, letting the technical consultants handle the tool-specific intricacies.
• 💼 Scrum masters or business consultants are expected to coach teams on how to work in an agile or iterative fashion, rather than getting too involved in the technical aspects of the tool.
• 🛠️ Atlassian consultants are often the highest-paid roles because they bring experience and add significant value to organizations by ensuring the tool works perfectly for their needs.
• 🔍 Jira's flexibility allows teams to customize their workflows, such as using story points or t-shirt sizes for estimation, and consultants can help tailor the tool to fit these needs.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to discuss the roles and responsibilities of Atlassian consultants, particularly the distinction between a business consultant and an Atlassian technical consultant, and the importance of choosing a clear career path in these areas.

Why should one not be a business consultant along with being an Atlassian consultant?

The speaker suggests that one should not be a business consultant along with being an Atlassian consultant because the roles require different skill sets and focus areas. A clear decision should be made to specialize either on the technical aspects of the tools or on the business processes and methodologies.

What is the value that Atlassian consultants bring to an organization?

Atlassian consultants bring value to an organization by leveraging their experience with the tools, helping to set up and optimize the tools for the organization's specific needs, ensuring smooth collaboration, and contributing to efficient and timely delivery of projects.

What is the difference between releasing and deploying in the context of product development?

Releasing refers to making a feature ready to go live, while deploying is the actual act of going live with the feature. The speaker emphasizes the importance of the team's ability to deliver and the role of tools like Jira in facilitating this process.

How does the speaker describe the role of a business consultant in the context of Agile methodologies?

The speaker describes the role of a business consultant as someone who understands and can coach teams on Agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban. They are expected to have some knowledge of the tools but should primarily focus on the business processes and team dynamics.

What is the importance of visibility in the context of using tools like Jira?

Visibility is important because it allows managers, Scrum masters, and leads to monitor and understand how teams are working, track the progress of tasks, and ensure that the tools are being used effectively to support the team's workflow.

What is the speaker's view on the overlap between the roles of a business consultant and an Atlassian consultant?

The speaker acknowledges that there is an overlap between the roles, as both need to understand certain aspects of the business processes and the tools. However, the main difference lies in the focus area, with Atlassian consultants being more on the technical side and business consultants on the process side.

Why are Atlassian consultants considered to be highly paid compared to engineers or developers?

Atlassian consultants are considered to be highly paid because they bring valuable experience and expertise to an organization. Their role is to add value by optimizing the use of Atlassian tools, which can lead to increased efficiency and better project outcomes.

What is the speaker's advice for someone considering a career as a consultant?

The speaker advises that one should decide whether they want to focus on the technical side or the business side of consulting. They should understand the specific demands of each role and choose the path that aligns with their skills and interests.

How can Jira be customized to support different Agile methodologies?

Jira can be customized by creating additional fields to capture different types of estimations like story points or t-shirt sizes, and by setting up automation rules or scripts to support the specific practices of the chosen Agile methodology.

What is the role of a Scrum master in a team following Agile methodologies?

The Scrum master's role is to facilitate the team's adherence to Agile principles and practices, help them work in an iterative sprint mode, and ensure that the team's workflow is efficient and effective. They should also address issues like team member idleness and promote collaboration within the team.