The Howwe way of working has two types of Key Activities. These are not mutually exclusive, in fact, many teams work with both types. Both weekly Key Activities and Key Activities in sprints are ways to identify what needs to be done to reach the team’s Most Important Goals on time.
Weekly Key Activities are a powerful way to identify which behaviors or actions in a team need recurring extra focus to make progress towards the team’s Most Important Goals. Many teams find their weekly Key Activities in one of their main processes, where one or more behaviors or steps are critical for the process to be successful. These steps tend to make good weekly Key Activities.
Key Activities in sprints are a way to plan and break down activities that only need to be done once but are equally important to reach the team’s Most Important Goals. By structuring these in a sprint, the team can start proactively working on unique activities that help them make progress towards their Most Important Goals.
Often, management teams and development teams find that working with Key Activities in sprints works best for them. Teams with very clear processes that are repeated, such as sales teams or service teams, often find that weekly Key Activities work best.
For your team, reflect on which type of Key Activities will have the greatest impact on your Most Important Goals. Remember that you may need both types. Start by making a list of all the activities you need to do to achieve your goals. Then, divide the list into recurring and unique activities and set up Howwe accordingly. Ensure that each activity has an impact on the Most Important Goals, i.e., don’t create a general “to-do” list for the team.
