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IT DELIVERY MANAGEMENT: Delivering with ‘Lef’
How can software development become more predictable, scalable, and valuable? That was the question at the heart of the knowledge event “IT Delivery Management – Leveren met Lef” on 23 September at Spilberg in Amsterdam. Professionals gathered to exchange ideas around five success factors—and the role of ‘lef’ in Delivery Management.
What is ‘Lef’?
The Dutch word ‘lef’ doesn’t have a perfect English equivalent. It means something like courage, daring, or boldness—but also carries a playful edge: the guts to take initiative, to try, to challenge. During our latest Spilberg knowledge event, ‘lef’ became the red thread through all discussions on IT Delivery Management. What follows is a short recap of the evening.
Sharing knowledge and networking
Spilberg knowledge events are interactive evenings. This session brought together Product Owners, Agile Coaches, Scrum Masters, business consultants, and MT members. For many, the mix of knowledge exchange and networking was the main reason to attend. One participant put it nicely: “An evening with peers on one theme always pays off. Even if you don’t hear anything new, you leave with your knowledge freshly organised. How often do you make time for that?”
Five success factors for IT Delivery Management
Host Max Weber introduced guest speaker Misha Stroomer, an experienced IT Delivery Manager (Essent, Alliander, EDSN, Enexis). Using statements and perspectives, he sparked a lively discussion. His five success factors were:
- Clear goals
- Transparent processes
- Solid structure
- The right people
- Inspiring leadership
‘Lef’ ran as a recurring theme. The idea that courage is a prerequisite for success was widely supported. Participants also noted the challenges: internal vs. external staff often have different interests, and culture strongly shapes how willing people are to show ‘lef’.
A clear structure creates space for adventure
AI-generated images added visual spice to the discussion. A football field without a goal illustrated a debate on objectives: how do you define them, what does Definition of Done mean, who sets the criteria, and how do these differ between organizations and teams?
Misha quoted hockey coach Marc Lammers: “A clear structure creates room for adventure.” In IT Delivery Management, good architecture creates that room. One product owner argued that architecture can block innovation, but the consensus was the opposite: solid architecture simplifies both innovation and maintenance.
A combination of factors, fuelled by ‘lef’
There is no single trick or tool for successful Delivery Management. It requires a combination of clear goals, strong processes, the right people, and inspiring leadership - fuelled by ‘lef’.
The event concluded with drinks, where smaller groups continued the discussion on what drives successful IT Delivery Management.
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