Ten-Day Sprint

Fasten your seatbelts because iSource just took the business world on a thrilling rollercoaster ride! In a bold move demonstrating their dedication to excellence, iSource recently embarked on a ten-day sprint initiative that left everyone in awe. It felt like a whirlwind of teamwork, personal commitments, and achievements that would make even the most ambitious goals seem like a walk in the park.

As the waters around the office receded, employees at iSource returned to work on Thursday,December 7, 2023. By then, three business days were lost. A meeting of the team leaders and management resulted in a resolve to do right for the clients who had been patiently accommodating the loss in production. It was decided to inspire the employees to take on an audacious endeavor to clear the accumulated backlogs. To accomplish that, it was decided to adopt Agile, a process management approach adapted from software development that promotes innovation. A plan
unfolded that designed a structured yet flexible way to deliver high-value deliverables for our clients—a ten-day SPRINT, including weekends!

With product owners, co-sponsors, and scrum masters in place, the team leaders quickly conferred with their teams and responded with responses ranging from complete buy-in to disbelief that we would even attempt this effort so close to returning to normalcy. After a few iterations for complete buy-in, the entire team was all set.

Starting on the morning of December 8, all three shifts will work their respective hours, aiming to conquer the impossible in record time and mark Day 1. The night shift extended their shift into Saturday morning so that they could rest up for the evening and return on Sunday to clock in Day 2. The energy was contagious, spreading through the ranks as team members flooded various channels
with updates, high-fives, and a palpable sense of determination. It was like a business boot camp,and everyone was here for it!

Acknowledging the severity of the situation, iSource decided to close its office temporarily, aligning with the government’s warnings. However, the commitment to clients remained steadfast. Despite the challenges, the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) was set in motion, ensuring that remote work continued seamlessly thanks to secure VPN connections. The plan consisted of giving advance notifications to the clients and daily updates as to their preparedness to return to the office. The proactive action endeared the company to the clients, who encouraged the employees to stay safe. Employees who were working remotely from their homes formed the skeleton staff to keep the business running.

Our beloved Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Siva Kumar Sadayappan, stepped into the limelight and showered us with his encouragement and gratitude. Our CEO’s appreciation was a supercharged leadership recognition, as it made all of us feel like champions. We could witness communication platforms evolving into motivational hubs by streaming motivational videos and messages. Like cheerleaders, the leaders encouraged aiming high and balancing work and play.

While most of us struggled to set up a new phone in a week, iSource was busy onboarding new clients with style. Amid other teams working on the projects, our HR team has also been working simultaneously, onboarding newbies to the business. Team leaders became maestros, orchestrating symphonies of efficiency. Coding and AR clients joined the iSource family, and it wasn’t just a win; it was a victory lap in a rocket ship.

This wasn’t an ordinary sprint; it was a test of wills. iSource team members revealed their superhero capes, working around the clock and battling not just tight deadlines but even cyclones! Personal stories of sacrifice and dedication flooded the channels, turning the sprint into a saga of resilience.

Communication channels turned into motivational hubs. Quotes, videos, and messages flooded the screens, creating a virtual pep rally. The leadership, much like cheerleaders with corner offices,reminded everyone to keep the balance between work and play while aiming for the stars.

The sprint was not just about hitting business targets but also a celebration of life. We never missed any celebrations like birthdays, successes, or even the recovery of a teammates family member from the hospital, which took on the spirit of a victory carnival. iSource evolved to become a caring family rather than just a place of employment.

As the ten-day sprint reached its grand finale, iSource’s leadership showered gratitude on the powerhouse team. Plans to showcase the results and reflections on this whirlwind journey were shared, promising transparency and a relentless pursuit of improvement. The finish line wasn’t the end; it was just a pit stop before the next adventure.

Team collaboration became the secret sauce of this sprint. It was good to see people helping each other, giving high-fives, digital confetti, and a constant flow of appreciation messages. It was like a feel-good movie, and everyone played a starring role. Individual contributions were like puzzle pieces fitting perfectly, creating a masterpiece of success.

The iSource sprint felt like an adventurous journey rather than merely a trip. We realized that if a team dreams big, works hard, and supports each other, anything is possible. In addition to conquering the corporate world, we are proud that we built the connections that keep our family together. This bewildering chapter ends by paving the way for an encore, a sequel, and a string of even more massive successes. Get ready for an exciting rollercoaster journey as iSource begins to take the business world towards a booming future with a blast!