Measuring & developing team maturity: From a nascent team to a high-performance team

Not every team starts at the same level. Some teams are immediately well-attuned to each other, while others need more guidance to collaborate effectively. Therefore, it's important to measure where a team stands and determine how it can further develop.

Measuring and developing team maturity helps teams become increasingly autonomous and productive. This process is particularly valuable for Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and leaders who want to support teams in their growth.

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Why measure team maturity?

Provides insight into strengths and areas for improvement – Helps teams reflect on their way of working.
Prevents incorrect expectations – Not every team can be self-organizing immediately.
Makes growth visible – By measuring periodically, you can see how a team develops.
Provides direction for coaching and guidance – Tailors support to the team's needs.

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How to measure team maturity?

There are various models and tools to measure team maturity. Below are some effective methods.

1. Agile Maturity Matrix

A widely used method to assess Agile teams on various aspects, such as:

Self-organization – Does the team make its own decisions or does it wait for direction?
Collaboration – How effectively do team members communicate with each other and with stakeholders?
Value creation – Does the team focus on customer value or just on completing tasks?
Continuous improvement – How actively does the team work on optimization?

‍2. Retrospectives and self-assessments

Use retrospectives to discuss team maturity and define joint improvement actions.
Let team members rate themselves and each other on collaboration, ownership, and effectiveness.

Example questions for self-reflection:

How well do we solve problems ourselves?
How transparently do we communicate?
How well do we collaborate with other teams and stakeholders?

3. External feedback

Sometimes a team perceives itself differently than how others experience them. Ask for feedback from:

Stakeholders (Product Owner, Business Owners)
Other teams they collaborate with
Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches

4. Measurable team metrics

In addition to qualitative feedback, hard data and trends can also provide insight into team maturity:

Cycle time & lead time – How quickly can a team deliver working products?
Number of items started and completed per sprint – Stable velocity can be an indication of maturity.
Quality Metrics – How many bugs or reworks are generated?

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How do you develop team maturity?

1. Align leadership and coaching with the maturity phase

Starting team: Provide clear structure and guidance.
Advanced team: Encourage self-organization and experimentation.
High-performing team: Primarily provide coaching support and focus on innovation.

2. Foster self-organization and ownership

Let teams set their own goals instead of just receiving tasks.
Encourage them to resolve conflicts and issues internally.
Ensure the team determines priorities itself in collaboration with the Product Owner.

3. Strengthen the feedback culture

Use 360° feedback to discuss both successes and areas for improvement.
Encourage regular team reflections and improvement actions.
Ensure a safe environment where open communication is the norm.

4. Focus on continuous improvement

Use Kaizen (small, continuous improvements) to consistently make progress.
Hold teams accountable for their own growth and development.
Facilitate experiments and learning experiences, for example, by trying out new working methods or structures.

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