Maarten Dalmijn: Scrum, Agile, Earning Trust, Client Dynamics, Agile Contracts | Pulse by Intuji #13

In this insightful episode of Pulse by Intuji, Julian Wallis speaks with Maarten Dalmijn, author of Driving Value with Sprint Goals. Maarten is a renowned consultant, speaker, and trainer specialising in Agile, Scrum, and Product Management. Together, they discuss the importance of sprint goals, how to beat the feature factory, and how businesses can drive value in an Agile environment.

Whether you’re a product manager, Scrum master, or a business leader interested in modernising your team’s approach to digital transformation, this episode provides practical advice on aligning teams with project goals, stakeholder management, and handling the complexities of digital projects.

Topics Covered:

00:00 – Introduction Julian introduces Maarten Dalmijn and welcomes him to the podcast.

04:05 – Maarten’s Career and Background Maarten shares how he transitioned from a full-time job in product management to becoming an Agile consultant and thought leader.

05:28 – The Importance of Sprint Goals Maarten explains the concept of sprint goals and how they help teams focus on outcomes rather than just output.

07:22 – Aligning Sprint Goals with Project Objectives Julian and Maarten discuss the challenge of aligning sprint goals with larger project goals and stakeholder expectations.

09:39 – Communication and Stakeholder Engagement The importance of trust and how effective communication can improve stakeholder alignment and project success.

12:16 – Building Trust in Agile Projects Julian and Maarten delve into building trust through predictability, transparency, and delivering tangible results.

18:00 – Handling Complex Projects and Managing Expectations Maarten shares his experience managing large-scale projects and how to navigate the challenges of shifting priorities.

24:00 – Agile for Large vs. Small Projects The conversation turns to when Agile works best and when traditional project management may be more suitable.

30:15 – Dealing with Scope Changes in Agile Projects Maarten explains how to manage scope changes while maintaining productivity and aligning with overall project goals.

36:10 – The Role of Voice of the Customer in Agile Maarten discusses how technology and AI can enhance customer feedback loops and improve decision-making processes.

42:18 – Fixed Price vs. Agile Contracts Julian and Maarten explore the challenges and opportunities in working with fixed-price contracts versus Agile-based agreements.

50:00 – Agile Dogma: When Agile Doesn’t Work Maarten discusses the pitfalls of blindly following Agile frameworks and how to adapt Agile principles to different project contexts.

56:35 – Final Thoughts on Agile and Business Success Maarten shares his insights on the future of Agile and its growing importance for businesses seeking to remain competitive.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• How to align sprint goals with broader project objectives for real results
• The importance of adapting processes to meet customer expectations
• Why trust and transparency are critical in Agile projects
• How to build empowered teams that can navigate complexity and deliver consistent value

This episode is a must-listen for product managers, Agile practitioners, and anyone looking to drive value through digital transformation!

Learn More About Intuji:
Visit our learning centre at (https://intuji.com/learning-centre/) for more product management, design, and innovation resources.

Catch the full episode and others at the links below, or find us wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts:

➕ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@pulsebyintuji
➕ Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/34jThbSZ1iVcEF93Tey6dy
➕ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pulse
➕ Deezer – https://www.deezer.com/en/show/1000801452

Also, give us a follow on the platforms below to keep up with the latest from Pulse by Intuji:

👉 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/pulse-by-intuji
👉 YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@pulsebyintuji
👉 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@pulse.by.intuji
👉 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/pulsebyintuji
👉 X/Twitter – https://twitter.com/pulsebyintuji
👉 Website – https://pages.intuji.com/pulse