Background
Modularization is a key capability in the Scania’s way of building and evolving their trucks. The modularization is supported through an advanced computer system.
The challenge
The Traton Group (owned by Volkswagen) wanted to scale their modularization approach to other truck brands in their group.
One persistent challenge in core systems like this is that there is a relentless pressure to deliver.
At the same time, they had a limited pool of senior developers available to evolve the system. High pressure to deliver combined with a complex system made it increasingly harder over the years to grow the pool of senior developers.
The desired effect was to expand the team of senior developers capable of evolving the modularization system, a critical step to be able to scale.
The approach
We tried a new approach, to accellerate the competence of new members using using Snowdrop’s Train the trainer (TTT) program.
A good elements of the TTT program is that it’s uses “on the job training”. That was one of the enabling elements. Given that the pressure to deliver is consistently high, any approach of the kind “let’s pause operations for a year to build necessary competence” would not have survived for long.
The effect
10 Months after the program began, Scania had expanded their team of core developers by 160%. While the new developers had different starting positions, half of the group was taking on design tasks at this point.
While many were skeptical at the start, the program was at this point positively received by the organization. 10 months after the start, leaders at Scania ran the TTT program with a second group of developers, this time on their own.
Customer testimonial
Train the Trainer is an exceptional educational concept that ensures training topics are standardized and validated, guaranteeing they are perfectly suited for performing specific tasks
– Linda Holmström, Åsa Oxelmark