The Technology Delivery Manager (TDM) is responsible for managing the delivery of the technology solution of a business increment and the flow and continual delivery of the program or value stream producing it in the shortest cycle time. In SAFe this role is known as the Release Train Engineer (RTE) and has fewer responsibilities than is required. More…
To do this, the Technology Delivery Manager attends to several things at the program level:
- Making all significant work activity visible
- Improving the work value stream: removing tactical impediments, improving work process for more effective, consistent and sustainable execution, etc.
- Understanding the components of the system, how functionality maps to them, and how the system is projected to evolve, so it can manage how it comes together to deliver capability on time (per release roadmap/schedule) and with high integrity
- Identifying and managing risks that could affect delivery
Featured resources
Getting started
Begin by reviewing the resources in the Context of the Technology Delivery Manager Role box to understand how the TDM role fits in the context of Lean-Agile. Then work through the Reading Path (guided readings) and library pages that pertain to the role.
The Technology Delivery Manager Reading Path. A general introduction to the Technology Delivery Manager role including responsibilities, standard work, and alternatives for your context.
Going deeper
Here are additional resources to explore related to the Technology Delivery Manager role.
Disciplines and Practices. Technology Deliver Managers should be familiar with the disciplines and practices of Lean-Agile. They should review resources about requirements. If you are using SAFe, see the SAFe library page.
Resource Libraries for the Technology Delivery Manager. This page lists the complete set of resources in the Lean-Agile Portal related to the Technology Delivery Manager role. The Value Stream Levels library collects resources by level. Especially, see the Program Level.
The Technology Delivery Manager in a Transformation
The transformation to Lean-Agile involves everyone. The Technology Delivery Manager is critical in working with leadership and teams as make decisions about how to realize Lean-Agile in their own context. Lean-Agile Thinking guides these decisions so that everyone in the value stream is aligned.
- The Net Objectives Guardrails offer general principles to guide decision-making.
- The Net Objectives Inflection Point System offers specific support for decisions at the Core (Primary), Core (Secondary), Transition Supportive, and Program Level Supportive.