CASE: Training and launching the innovation team at Cortina

Cortina is an own bicycle brand of bicycle wholesaler Kruitbosch B.V. from Zwolle. In 2006 the production of Cortina bicycles started with an initial run of 4,000. Nowadays there are more than 100,000 bicycles per year. What makes Cortina special? Kruitbosch approaches the Cortina bicycle as a lifestyle product and is constantly working on the latest trends.

Because these new trends are succeeding each other faster and faster, Kruitbosch wanted to drastically accelerate the development process of a new model. Moreover, all bicycle sales peaked during the pandemic and Kruitbosch wanted to respond to that as quickly as possible. Cortina therefore asked Scrum Academy to introduce an integral innovation approach based on Scrum.

The situation at Kruitbosch – Cortina

Bicycles are becoming increasingly complex and technical. Suppliers are offering more options and consumers are increasingly demanding. A classic, phased project approach no longer works in this complex situation. A multidisciplinary approach delivers much more value. But changing your way of working is not easy. Certainly not under high work pressure. You have little time to experiment and cut corners. So it’s important that the new way of working runs smoothly all at once.

The question: introduce a multidisciplinary working method for Cortina’s development team

After an open Scrum training, some people at Cortina had a taste for it. They asked Scrum Academy to provide a combination of training and coaching on the job. This coaching was important because the multidisciplinary approach of Scrum was virgin territory for Cortina. For the first time, marketing, design, engineering, procurement, electronics and product safety worked in parallel.

The idea was to start a new, faster development process with our guidance. We immediately clicked with Cortina because we at Scrum Academy also love innovation and the open, direct culture that comes with it.

Scrum Academy’s practical approach

We started at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown with an online Agile & Scrum training course. Then we kicked off the project with an Agile Kickstart for teams. In that kickstart, we set a sharp product vision together. With a team canvas we bring clarity in roles and skills. This way everyone knows where he or she stands. Finally, we make practical working agreements together. Scrum is not a method, but a framework. You make it your own working method that suits you. Under the guidance of Scrum Academy, Cortina has set up its working method according to the Scrum Framework. That goes from mindset to concrete agreements about when to put your heads together.

The result of the Agile training and Kickstart at Cortina

The facts don’t lie: the new bike reached the market in half the normal time. Moreover, cooperation went much smoother. The approach tastes like more. After the first success, the team wants to free up more time to work this way. The first step towards the agile organization has been taken.

Want to know if an Agile kickstart is for you? Get in touch!

We like to take time to develop a customized approach for your organization. Together we’ll see how you can get started with a new multidisciplinary Scrum approach. We are happy to call you back. You can also schedule an appointment directly via Calendly.