Center of Excellence in Q is a hub of key experts, all seasoned professionals from each of the key tech domains with a clear mission of sharing knowledge, increasing the quality of our deliverables and providing additional value to our clients.
The idea behind the Center of Excellence (CoE) was straightforward but impactful: to utilize a core team of existing Q experts to make Q a more value-driven company and support the implementation of our new business model. Establishing the CoE was a crucial part of our new organizational structure and a key enabler of our new strategy.
By gathering top talent in one place, the CoE was designed to serve as a foundation, providing the expertise and support needed to implement our new approach and drive Q forward.
The Center of Excellence was not just a structural shift but a strategic initiative aimed at empowering innovation and operational excellence. By centralizing expertise, the CoE became a hub of knowledge and best practices, enabling cross-functional collaboration and accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
Defining the purpose of CoE
The purpose of Q’s Center of Excellence is to advance and promote excellence in its field through innovation, collaboration, and the development of best practices in particular by:
- Setting the technical standards and processes to ensure that the quality of our delivery continuously improves as we grow bringing the value to our Clients
- Enhancing the value of our services, through integrated team collaboration within core delivery team or via independent engagements by thoroughly understanding client pain points and needs
- Supporting the growth of all engineers in the company through managing the tech excellence network and leading knowledge management processes
Staffing from within
The Center of Excellence at Q is a cornerstone of our strategic plan, establishing a strong foundation for domain specialization. Throughout the setup process, we’ve identified that both formal and informal organizational structures are crucial for successfully implementing new processes around CoE.
To achieve this, we’ve utilized the expertise of our top professionals in key technology areas, including Frontend (including a Design and Mobile), Backend, Data, Solution Architecture, DevOps, Project and Product Management, Quality Assurance, and Business Analysis. These individuals not only possess deep technical knowledge but also have significant hands-on leadership experience, making them well-suited to lead their respective “horizontal” teams.
Their leadership experience and understanding of team dynamics within each tech domain are vital for the smooth adoption of new processes. Previously held formal authority by CoE members is now channeled into enabling processes that emphasize technical knowledge growth and quality enhancement.
In our fast-paced environment at Q, we must respond quickly to client needs. Therefore, we’ve taken a pragmatic approach to establishing the CoE. This involves balancing the “on-demand services” we provide to the company with the careful implementation of quality oversight practices. We continually tweak our approach based on feedback from our internal customers.
An integral aspect of the CoE is our focus on internal Research and Development (R&D). By fostering innovation and encouraging experimentation within our teams, we aim to stay ahead of technological advancements and industry trends. This R&D focus not only enhances our service offerings but also drives continuous improvement in our processes and solutions.
We recognize that governance structures can sometimes face resistance during implementation, leading to adoption challenges if a strategy-first approach is rigidly applied. By listening to our teams, adapting our processes, and integrating a strong R&D component, we aim to ensure the CoE’s successful integration and ongoing effectiveness.
Forming the Center of Excellence from within the organization offers several advantages that significantly benefit both the team and the company. By promoting from within, we leverage existing employees’ deep understanding of our corporate culture and values, which enables a smoother transition and greater acceptance of new processes. Furthermore this approach increases engagement and motivation, as team members feel recognized and valued for their contributions.
Looking ahead
The establishment of the Center of Excellence at Q is an exciting step forward. This initiative isn’t just about setting technical standards and improving the quality of our deliverables, it’s about creating a space where our experts can come together to share knowledge and collaborate more effectively. We believe this will help us deliver better results for our clients and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within our company.
What makes the CoE special is the people who are part of it. By bringing together seasoned professionals with a wealth of experience in their respective fields, we’ve built a team that’s not just knowledgeable but also capable of leading and inspiring others. This blend of expertise and leadership is helping us tackle the challenges of our ever-changing industry and meet our clients’ needs more effectively. It’s not always perfect, and we’re learning and tweaking things as we go, but that’s part of the process.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to see how the CoE will evolve. It’s already playing an important role in supporting various operational processes. We know there will be bumps along the way, but with our team’s dedication and the collaborative spirit of the CoE, we’re confident that we’re on the right path.
If you wish to exchange experience in the CoE realm or just to share a different perspective please write on matija.popovic@q.agency.
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ABOUT AUTHOR
Matija Popovic
Director of Center of Excellence
