Agile collaboration enables fast project delivery

The MVP of the TEPP platform was launched only six months after the project’ kick-off thanks to close-knit collaboration and agile working methods.

Commissioned by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Team Europe Partnerships Portal (TEPP) is a matchmaking platform for supporting partner countries in finding innovative and efficient tools that can help them achieve sustainable development goals, eradicate poverty and address inequality while building inclusive and sustainable societies.

The platform’s mission is to create a bridge between members of Team Europe and partner countries, thus supporting the emergence of partnerships.

– The initial idea of TEPP portal was to provide quick support for partner countries that would help to recover from the COVID pandemic. TEPP is an innovative and easy-to-use platform that symbolizes the unity of Team Europe, says Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jonatan Vseviov.

Félix Fernandez-Shaw, Director for Sustainable Development Policy and Coordination at the European Comission’s INTPA.D, refers to TEPP as an excellent example of how a member state can think big and offer innovative solutions for the whole European Union.

TEPP was developed by a consortium of companies: Gofore, Trinidad Wiseman, Aktors and Kodality. As the lead company in the project, Gofore got to utilize their complete competence: project management, business analysis and product architecture, software development, UI/UX design, quality assurance, and software testing.

In addition to development work, Gofore also coached the entire project team in agile ways of working. Agile methods such as meeting structures and project management tools were agreed on at the beginning and successfully implemented with only small modifications during the project.

Special focus in sharing information and open communication between the team and stakeholders ensured that the project was a rewarding experience for all involved parties.

– Considering the demanding schedule, need for fast-paced learning in a new business area, and the fact that the team had not been working together earlier, the great outcome of the TEPP project has showed that anything is possible with the right attitude and close collaboration, Gofore’s Sari Karumo says.

Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs project manager Katrin Rohtla said that the team did a great job and achieved a lot.

– The team needed to showcase excellent cooperation and communication skills to achieve such a huge objective with limited time. Another important factor was change management which allowed the team to adapt quickly and orient themselves to continuous learning, Rohtla highlights.