Kevin Thompson Ph.D. Consulting

651 Oneida Dr
Sunnyvale CA
Work Phone: 408-203-3545
kevin@kevinthompsonphd.com
https://kevinthompsonphd.com
LinkedIn Profile

Agile Transformation Consultant for Hardware and Software Product Development
I help engineering organizations improve product development by applying Agile methods to complex hardware, embedded systems, software, and multidisciplinary engineering projects. My work focuses on reducing late-stage surprises, improving cross-functional coordination, and creating planning and governance systems that enable engineering teams to deliver products more predictably.

Over the past two decades, I have led Agile consulting and transformation initiatives for more than 100 engineering organizations in industries including medical devices, robotics, aerospace, telecommunications, semiconductors, biotechnology, and industrial products. My experience ranges from coaching individual Scrum teams to designing Agile governance systems for large enterprises.

A particular focus of my work is Agile hardware development. Through both research and hands-on consulting, I have shown that Scrum can be highly effective for hardware engineering when software-oriented implementation practices are adapted to the realities of multidisciplinary product development. My work includes successful Agile hardware transformations for organizations developing sophisticated scientific instruments and other complex engineered products.

Consulting and Training
I provide consulting, mentoring, executive coaching, and training in areas including:

• Agile transformation strategy
• Agile hardware development
• Scrum for software and hardware teams
• Agile Program Management
• Agile Portfolio Management
• Kanban for Agile work management
• Product Ownership
• Engineering process improvement
• Agile governance

I regularly work with executives, engineering managers, Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and engineering teams to help organizations successfully adopt Agile ways of working while preserving the engineering disciplines required for high-quality product development.

Publications and Speaking

I am the author of Solutions for Agile Governance in the Enterprise and have published research and articles on Agile governance and Agile hardware development. I am also a frequent speaker on applying Agile principles beyond software development, with particular emphasis on complex engineering organizations and hardware product development.

Education

I hold a Ph.D. in Physics and combine a technical engineering background with extensive experience in organizational transformation, product development, and Agile leadership.

Education and Background:
Ph.D. in Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

B.S. in Physics, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA

Awards and Certifications:
Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), from the Project Management Institute

Certified Scrum Practitioner (CSP) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM), from the Scrum Alliance