Case Study: O.C. Tanner achieves 36% increase in team velocity and unified Dev and Ops collaboration with Jira Software

How OC Tanner goes agile with JIRA Service Desk

O.C. Tanner, a global employee-recognition company serving thousands of clients in 150 countries, faced a strained IT organization where development and operations were frequently at odds. That rivalry led to missed deadlines, short-term fixes and growing technical debt that hindered product delivery and internal support.

The company adopted agile practices across both teams—using a shared agile board, regular standups, grooming and planning—and leveraged Jira Software with Jira Service Desk to unify tickets and dashboards. The change improved communication, trust and engagement and drove a 36% increase in average velocity after four sprints, creating a stronger, more efficient IT organization.

O.C. Tanner

Amy Knapp

Director of Service Delivery