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Looking back at our articles throughout the first quarter of this year, there have been the running themes of looking forward and the need for adaptability within business.
We all know how important it is, to move away from the attitude of risk mitigation and battening down the hatches, to ensure we all make the best of our current situation – both in regard to the ever-changing pandemic impacts and how we find new opportunities and implement new strategies in the post-Brexit era.
At the very heart of this is the Agile approach which for many businesses
is providing the stepping stone toward future adaptability –
meeting client’s and gaining market share.
The days of creating upfront, fixed plans are gone – trying to analyse the future through a crystal ball is not enough – instead, we need to be ready for continuous change, be adaptive, creative, and resilient, and adjust quickly in both our planning and execution if we want to stay ahead of the competition.
Now, I know… Agile is a term that is frequently talked about but all too often it becomes diluted in its implementation.
There is no better time than now to refresh yourself on the core values and principles and ensure they are being implemented effectively to help you optimise how you work as a business and stay adaptive.
Being truly Agile goes beyond the Webster dictionary description of "having a quick resourceful and adaptable character" or "marked by ready ability to move with quick easy grace". Agile as defined by the Agile Manifesto carries a broader meaning through the core values and the 12 principles.
So, what does it mean to be truly Agile and therefore adaptive in 2021?
Go beyond just adopting “a more agile approach” and develop a cultural DNA and organizational strategy around the values and principles established in the manifesto. In 2021, we have already seen how well companies have done that have been able to pivot and manoeuvre to meet the changes in the markets and adapt to clients’ needs.
This isn’t just in software development, but also for other product development programs/projects, whether they're in sales, marketing, or other areas of business – This year, regardless of what industry you are in, what your product is, or who your end client may be, everyone is having to recreate or adapt their product and route to market.
Are you taking these steps to leverage adaptability to drive customer value and stay ahead of the competition?
Changing culture and behaviour – From the board to executive leaders, managers to the troops on the ground, truly Agile organizations put a huge focus on change management programs. Organisations look for adaptable characters (Agile leaders) to spearhead that change throughout the business, where executives and managers need to become what Robert K. Greenleaf called "servant leaders".
Creating a fluid organization – Cultural and behavioural changes are often blocked by typical organisational structures. That's why organisations adopting Agile look for more fluid and dynamic team structures vs. traditional segmented business functions. When people and teams are forced into siloes, the communication and collaboration value the Agile manifesto offers is diminished. New organic organisational structures like tribes and squads or swarms that help overcome communication walls bring more autonomy and champion servant leadership.
Adopting new ways of working – This means forming and utilising practices over process to leverage broader collaboration, direct communication, and connection across teams throughout the enterprise. This will help solve the unknown and new problems that are typical for innovative efforts as they arise, rather than being tied down to a pre-prescribed process. Using agile frameworks and methods to learn about those practices helps you be Agile (e.g., Scrum, XP, and Spotify).
Focusing on delivering value – In any type of product development, products are created because they create value for your clients and business. However, in addition to business value, Agile also encourages quality, efficiency, and progress improvement, and employee experience engagement.
These are just a few ways that you can ensure your business is truly Agile.
Our advice is to start from the manifesto, adapt its core values and principles at scale, and with every value stream, extend your agility and ability to adapt. When done with discipline and focus, you will find your team and wider business ready for the next unknown.
If you would like more information on how you can introduce Agile into your business or sourcing Agile leaders Contact Us.