The future would not be all that different. It is likely to face a new series of unexpected challenges and opportunities. An agile business system can help businesses create the innovations they will need to survive in these unpredictable conditions.
Agile methods have revolutionised information technology. Nowadays, most IT companies are familiar with agile innovation teams. These small, entrepreneurial groups are designed to stay close to clients and adapt quickly to changing circumstances. When implemented correctly, they almost always result in greatly increased success rates in software development, improved quality and speed to market, and boosted motivation and productivity of IT teams.Covid-19 pandemic has already led to many companies discovering agile on the fly: innovations created worldwide were not a part of their strategic plan. The question now is ‘How can we maintain agility once the crisis is over?’. Here is our advice:
- Begin spreading agile principles throughout the organisation, even to the parts of it which must remain bureaucratic. The key here is to establish an agile system using agile methods. Engage colleagues in changing the system through testing, learning, and adaptation.
- Break big, lengthy programmes into smaller lots with rapid feedback loops. Smaller lots allow teams working in complex systems to start, stop, or pivot their project activities quickly in response to changes or new demands.
- To sustain progress in dynamic environments, balance these two vital activities: standard operations and innovation. The trick is to maintain the urgency, predict the next crisis, and create a system that maintains innovation as much as operations.
