Introduction
Before COVID disrupted our lives, nobody could have imagined that a virus could impact our lives to this level. Apart from literally shutting down the world, it brought back our focus on health.
COVID also affected businesses, and they had no option but to adapt to the new normal. It was a fight for survival as every business faced new and unexpected challenges.
This is where Agile can make a difference. It can help companies become more resilient in an increasingly complicated world.
What is Agile?
Agile is an iterative approach that uses a set of core principles for project management and product development. Agile was first used in IT for software development but later was adopted in project management. It involves continuous improvement that helps the teams to keep up with the ever-changing demands of today’s world.
It also enables companies to experiment and test ideas before they adopt them full-time. The biggest advantage is that it helps organizations respond to change quickly and reorient to the market.
Finally, Agile allows companies to fail early to optimize the use of resources and make informed and collaborative decisions.
Why Do Businesses Need to Be Agile?
Let us see the benefits that using Agile can bring to the table.
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Strategic Planning
The Agile methodology enables organizations to get clear and bold directions even in this uncertain world. As the leaders continue to re-evaluate priorities, they can respond in real-time to make sustainable decisions.
Frequent reviews keep the health of the organization in check by considering new input and making adjustments to reach the end state.
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Simplifying Complex Structures
Several organizations have complex levels that make collaboration across teams and departments challenging. Multiple tiers complicate tasks, and it becomes hard to carry out even the simplest ones.
The problem increases when the company operates out of several geographical locations.
Agile requires the leadership to simplify by removing unproductive and redundant tasks. It involves a shift in the culture by embracing change and promoting skills and behavior that support Agile.
Instead of working in silos, it requires the teams and departments to collaborate to make a better sprint in the next iteration. There is an open exchange of ideas to learn from each other’s experiences and avoid mistakes.
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Achieve High Quality at Low Cost and Risk
In the absence of Agile, organizations follow a rigid approach to achieve the final state. It does not leave any scope for correction of errors. As a result, all the resources are already committed to the final goal. If the project or product fails, there is no going back.
On the other hand, Agile allows the teams to get regular feedback and develop multiple versions of the product. It helps them determine the usability of the product and decide which feature to keep and which one to discard.
Having so many layers of testing and feedback can seem risky and costly. However, it can reduce these and assure success in the long run.
As the customers test the products and share their reviews, organizations get the opportunity to make improvements. They do so with reduced risks and optimized resources when they hit the market.
Speed and Flexibility
In theory, it may seem that the Agile methodology can slow down things. On the contrary, Agile allows your teams to speed up their daily tasks.
Firstly, they do not have to wait for the end of the project before the product hits the market. Instead, they can release smaller versions of the product and adjust their work as per the market response.
Secondly, as they hit the market earlier in their plan, they get the fast-mover advantage. As the teams can get feedback in the earlier stages, they get the flexibility to make changes and offer new solutions.
Lastly, they get the flexibility to incorporate new technology, industry standards, and new regulations into their products to stay relevant.
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Knowledge-Sharing Tools to Attract Talent
Agile organizations are talent magnets. These companies use the latest technology and tools to equip their workforce to work as per Agile principles.
As collaboration is significant in an Agile organization, they use knowledge-sharing tools to keep everyone on the same page. This becomes all the more important in a hybrid work environment as employees working from home can miss out on important information.
Such organizations also have workforce retention and development as their priorities. They understand the value a talented workforce can deliver in giving them a competitive edge in the market.
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Alignment of All Departments
An organization where the departments do not share the company’s vision cannot succeed. Agile ensures that all the departments have a shared vision and work consistently towards it.
For instance, all the teams have the latest information. There is a constant flow of value from all directions to achieve the goals.
Agile achieves this alignment by seamlessly bringing together everything internal and external to the organization.
Conclusion
In the world after covid, no one will take certainty for granted. We are at a juncture where organizations that do not respond and reshape will find it hard to retain their place in the market. Agile provides a support system that can help them stay relevant in an unsteady world.
