The Agile management methodology was created in the software industry to help developers work faster. It is a fast and flexible method that many software developers used to get their projects completed on time by undergoing a series of short and iterative improvements in a process, usually over a span of two weeks. Over time, the Agile methodology has been used in many industries because it becomes easier for companies to innovate and build new products or services.
The main focus of Agile is to create teams that collaborate with each other while working on a project. Teams rely on individual feedback and work to iterate in a peer-to-peer manner. The Agile method is normally used in the IT industry but it has expanded to other industries such as education, insurance, finance, construction, and more.
How does Agile Work in an Organization?
For Agile to work at a company or an initiative, the organization needs to be ready to change. It is a very drastic change in how the daily operations go around in a workplace and it can only work if all the members of a team are ready to adapt. The entire structure of the way an organization thinks, how it works, and its methods of project delivery will change after deploying Agile.
The first step of deployment is starting out small. Usually, a single team will implement Agile best practices and then the methodology is introduced to other teams across the organization. The first team needs to be trained to understand the process completely so that it can make the Agile way a part of their day-to-day work culture.
The Agile method for project management is gaining popularity because it was found in a survey conducted in 2018 that nearly 46% of companies were using the Agile method in the last year, and this number is only going to rise with the abundant benefits the methodology provides.
5 Benefits of Agile in Organizations
Increased Product Quality
Before Agile, the development of either a product or an operating system took forever to complete because the entire process was complex. This would normally cause delays in the release. The Agile method works especially well when it comes to developing software because it drives development as it focuses on creating a working model instead of documenting.
Since the focus is to create working software, the Agile team works in short iterative bursts to complete the product or project efficiently and on time. This means the product gets tested every step of the way, so when it finally does complete and get delivered, it is of high quality.
Increased Business Value
An Agile team is focused on delivering products of value to the customers. This focus helps the team keep their main goal in mind which helps drive business decisions. Increasing customer value with the help of Agile is a way to empower all members of the team in the organization to make sure that the work is done and delivered on time.
If work is completed over long-term development cycles, it becomes difficult to achieve this goal In the beginning, the organization starts out with its plan, regardless of whether or not the product is created to increase the customer value. This is something that can cost the company its reputation.
The Agile way is iterative, keeping customer value as its most important goal. The teams work together to decide what will bring the most customer value with each iteration and work on those. Products that are released to increase the value to their customers will only increase the value of the business in their eyes.
Increased Customer Satisfaction
The most important aspect of an Agile team is customer satisfaction. To ensure its success, the Agile deliverables need to include regular interactions with the customers. Throughout the development process, the Agile team keeps sending the working software or product to customers to get feedback for the team to work on.
This leads to creating a product that will satisfy the customer because the entire development process had the customer involved, giving valuable feedback. About 98% of companies surveyed admitted that Agile helped them achieve project success and deliver a product that satisfied customer needs. Creating customer-driven products will only increase customer satisfaction.
Also read the blog “The Benefits of Agile for Customer Care and Support Teams“!
Increased Adaptability
The Agile method is also focused on problem-solving by responding to change. It is more important than following a plan. The plan, when it comes to the Agile methodology, is to respond to change in the most effective manner. Adaptability is key because it helps team members stay on top of any disruptions that may arise during the duration of the project.
Agile focuses on adapting with speed, strategy, and efficiency to deliver sustainable solutions and create products of value. It is a more sustainable way to increase the efficiency of a system by breaking down complex tasks into much smaller, less complex, and short-term tasks. Since the duration of each iteration is short-term, it becomes easier to make changes to any plans without having them affect the main goal.
Increased Alignment
Alignment is also an important part of the Agile process. There are two components involved, which are the autonomous nature of Agile teams, which is the internal component, and the external component which is, again, prioritizing customers. This helps all Agile teams stay aligned and focused on their goals.
Internal alignment is focused on creating empowered teams with a sense of ownership and autonomy that can work together at each level. The external element usually comes from the regular feedback the team members receive from their customers, helping them stay focused on the goal of creating a product or software that the customers will want and can use. These factors help Agile teams stay focused and aligned to their goals and not get too involved in the nitty-gritty.
Final Thoughts
Agile teams were created to bring value to the company and to other stakeholders. They improve overall operational efficiency as well as project delivery. To create products and complete projects with high quality and on time, many companies are shifting to the Agile methodology. If you want to learn more and create more business value for your company, there are many Agile courses and training programs available that can help you and your teams adopt the Agile way.
Some of the popular Agile Certification Courses that individuals and enterprise teams can take up are:
