Statistics don’t lie: Agile is the ‘new normal‘. But it’s easy to imagine that in more traditional or larger organizations, more efforts will be required, especially in change management, to adopt Agile successfully. This is no ‘one size fits all’ and this is where a more pragmatic approach can pay off by focusing on specific key factors.
The McKinsey Group’s article “The Five Trademarks of Agile Organizations” identifies five key characteristics for a successful transition to the Agile approach:
- Strategy – A polarized vision across the organization.
- See and seize opportunities, have flexibility for resource allocation.
- Structure – A network of autonomous and accountable teams.
- A clear structure without too much hierarchy, a team with control over the governance of the project.
- Process – Quick decisions and learning.
- Transparency in communication, an action-oriented decision-making process.
- People – Dynamic and passionate people.
- Close-knit, versatile, and dedicated teams to the project.
- Technology – State-of-the-art tools.
- The right management tools and the right development tools.
Of course, one can say from reading this criteria, that no matter the method of development, one should always aim to put these characteristics in place. In Agile development cycles, by Sprints of 2 to 4 weeks, these criteria are unavoidable.
Before prioritizing the Agile approach in your organization, we suggest two important points for a successful transition:
- If you are in your first steps and you have no one in your organization with Agile experience, have Agile coaches to accompany you before you start your project.
- Choose the right project, and the right team! This last point may seem obvious, but it is just as important as the first one.
