Agile Transformation

Agile transformation is essential in the turbulent economic environment that the world faces today. What must management do for a successful agile transformation? Is there an agile transformation checklist? What are the agile transformation stages? Agile transformation (a.k.a. business agility transformation) can ensure that your firm survives and thrives when unexpected problems arise. Concerned about how to start this process? We’ll cover the basics.

Agile Transformation Defined

What is agile transformation, you ask? The term refers to the thorough transition of an organization to become more reactive and nimble in the face of sudden problems. The agile transformation approach to changing businesses is based on the so-called, “agile values.”

There are four main values in agile transformation:

1. Individuals and personal interactions > processes and tools
2. Efficient software > comprehensive documentation
3. Customer collaboration > contract negotiation
4. Adapting to change > following a plan

An agile transformation roadmap demonstrates that the process is gradual, because a flexible and self-organizing system cannot be implemented overnight. It takes an overhaul of company culture and values from all levels to achieve a successful agile transformation.

Agile Transformation Roadmap

An agile transformation roadmap must identify changes that need to occur within the workforce—including personnel shifts, process alterations, and technology implementations. This roadmap must have a clear vision and design in order to be implemented successfully.

The first step to creating such a roadmap is deciding where value lies. How does this firm generate value? What is its place within the industry? There are different visualization tools that can be used that ideally follow the agile transformation OKRs (we’ll talk about those later). Visualization tools make objectives clearer for each moving part in the business agility transformation process.

Agile Transformation OKRs

What are agile transformation OKRs? In case OKRs are unfamiliar to you, the acronym stands for “Objectives and Key Results.” As this pertains to business agility transformation, the three most important agile transformation OKRs are exceptional leader engagement, increased team capabilities, and solid IT and business partnership.

Agile Transformation Stages

There are four preparation agile transformation stages:

1. Organize Support for the Cause

Sometimes, lower-level individuals within a company can identify inefficient processes more clearly than higher-ups. No matter who leads the charge towards creating a more adaptable workplace, someone must lead the charge. This entails getting the right people on board and ensuring that funds exist or can be channeled into such a project, as agile transformation is often an overhaul of many company operations.

2. Take Inventory

Now that the need for agile transformation is identified and the support to move forward is in place, what must management do for a successful agile transformation? Firstly, organizations must study what it means to ingrain agile principles within company practices and take an honest look at what aspects have already taken root and what aspects are still lacking.

3. Conduct a Risk and Benefit Assessment

Can the company withstand this type of overhaul at this moment? Or would delaying an agile transformation for a less busy period be a wiser move? It is no longer a question of whether the company moves forward with its agile transformation checklist, but a question of when and how to do so. Similarly, it is important to consider whether enough members of the organization support the plan to ensure that there won’t be resistance to an agile transformation implementation.

4. Learn From Successful Agile Transformations

Many firms across the country are at various stages of their agile transformation journeys. By studying these examples, your firm will be better equipped to handle and avoid potential pitfalls.

Once these considerations are made, you’re ready to make the best decisions for your firm.

Agile Digital Transformation

Agile digital transformation is critical to the success of business firms for a number of reasons and is guided by four core principles.

1. Create a transformative vision.
2. Build platforms for efficient digital customer engagement.
3. Use data-driven visualization to inform insight.
4. Embrace agile transformation management to create an advantage.

What Must Management Do For A Successful Agile Transformation?

By now you’re probably wondering, what must management do for a successful agile transformation? Company higher-ups must be all-in on a pre-decided agile transformation roadmap. Additionally, the agile transformation management team must be ready for hiccups that may arise by handling them gracefully and swiftly.

Agile Transformation Checklist

What else belongs on a healthy agile transformation checklist? Beyond following the principles and stages described above, agile transformation management requires commitment, consensus, and knowledge of each step—with the flexibility to adapt as problems arise. Ensuring that company technology is ready for an agile digital transformation is also important.

Conclusion

An agile digital transformation may be necessary to keep your company competitive in the consulting world. In order to succeed, it is important that your agile transformation management team adheres to the agile transformation stages and keeps track of their progress with an agile transformation checklist.

 

Additional Resources:

• Applying Agile Methods To Your Business
• KPI: How to Use Key Performance Indicators
• Consulting Resume: Complete Guide
• Pyramid Principle Applied