Agile Methodologies and Organizational Transformation: the keys to sustainable growth

In an ever-changing world, companies need to adapt quickly and flexibly to remain competitive. Evaluating processes and procedures in real time is, more than ever, a critical aspect that will influence their future development. That is why today we talk about agile methodologies and organizational transformation: Being Agile is thinking about value, collaboration and customer satisfaction, but it is also about continuous improvement.

What are Agile methodologies?

Agile methodologies are a series of approaches and frameworks that are based on iteration and incremental delivery of value. They emerged in the field of software development, but today they are applied in all sectors and types of organizations. They are characterized by:

·        Customer focus: Whether internal or external, the customer is placed at the center of the process, being actively involved in all phases of the project.

·        Teamwork: Collaboration between cross-functional teams is encouraged, with each member contributing their skills and knowledge.

·        Iteration: Projects are divided into short work cycles, allowing for quick delivery of results and constant adaptation to the client's needs.

·        Continuous improvement: Constant improvement is sought through feedback and continuous evaluation of the whole process and each of its milestones.

Agile and Organizational Transformation: benefits

At first glance, Agile methodologies imply a transformation of the way of working, a fact that can imply a challenge and a period of adaptation. This first "obstacle" should not be perceived as such, but on the contrary, it is a moment in which the foundations will be laid that will allow us to incorporate the main advantages of Agile methodologies:

·        Greater flexibility and adaptability: It allows companies to respond more quickly to changes in the market and customer needs.

·        Improved communication and collaboration: Promotes open and transparent communication between teams, which facilitates decision making and problem solving.

·        Increased customer satisfaction: Enables the delivery of products or services that better meet customer needs, which increases customer satisfaction and loyalty.

·        Improved productivity and performance: Reduces development time and increases process efficiency, which translates into higher productivity and performance.

Most widely used Agile methodologies

Although there are currently more than 50 specific Agile methodologies and as many hybrids, the three most common (and best known) methodologies are Scrum, Kanban and Lean Strartup.

Despite this compartmentalization, the most common thing is not to choose a methodology and stick to it exclusively. It is much more interesting for the company to combine elements of several methodologies in such a way that the new work philosophy that we want to implement fits perfectly with the needs and culture of the organization, selecting the best of each of the options and creating a single roadmap. However, to ensure that the methodology is applied correctly, it is always advisable to be guided by a certified Agile coach.

Agile Methodologies and Organizational Transformation: The Role of the Human Resources Department

Once we are aware of the need for change and the suitability of Agile methodologies as a guide in this journey, we must ask ourselves how to implement them and what role the Human Resources department should play in this process.

The role of HR in this is should not be other tan the leading one. Organizational change is a strategic process that affects the personality of the company, its values and the way in which the different targets relate to each other and to the organization.

That is why Human Resources, who really knows the human aspect of the ecosystem in depth, must be in charge of coordinating this transformation in the right direction. The challenge is to never forget that the ultimate goal of the organization is to ensure its productivity and profitability and that, therefore, the new design of processes and procedures must always be fueled by a maxim: continuous improvement as a way to generate greater value for the customer and a more collaborative and enriching environment for employees.

Agile Methodologies and Organizational Transformation: Phases in its introduction

As in any guided change process, when introducing any of these methodologies, we must start from a phase 0 or analysis of the processes susceptible to improvement. With this starting point we can design a map that includes all the areas for improvement of a team, department or the organization as a whole. This phase 0 should be completed with a scale or prioritization, since not all projects have the same relevance and cannot be carried out simultaneously,

Note: if this is the first time you are working with an Agile methodology, it is always a Good idea to start with an “easy” project that serves as an example and learning tool, as well as a tool for improving the work environment.

Once implemented, the phases for the management of an organizational transformation project with Agile methodologies are:

Phase 1 - Gradual implementation: It is advisable to start with a pilot project and then scale the implementation to the entire organization.

Phase 2 - Training and education: It is important that all members of the organization understand the principles and practices of agile methodologies.

Phase 3 - Adaptation to the organizational culture: Agile methodologies must be adapted to the culture and specific needs of each organization.

Phase 4 - Communication and leadership: Committed leadership and effective communication are essential for a successful implementation.

It is important not to understand these phases sequentially, one after the other. On the contrary, to achieve a deep anchoring of this new way of understanding work, they should be carried out simultaneously, training, communicating and internalizing from before starting the pilot project and for as long as necessary so that all our employees can feel part of the change.

Following all these steps and advised by an expert, the change process through an Agile methodology will be much easier for your organization. In case you need any help, any of the ENEX partners worlwide will guide you in the process!