Agile is a mindset and method for improving innovation through collaboration and adaptive testing. It allows organizations to adapt quickly to changing market and technological needs while also preserving the best practices that are already in place. The roots of agile can been traced to software development and even product development before that, but it does not mean that it cannot be applied into other industries as its application has evolved over decades. Project Managers and Product Managers mainly understand the best applications of agile and how it can transform outcomes compared other methodologies, and this level of expertise places them front and center as many more industries around the world are starting to fully implement agile principles.
Senior leaders and executives need to better understand how agile works so that they can extensively support its initiatives without running interference on related projects and product development, particularly for steering committee groups that are tasked with evaluating progress and making decisions on key corporate project initiatives. While many companies adopted agile techniques following the lockdown measures that forced many to work from home, there is a risk that companies may revert to their old ways of doing things and forget about the benefits that came from using agile. Below are some of the proven approaches to implementing sustainable agile methodologies:
Start with a Pilot Program Implementation
The best implementations of agile are those that start with a small implementation, either a project management or product management team where many people are already familiar with the methodologies. This enables them to have a successful implementation that can now be baselined and applied to other areas of a company.
Offer Agile Certification and Training Programs
Agile training helps people to learn and apply real-world agile lessons and practices to their own areas of job assignments in a way that is organized and effective. It also helps establish sound processes that can be used for training other team members and departments that may be unfamiliar with how agile works. Agile certification programs can also help those that obtain them get qualified for job promotions and access to more career opportunities compared to their non-certified counterparts in the same areas.
Recognize where Agile Does and Does Not Work
Even though many companies are now embracing agile techniques, it is important to understand where agile will work best and where agile will not work at all. Furthermore, the associated training and costs related to purchasing new software to support agile must translate to a reasonable return on investment (ROI) for the company, which is something that Project Managers and Product Managers can estimate. Day-to-day operations for companies may not necessarily be good candidates for agile transformation because the work is repetitive, whereas some are ripe for automation.
At PM Imperative, we cover the latest trends in Project Management and Product Management. As PM practitioners, we understand the value the Project Managers and Product Managers bring to each organization and that’s why we focus on the most practical strategies that Project and Product Managers can implement immediately. If you found this post useful, be sure to check out our latest book: The PM Imperative – Guide for Leading & Managing Projects, People & Delivering Value. https://pmimperative.com/shop/
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