The agile methodology is a holistic approach to project management that improves innovation efforts throughout all levels of an organization. The Association for Project Management defines agile project management as “an iterative approach to delivering a project throughout its life cycle.” That said, agile is increasingly popular amongst organizations working to build a culture of innovation just as much as it is amongst organizations looking to simply achieve quick wins. According to Forrester, agile is hot on their customers’ radar, and based on their State of Agile 2019 Survey 112 professionals with knowledge of their firm’s agile practices reported having realized 47% faster business value.The agile approach to management allows the project to adapt to customer needs throughout the process. Attributes of this approach include flexibility and rapid adaptability that make it particularly effective for digital transformation projects. When choosing this method for your process, it is important to understand what makes an agile initiative successful. Here are some dos and don’ts for successfully managing agile innovation projects.
Do Embrace Change
Projects with uncertain or changing goals are the best suited for agile, and the willingness to change results in products that are the best suited for consumer needs. Through all stages of the process, changing environments are embraced. This provides a great opportunity for superior competitive advantage that adjusts with market demands. To effectively manage agile innovation projects, it is critical that change is accepted and encouraged through every step of the process. Not doing so hinders the process and directly goes against the agile philosophy.
Do Use Timeboxing
Timeboxing is a planning technique that is common in planning projects and essential for agile innovation. This technique divides the project schedule into a number of separate time periods. Each time period will have its own goals, deadlines, and budget. Agile is an iterative approach, which allows for improved efficiency as the team fine-tunes the work throughout the process instead of after the final results. Keeping it simple is an essential element of agile that should always be considered.
Do Aid Collaboration
Agile project management results in improved products and services because of the collaboration that happens between employees, stockholders, and consumers. It is an essential part of the process, so it should be supported by the business. Resources like open innovation software make it easier for crowdsourcing and collaboration to take place. The company should make sure everyone involved has the tools required to openly and effectively share ideas and give feedback for the success of the project. Communicating goals and expectations is just as important as providing resources and training as needed.
Do Not Micromanage
Some managers might find the hands-off approach challenging, but agile is built to empower teams to manage themselves. The evolving role of agile managers requires the transfer of some traditional responsibilities. Teams should be given the tools and support needed for success in a way that allows them to self-organize. When managing projects, trust the team to find the best way to meet requirements and accomplish set goals. Leadership must clearly communicate expectations but also let go of some control for the best results.
Do Not Rush Change
Change is an important aspect of the agile methodology, but do not be too eager and try to change everything all at once. One of the biggest barriers to innovation is resistance from employees and executives. Testing agile methods on individual projects or integrating legacy systems into your new approach helps to break down prejudices and set minds throughout the company. This helps to slowly create a culture of innovation that is receptive to agile project management. Proven results from agile projects will win everyone’s favor. It is also important to pair new systems and approaches with the proper training and resources so employees feel prepared instead of overwhelmed.
For more insight on making the most of the agile methodology, read about the five traits of highly successful agile organizations here. These traits are helpful for understanding what makes this process work in the real world. Adopting this process increases flexibility, productivity, transparency, and generates higher quality deliverables. Specifically for project management, agile helps deploy more rapid solutions, reduces waste, create faster turnaround times, increase focus on customer needs, and encourage collaboration. Successful and effective agile processes require everyone in your organization to be on the same page, which is why agile development typically requires agile infrastructure. In the same way that drivers need road signs to navigate safely and efficiently, engineers need to understand how drivers navigate the roads so that they can provide them with the right tools It’s a two-way street, but everyone works towards the same goal.
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