Organizational Agility along with Digital Transformation, Machine Learning, Big Data and Blockchain technologies was one of main trending topics for 2018 and will continue to be in the hit list for 2019 as well. Each of the above topics deserves a blog on its own for sure.
Until recently, Agile, started by the Agile Manifesto drafted by a group of technologists back in 2001 was a methodology used in software development. Major principles of this methodology were:
- Individuals and interactions preferred over processes and tools.
- Working software developed in iterations over comprehensive documentation.
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
- Responding to change rather than following a strict plan.
Agility is not just a methodology, it is the new organizational paradigm with customers in the center of all processes and decisions and customer satisfaction being the highest priority of the business.
There has been a lot said and written about Going Agile from an organizational point of view. In the McKinsey article “The Five Trademarks of Agile Organizations”, an agile organization is described as “a living organism”.
Agile, however, places more emphasis on quality than rules, iterative and incremental development, teamwork and self-organization, and cross-functional teams. Agile is mostly a slow, iterative process of “getting into it” where the team learns from errors and automates improvements.
Being, becoming, or transforming one’s character or state to one of agility is known as agile transformation. It is significantly harder to accomplish this. It requires a shift in everyone’s mindset within a business, which might be uncomfortable for the majority of employees.
The majority of businesses understand the advantages of agile, but many are unsure of how to foster agile “habits” or whether to adopt frameworks and processes. A premature introduction of frameworks and techniques could not be beneficial.
The four key values of agile are:
- People and interactions over procedures and equipment.
- Usable software over thorough documentation.
- Choosing customer input during contract negotiations.
- Adjusting to change instead of sticking to a plan.
Strategy:
1) Adopt a vision for the digital transformation
As critical as it is to equip an organization with a technology-driven infrastructure, it’s also crucial to plan out how the company will be able to track its progress in real time while implementing ongoing digital activities that are guaranteed to generate a profit.
2) Data-driven visualization that is insight-driven
For forward-thinking businesses that work with big data, an agile digital strategy is ideal. Businesses can make the best choice at the appropriate time by offering a holistic approach to seeing and using data.
You can speed up digital transformation at your company by making complex data easier to comprehend, access, and use. The overall efficiency of your company increases when business owners and executives can make decisions with confidence that is supported by data-driven insights.
3) Create secure platforms
Nowadays, the primary innovation channel is digital platforms. These robust digital platforms, which include open application interfaces (API), open datasets, service catalogs, integration frameworks, solution manuals, and collaboration tools, make it possible for companies to swiftly develop customer-based solutions using enterprise-level data and services.
For the effective use of the cloud, big data, social media, smart “things,” and mobile devices, digital platforms have a limitless number of technical partners. Digital platforms that link an enterprise system environment that is predictable and reliable with an agile, opportunistic vision of digital transformation are gradually being implemented by responsive businesses. Digital platforms encourage business owners, partners, and even consumers to quickly develop next-generation solutions based on the market or clients.
Organizations should first prioritize pertinent risks, and then employ risk management technologies to find intrusions and act rapidly in real-time. The liberation of existing IT assets and achievement of digital innovation and growth depend on the secure interface of digital platform components. The right plan will offer the speed, security, and growth patterns required for today’s digital economy, even though the protection of assets and data is crucial.
4) Emphasis on creating digital consumer engagement
Being able to concentrate on digital client engagement can help you expedite digital transformation. The business strategy with the best potential for longevity and scalability will be determined by the experiences of your consumers.
According to a survey, better data access would have allowed for the resolution of more than 60% of unsuccessful customer support calls.
In order to promote engagement, a successful digital transformation centers on consumer emotion. You require a strong foundation to monitor, manage, and nurture client experiences while updating your approach to customer engagement. You can do that through digital transformation.
5) Embrace agility to iterate and improve processes
Digital transformation that is data-driven reduces the gap between people and technology. As a result, your project development process is streamlined, and innovation happens quickly. You are aware of your current situation and what you must do to move forward. The main advantage of an agile digital strategy for business expansion is this.
Business leaders can look beyond conventional models and make use of data to develop solutions that meet desired goals.
By enabling businesses to continuously modify their digital strategy based on past performance and project feedback, digital agile encourages digital innovation. When looking for creative ideas to propel significant business growth, best practice firms often examine their digital maturity across capabilities. Successful transformative management depends on the digital innovation framework.
