Overcoming Challenges of Adopting Agile

Most organizations are in the process of embracing agile methodologies. Agile methodologies will help them to improve their customer satisfaction, team performances, and project flexibility. For businesses who are still in two minds, can check out the case study on Reduced Time-to-Market with Agile Transition. An organization that is in the process of adopting agile methodologies faces quite a few roadblocks. It is not easy to bring about a change to an organization. Below are some changes an organization has to bring about while implementing changes, otherwise could lead to roadblocks:

Training

When organizations adopt agile, every employee in the organization must go through adequate training. An experienced agile coach should provide coaching and training to all employees. A clear understanding of agile practices and principles is required to understand the transformation and the implications of the change.

Collaboration

Transforming to agile will require every department and employee within the organization to work in collaboration. Before the transformation, most teams may never have interacted with other teams. However, the transformation to agile will require each individual to understand the importance of collaboration and working together with cross-functional teams.

Quick results

It is not possible to achieve quick results when adopting agile. It is essential to understand the principles of agile. Without proper understanding, it can be a setback in the transformation process. Every employee must be clear about the expectations and the changes that the transformation will bring into their workspace and their roles. An organization to be completely agile it will take time and patience from the employees. Also, how quickly the agile methodology is implemented in an organization is depended on the size of the team. If an organization has just 20 to 25 employees, it will be implemented quickly. However, if it’s a huge organization, it may take years for the entire organization to adapt to the agile methodologies.

Culture Shift

Cultural shift and the right mindset to accept the changes are required in successfully implementing agile methodologies. The organization should support its employees and management, focus on learning, focus on continuous improvement, encourage its employees, and adapt to the changes. The culture and mindset don’t change in a day. It has to change from the top management to the employee at a base level in the organization hierarchy.   

   

Effective Communication

When an organization is going through a transformation, most employees will be reluctant to accept the changes. It could be because they fear how the change would affect them and if it would impact their role in the organization. If employees have to accept change, clear communication has to be sent out. Every employee should understand what the changes are, how it will impact them, and what benefits the change will bring about in the organization.

Leadership Support

The leadership team should be fully invested with the change and has to accept the change as a positive transformation. In the initial stages, the results may not be positive or as expected. When an organization is going through changes, there will be roadblocks and bumps. There will be failures; however, the leaders have to encourage their teams to have a positive outlook. They will have to work towards changing the mindset and encourage continuous improvement. Once the employees see that their leaders are positive about the change, employees will also accept the changes and embrace the new methodologies.

Every organization is working towards embracing agile methodologies in their organization. However, some of them revert to the waterfall method as soon as they hit some roadblocks. Change is not easy. Start with a pilot team and then move ahead slowly and steadily from one department to another. It is imperative to have proper planning and procedures in place before the change is rolled out. Measure the success and learn from the setbacks in the initial stages itself.

To successfully adopt and implement agile, every employee in the organization should know what agile is and the benefits of embracing agile. The PMI-ACP or the CSM certification program can prepare employees in your organization for agile transformation.

Certification Planner, LLC, is a leading e-learning platform that provides various agile and project management certification programs. To know more about these certification programs, connect with us at support@certificationplanner.com or call us at +1 8553221201 or visit www.certificationplanner.com.