Advantages Of Agility And Tips For Making The Switch

Everyone only speaks of agile projects and praises the advantages of agility. Nobody seems to practice classic project management today. Why is this the case, the benefits of elegant action, and how can you switch? We give an overview!

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Agile, More Agile, Successful

Agile projects have become the measure of all things, and not just in IT. Undoubtedly to an exceptionally high degree here, but also in other industries, the principle of agility is on the rise. The reason for this is their simple rationale. One of the most significant advantages of skill is that projects can be implemented flexibly and at short notice regardless of which area they come from. Acting agile means, in the best sense of the word, to be successful faster. There is no lengthy set-up of the framework conditions, no step-by-step procedure according to a fixed plan, but simple work in progress (WIP). Not everything has to be at the beginning; many things can only grow and develop. A fundamental principle that requires one thing above all: Rethinking! But then you can expect significant advantages. Because agile methods are usually straightforward:

more quickly
more customer-oriented
more adaptable
more flexible

Agility Requires Courage

Many project managers have practically absorbed classic project management based on the phase model with their mother’s milk. After all, a house without a solid foundation is doomed to end up as a crash-prone barracks, isn’t it? Not necessarily, because the advantages of agility can create an equally stable project if it is approached correctly. Becoming more agile requires a rethink and a massive one, but that is what our increasingly digitized world of work is doing anyway. Agile methods are in complete contrast to the tried and tested classic project phases that we have put on a pedestal for decades. It is increasingly seldom worthwhile to decide in favour of the older approach when comparing traditional vs. agile project management. There is practically no middle ground. If you want to become agile, you shouldn’t do things by halves. A bit elegant is like thermal insulation in a building – that doesn’t do much good. If you want to reap the great benefits of agility in your company, your first investment is the courage to venture into uncharted territory. And a little pioneering spirit doesn’t hurt either.

Change From Classic To Agile As A Joint Project

Is your courage there and not so easy to shake? Then you can start making the switch. Above all, it is important not to hesitate to move on to new floors but rather to ignite a holistic storm of enthusiasm in the workforce. Only when the sparks fly – when the last employee is convinced of the advantages of agility and the unbelievable potential of agile methods – can you burn together and manage the change. And that is often the biggest hurdle. Above all, the silo thinking of the individual departments prevents a successful switch in around 72% of the companies. So there is great scepticism. However, you can overcome this hurdle by building a certain amount of trust. The IT department comes in again because it is ideal for starting an agile corporate culture. Start here and show other departments that it works. For it to work, agile project management is not entirely haphazard. Especially at the beginning, when you want to launch your first agile projects, you need a rough construct that you can tinker with. Ask yourself the following questions:

Which problems do we want to solve elegantly ?
What are the risks?
What does the team look like for a start?
Who can coach us?
Who is responsible for quality assurance?

Your Success Strategy For An Agile Start

The point “Who can coach us?” It is a significant one. If the company does not have any experience, it is worth engaging an external coach. The following things have now been clarified: