Drastic times call for drastic measures, or Agile measures. Easy going, but effective on so many levels. 20 years passed since defining the Agile Manifesto. So, these Agile innovations made huge changes on different business areas. They also made a fantastic impact on the software industry and that’s inevitable. Did you think about how companies implement Agile values and principles when they use Agile for the first time?
Let’s remind ourselves…
What are 4 Agile values:
#1Individuals and interactions over processes and tools;
#2 Working software over comprehensive documentation;
#3 Customer collaboration over contract negotiation;
#4 Responding to change over following a plan.
Imagine this: you just opened a huge bookstore with a various assortment including gift program and valuable literature for different generations. But, the tastes of readers change daily and you need to be constantly informed about these trends. The competition is fierce, but what distinguishes you from them is how you’re gonna react to unexpected changes from the environment.
So, how an artistic organization can implement Agile values in their system:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools: yes – employees know how to sell products and know how to make daily, weekly and monthly reports. But, did you think about how they function between themselves? Are they easy-going, trying to put good communication and collaboration in the first place rather than formal processes? Think about this aspect and try to make your own conclusions.- Working software over comprehensive documentation: yes, boring documentation is present everywhere. Plans, reports, budgets and etc. Making an efficient working software that will significantly reduce costs, time and paperwork is a great investment and one of the benefits of applying Agile values.
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation: feedback is everything. Not only between employees and employers, but also on relation employees – customers. Book lovers need to be involved in each promotional offer, rebranding or building up a book community. This is actually an example of socially responsible business (not only in the ecological or social way).
- Responding to change over following a plan: Agile sees organization through values that are constantly improving business quality. If there’s a new and very popular book author, the bookstore as a publisher will try to introduce that author to domestic readers. That is one way of improvement in an organization, in addition to a current plan that is being followed, right? Change is good. Change is desirable in each area.
Getting started with Agile is always challenging
…and that’s why Agile as methodology and its frameworks aren’t so complicated if you want to learn about them. And adopt through good practical examples. You can always gradually shift to Agile values by using different software available in the market and with the support of the right people.