Doing Agile Right: Transformation Without Chaos by Darrell Rigby, Sarah Elk, and Steve Berez
Darrell holds a MBA from Harvard Business School. He is a Senior Partner at Bain & Company and is a founder and leader of Bain’s Innovation and Agile Practices. Sarah holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a partner at Bain & Company with a focus on agile transformations and organizational change. Steve holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a partner at Bain & Company specializing in technology and agile practices. As a team they provide a deep and well-rounded perspective on implementing agile methodologies while avoiding common pitfalls associated with chaotic transformations.
Agile is a project management and software development approach that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer-centricity. It breaks projects into smaller phases called sprints. This permits teams to adapt quickly to changes and deliver value faster. It certainly has the power to transform work, but only if it’s implemented the correct way.
This isn’t a product or goal in itself, it’s a means to becoming an efficient operation. This book is really a must-read for any organization making transitions. They addresses the challenges many organizations face when implementing agile methodologies. They emphasize understanding and applying agile principles effectively in order to to achieve real transformation without falling into chaos. Today this is a tall order indeed, more than ever before.
Balance is collaboration
It seems so common, regardless of market to see leaders painfully aware of their desire to move their organization into a nimble, flexible, customer-focused organization. Yet each one is also confronted with their own reality: their teams are stuck in silos, current processes are slow, and innovation stalls.
Here Darrell, Sarah and Steve dispel myths surrounding agile’s rise and the idea it can reshape an organization. They do address how agile teams can indeed be powerful, making organizational workflows more rewarding and empowering employees.
Consider reading HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Managing Projects and Initiatives by Harvard Business Review:
In conclusion, results are indeed possible only when the method is understood and implemented correctly across the organization. They suggest the key is balance. Every organization must optimize their current state and better control or change some of its operations while innovating change.