Agile in COVID Times
Adaptability is the new normal for us, and our organization will need to be agile. The worldwide pandemic has brought us closer to the actual world, exceptional difficulties, and iterative methodologies that have made organizations counter to an unprepared business environment.
Is Agility the only Gateway to get us through The COVID Crisis?
Agile is the capability to respond to variation. It is the way of handling and eventually emerging successfully in an uncertain and turbulent environment.
Agile is of course publicized and flaunted as the only survival method to sail through during the current pandemic era. But it will interest to unveil how it is relevant during a crisis like COVID-19?
Leaders who drive business feel, the agile mindset technologies have a lot to educate us, train us on how to work most effectively. The time now is accountable, and we need to be prepared to be flexible and adaptable as we step into the era of working differently than we did before COVID-19 strikes us.
The idea of Agile was conceived out of software development in early 2001 when the agile manifesto was developed. Those organizations that wanted express, innovation, and higher customer satisfaction have prioritized agile work, not for its software support but all functionalities across their organization.
It is a fact that those brands or enterprises that have adopted agile most systematically in their operations are found to be most successful.
89% of world thinkers and technology experts jointly agree that Agile starts with our mindset and how we think? As soon as we can strengthen our mindset, we will come across various ways to implement the agile way “of working and problem solving”. Several companies have already adopted an iterative approach for handling projects and developing software that they can deliver to their customers–how did they incorporate value-added agile practices will interest to know.
The most pivotal step is to assess strategies, unceasingly and demand during the unreal lockdown.
What is successful is what sells–the triumph of agile emerges from an understanding that one can evaluate and understand what customers want, what is important for our stakeholders, or our organization? We have to constantly reflect on our decision-making to monitor and map what is crucial and what isn’t, what our priority is, and various cross-functional segments? Once this is done, flow the priorities over the teams. Agile methodologies enable teams and associates to plan and sort priority tasks as per their importance. Segmenting work in reduced incentives certainly earns benefit; it allows you to reflect much quicker than usual. You will have the right balance and resolve complications for your clients, organization, and stakeholders based on the current business scenario.
When teams and establishments initiate using agile methodologies, their primary focus shifts to practice that strengthens with collaboration and organizing the task, the first winning step. However, the next key set of observers that need not adhere strictly yet are part of specified techniques are those that deal with the development of a team when they are dealing with an uncertain situation.
Hence while practicing agile methodologies–ensure technical practices are not overlooked.
The 3C of Agile Methodologies
Confidence–Collaboration–Commitment
The 3C formula works in an agreeable approach and acts as a firm foundation for building a powerful team and client network. It is the belief that the team is looking out for customers and their organization’s best interest, built with the confidence that the individual is committed.
Building Confidence is the most pivotal element of an agile team. To work cohesively as a team demands confidence, trust, and empathy with each team member. Each adheres and flows it to the customers and also higher than their superiors. Agile teams need to operate in an expressively safe space. The team must have a goal set, followed by feedback sessions.
Sharing open houses and demos brings an opportunity for the team to understand and celebrate what they have achieved as a cohesive team and for their organization. It is a great platform that provides recognition to the back-of-the-house associates who work relentlessly. Collaboration is a must-have element to the agile mindset. Feedback from internal teammates and external clients together fuel the collaboration.
Implementing agile methodologies is simply the way of self-organizing and cross-functional teams and their customers.
Agile and its four quadrants for Lockdown
The world that we are currently in is not the one that we prefer. We were navigating through a choppy ocean, which was faster than we had expected. The everyday challenges, unjust and misfortune that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it, is simply unprecedented and unimaginable. It seems like a super-fast happenstance with a situation that is volatile and strengthening dynamically for all organizations big and small. The four quadrants of agile development are:
Solid grip on situations, processes, and expertise on tools by individuals
It is time now to place people before anything else–be it your team member, your client, or your business partner. Health and a safe environment are the topmost priority and it is the need of this hour over short-term goals.
Allowing people to work from home or using remote access is the priority now. All communication from the top leader’s desk right to the mail hitting the client’s mailbox must contain transparent communication. Keep external and internal members informed, explain to them about steps taken, and how situations unfold, and the business continuity plan and strategy ensuring employees’ safety and security of client data.
The impact of a personalized email or a voice message will go a long way to maintain positivity and assurance which is of utmost critical for all business growth.
The switchover to software solution against documentation
The latest introduction of collaborating tools and integration connectivity across various time zones is just a glimpse of the new normal. Understanding and adapting the work from home culture supported by effective training and facilities over video conferencing–all strengthen the service delivery to our clients.
The faster one resolves a problem, the sooner you will help a client move forward. Time is of most essential and it is now the right time for business partners to join hands with customers by expressing delivery of information, innovation, and the latest implementations for delivering absolute working solutions.
Client cooperation over contract conciliation
It is true we can deliver great customer value through digitization and adaptation of modern technology into the system–but it is important to be empathetic, support your clients, meet them virtually and forget business negotiations and limitations which were holding you up. Extend your hand, support the analogy of higher customer experience. Introduce them to the digital you and assure them of your presence.
Retorting to change over succeeding a plan
Ad hoc prioritization and discovering responses regarding potential shifts will now depend on changing the work environment. You must be prepared to take the ‘digital twirl’, approach higher digital simulations, and help your business strengthen regarding the changing scenarios. Respond as your turnout time to queries can cost adversely, hence try to shape sifts for incoming business challenges. This is the time.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is undeniably our closest encounter with a fast-paced world full of impediments; this situation can always be exploited to face professional challenges in a quicker, more agile way as stated by World Leaders & Economists, The workers all around and every being must do a daily “Scrutiny and Adjust” to adopt their support situation as they cross their way through this unexplored territory.
Agile development and implementation are much more required now than ever before. The four quadrants of agile provide guide rails to navigate through “current situations with pliability and resolution”. While we all plan to be prepared for setting the stage right and strong for recovery, revolution, and progress in the new normal, will ultimately trail the pandemic.
