Enterprise Agile – Adapting to the method

Agile working methods, originally a concept from software development, are now used in various domains. Agility has become a successful principle that is used by global IT firms; Nagarro being one of them. Here is Nagarro’s perspective on “Enterprise Agile” methods.

Why it doesn’t work like it used to?

Let’s take an example of a traditional business set-up. When there is a business requirement it takes several weeks to assess it and incorporate all the aspects before the IT department can process that requirement. During a tender spanning several months, suitable IT partners are evaluated or recruitment activities are carried out (which is fun, if software experts are needed!). The development phase also takes time and before the system reached the first testing phase, the first redesign was already due. And this is where the waterfall principle fails in IT.

Rapid cycles, sloppy competitors, declining customer loyalty, globalization—all this requires a different pace. When the market turns, you don’t have nine, but only two months to react. Being an agile organization, Nagarro believes that IT must plan ahead, and it should have quick access to ideas and developers when necessary.

The idea of Agile, Scrum & Co.

To enter a new business, you not only need new ideas, rapid prototyping, and constant concept adaptations, but the courage to reject things as well. Agility paves the way from the first realization to the implementation. "Enterprise Agile" is a mindset that covers all steps of the design chain from strategy to project implementation. At a very early stage, all necessary business units and external experts are brought in and integrated in the project. Work is done in smaller units and the minimum requirement forms the basis of delivery. Parallel results are delivered in defined cycles and next modules developed. Integral to the agile method of working are proofs-of-concept and the actual courage to correct the course, because agility forgoes the usual depth in favor of speed.

Today's consumer has many offers, they decide quickly, and prefer practice-oriented solutions over scientific correctness. In other words: to be first is the top priority.

Trendscouting in Technology

The question remains: How agile can you be? No one can bypass basic conditions, which is obvious. On the other hand, IT is overloaded with trends and you must react quickly to market needs, customer behavior, and surpass your competitors. For the same reason, a company should align its management and IT teams. A proper action plan that answers all questions should be in place: What kind of sub-projects are to be implemented? How and when these projects will be implemented?

At Nagarro, we believe that the central element is the user story. A perfect overall image is not required for agile development as development takes place step-by-step.

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