Value of Frameworks in an Agile World

The Agile Adoption statistics of 2022 say that around 71% of companies are adopting agile. The trend is only growing since agility was the best methodology to keep up with evolving needs and technology. But do all these agile adoptions work out as they are intended to? This is a million-dollar question that begs an answer that must be backed by solid research data.
Let us briefly dive into what makes agility work and how frameworks are important to successful agile transformations.

The agile transformation journey

Before one can assess the success of the agile transformation of a company, it is important to note where the company stands with respect to its agile transformation journey. Some organizations have probably just executed their pilot projects, some have started migration for multiple teams, and some could have a more mature agile framework that encompasses both the connective parts and a good number of their teams.

So, let’s start with what a company could do in any of these stages to improve its agile success.

Yet to start

Beginners who are yet to start their agile transformation should focus more on preparation for the agile transformation. This means they will have to coach their senior leaders on agility and get them all on board with a full understanding of the agile methodology. Clear goals must be set, and comprehensive plans for starting your agile transformation must be implemented.

Initial Phases

Companies that have just started their agile transformation efforts must take time to assess the progress of their efforts and evaluate whether their current position could bring about the desired results. Check if there is any real progress, whether agile front-runner units are taken seriously or if there is any lagging in your agile recipe.

Stasis

This stage pertains to companies that have implemented agile to some scale and have not yet experienced any step change in performance. It is time to reevaluate your goals. Check if your goals were tangible and time bound from the beginning of your implementation or whether you lost pace somewhere in the middle. Look at the efforts taken to make agile an important part of your operations and if there is indeed a full acceptance among your project leaders. Check if proper attempts have been made to adopt agile in a holistic sense with respect to your operating model rather than just a novelty exercise.

Continuous improvement

So for those organizations who have experienced great success with their agile transformation, it is time to find ways to improve. Agile transformation is not a process that has a clear end. You will have to constantly evolve and improve your operating model to keep up with the evolving work culture, technology, and market conditions.

The four-step recipe for agile success

No matter at what stage of agile transformation you are on, understanding what constitutes a successful agile transformation can be helpful. Here is a four-step recipe for agile success as is derived from a McKinsey report. This recipe has been statistically proven to boost agile success by up to 75%.

Step 1

Ensure your top team and leaders have a very good understanding of agility and agile frameworks. A good way to achieve a deep understanding is to look at case studies and learn from peer companies and organizations with a good track record of successful agile implementation.

Step 2

A focused approach to agile implementation is necessary to make the best out of your agile efforts. You need to be intentional, set high-value goals, and enforce delerbate and concerted efforts to make it possible. There are many ways to implement agile with an intentional approach. Adopting a good agile framework for the whole organization can be a good starting point.
Alternatively, you can also implement agile transformations in waves where senior leaders dedicate time to role model agile behaviors and pass it on over the intended time to their wider teams.

Remember, getting a few successful pilots is nowhere near a full-on agile transformation. There must be an intentional drive from the top management to motivate and see through an organization-wide agile transformation. And of course, this cannot happen overnight and is not possible with just pilot implementations. You need to adopt a full agile framework covering the entire organization, including all the connective parts and individual teams. And such an effort can only be made possible if all the senior leaders are convinced of the agile cause. Decisive leadership is key to successful agile transformation.

Step 3

Build connective tissue by covering all five elements of your operating model. The five elements are your business strategies, organizational structure, processes, people, and technology. Only by scaling across all these aspects can you implement enterprise-wide agility. Comprehensive agile frameworks can help you go ahead with this step easily and give you a better direction as you build up your organization to be more agile.

Step 4

Be fast and make use of front runners. A big reason why many agile transformation efforts lose steam and settle to non improving stasis is that they take too long to complete. The best time duration to complete a transformation phase is 18 months. Larger organizations’ agile transformation could comprise multiple stages. But even then, each of these stages must be time bound and should be completed within no more than 18 months. The more time it takes, the lesser your chances at success.
Another factor that plays into better success rates is the use of front runners early on in agile transformations. Front runners are more than simple pilot executions. They have clear goals and are designed for scalability. Front runners help to test out the effectiveness of a new operating model in a specific area. These implementations consist of team-level and connective tissue changes, thus helping you easily implement a wider agile framework for your organization.