Originally developed to address the pitfalls of traditional project management when applied to software development projects; Agile is now an approach you can adopt for process improvement projects in almost any industry.
Instead of putting majority of efforts into one long-range plan, Agile operates on a succession of tiny ‘sprints’ with significant measuring and re-evaluation between (and during) each sprint.
Agile management methodology is an excellent tool for bringing forth Breakthrough Improvement. Agile can be used to bring forth Continuous Improvement too. Moreover, Agile can be used native or can be combined with Lean or Kaizen to augment benefits achieved with Lean, Kaizen implementation.
Agile management methodology is an excellent tool for bringing forth Breakthrough Improvement. Agile can be used to bring forth Continuous Improvement too. Moreover, Agile can be used native or can be combined with Lean or Kaizen to augment benefits achieved with Lean, Kaizen implementation.
Agile Manifesto:
- Short delivery time: Milestones are rarely more than a few weeks out.
- Individuals and interactions over process and tools. Working software over comprehensive documentation.
- Focus on customer needs: The desires of the customer take front and center in determining the order of processes, projects, product releases, new features and related decisions.
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
- Responding to change over following a plan.
- Customer involvement: Instead of just involving customers at the start and end of a process, Agile teams communicate with them throughout the entire creation process.
- Minimal documentation: If the document doesn’t directly enable the creation of results, an Agile environment usually foregoes it.
Which companies may use Agile?
Agile is best for technology companies, smaller teams, companies that are (or can become) comfortable with a rapid pace and companies with products that constantly change, as opposed to a relatively standard product line that is constantly reproduced.
In the next part of this article series, I shall discuss the most important and extremely popular Business Improvement methodology: LEAN
Agile is best for technology companies, smaller teams, companies that are (or can become) comfortable with a rapid pace and companies with products that constantly change, as opposed to a relatively standard product line that is constantly reproduced.
In the next part of this article series, I shall discuss the most important and extremely popular Business Improvement methodology: LEAN
Related reading:
- Business Turnaround and Continuous Improvement Tips and Tricks Part 1 of 6
- Business Turnaround and Continuous Improvement Tips and Tricks- Part 2 of 6: Six Sigma in a Nutshell
- Business Turnaround and Continuous Improvement Tips & Tricks Part 4 of 6- Lean Manifesto
- Business Turnaround and Continuous Improvement Tips & Tricks Part 5 of 6: TQM in a Nutshell
- Business Turnaround and Continuous Improvement Tips & Tricks Part 6 of 6 : Balanced Score Card
- Continuous Improvement for Human Resources (HR) department via Lean and Kaizen
- Lean Manufacturing in Food, Drug, Cosmetics & Chemical Industry
