Business Agility - Understanding it in Seven Questions

Quick POLL

How strong is your business' agility?  Elaborate in comments.

1. No idea what it is 
2. Once heard of it
3. We are considering a transformation
4. We started our business agility transformation
5. We are going through a transformation
6. Most of our business is using lean-agile methods
7. We have fully embraced business agility in all its forms

This blog is based on the seven reporter questions: what, why, who, when, where, how, and which.  You can read more about this question strategy in other posts on my blog: Simpler Agile. 

If you are interested in Business Agility please contact me directly on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpazderski/  

What is Business Agility?

Business Agility is the organizational capability to sense upcoming changes externally or internally and respond accordingly in order to deliver value to our customers and business interests.

Business agility is a comprehensive capability that encompass everything and everyone in the business system, including the organization, its vendors, suppliers,  partners, and even customers.  It is founded on a growth mindset (see Mindset by Carol S. Dweck), four agile values, and twelve agile principles (see https://agilemanifesto.org/).  It is instantiated in an innumerable, ever growing set of varied practices organized into frameworks.

Why is Business Agility important?

Since we work in a VUCA world: (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) we need the capability to respond to whatever changes are thrown at us.  Business Agility enables us to more quickly and easily innovate and quickly deliver iterative, incremental value to our customers.  Also, Business Agility provides better alignment within your business both vertically and horizontally. Lastly, when done correctly it improves work/life balance for all involved.

Who needs Business Agility?

Business Agility is a survival capability.  It is critical to all current and future business endeavors in our VUCA world.  Therefore, anyone desiring a successful business must understand and incorporate Business Agility into their business ventures.   Also, all people working in a modern business venture must get involved and support in Business Agility.

How does Business Agility work?

Business Agility requires a comprehensive all-encompassing transformation of the company.  Every person, every team, every group, every department, and every business unit must go through this transformation.  This Business Agility Transformation starts with all individuals cultivating a growth mindset.  Than understanding, accepting, and living by the four agile values, and twelve agile principles.   Such a foundation then enables to selection and enactment of the appropriate modern lean-agile practices and frameworks.  Yet, to select the appropriate practices and frameworks you need an expert guide.  In the lean-agile community such expert guides are usually called Coaches.  We inherently accept that all athletes and sports teams have coaches, sometimes more than one.  The same is true for Business Agility Transformation.  You must have expert Coaches guiding you.

When is Business Agility engaged?

The movement toward agile methods started over 20 years ago.  Many organizations across the globe are using them.  Therefore, if you and your business are not onboard yet, you are behind the curve.  The unfortunate circumstances are that many first time attempts at transformations fail for numerous reasons - lack of commitment, weak support/leadership, and/or poor coaching for example.

Where is Business Agility visible?

First and foremost, Business Agility shows through customer loyalty and promotion; i.e. the customers are so happy with the business, its products and services that they tell everyone how great those are.  Second, the business tends to outperform their competition.  Third, products and services tend to lead the market in innovation and disruption. Fourth, the employees, vendors and suppliers are very happy and promote the business.  Finally, the community are just as happy and supportive.

Which elements are critical to Business Agility?

Find and engage a well-rounded, experienced Business Agility Coach.  Cultivate that growth mindset.  Follow with the four agile values, and twelve agile principles.   Start learning modern lean and agile practices and frameworks.  Yet, avoid trying to become the agile coach yourself.  Get a professional.

References 

For further insights on Business Agility please follow these links.

• Agile Manifesto - https://agilemanifesto.org/ 
• Simpler Agile blog - https://simpleragile.blogspot.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpazderski/  

If you are interested in Business Agility please contact me directly on LinkedIn.

One Vision for Pandemic

During this pandemic, we find we are all vulnerable.  Every place on earth is affected.  No one is completely safe.  Many people find this unnerving due to massive change and uncertainty.  Sometimes having a possible vision of the future may settle the nerves for some people.  It is my intent to share one such possible vision based on personal observations and knowledge.  Please note, this is only my educated opinion, not a professional road-map for action.  Therefore, please read this with that perspective in mind, and attach to it no more value than that of settling your nerves.  And as always, please share you comments.

What will this pandemic bring - one vision of the near future.

1. As individuals:

   a. We should follow the rules, conscientiously and responsively,

       to minimize the risk to us and others

   b. We need to stay at home, unless an emergency necessitates otherwise

   c. In public - wear masks & gloves, maintaining social-distance...

   d. We may consider everything worn among people as potentially contaminated

   e. Upon returning home - we may strip, wash everything, take a shower...

   f. In general - we wash hands and face often, disinfect common spaces daily,

       keep hands down (away from face)...

   g. We should notify others when we see risk

       - i.e. see something, say something

2. At work:

   a. We need to re-envision business models to maximize work from home,

   b. We need to convert work into these new work from home business models

       - some things may seem impossible, but we will solve those eventually

   c. We need to convert shopping models to maximize online, minimize physical stores

   d. We need to convert shopping experiences into these online models

3. As a country/state:

   a. We should follow best practices found in the global community (#4 below)

   b. We should find new leaders to best lead us through this crises

   c. We may need to impose severe restrictions in areas where outbreaks are severe,

       but people don't follow the rules

   d. We need to expand internet infrastructure to accept all the new online traffic

       - e.g. fiber-optic lines, satellite internet, faster/compressed signaling...

4. The world at large:

   a. We may need to become a more coordinated and responsive global-village

   b. We should collect best practices from the countries that are beating the odds

       - e.g. South Korea; BTW - our daughter lives there and shares her insights

   c. We need to develop a vaccine - under way, but may take another 3 to 12 months

   d. We need to find/develop an effective anti-viral inhibitor

       - there are candidates that need testing, approval, production, distribution...

   e. We need to re-define boarder protocols to inhibit the spread of the virus

       - see 1.b South Korea

   f. We need to assist poor countries where the infection/death rates are the worse,

       both to help them and ourselves