The Future of Agile Will Be All About Embracing a Digital Workplace

Even though the Agile methodology was developed with software development in mind, many non-tech teams have found that employing an Agile mindset and using Agile practices can help their team or business get more done, make their customers happier, and make their teams more collaborative.

A digital workplace aims to accomplish the same goals—empower teams to work collaboratively to accomplish goals faster and get quality outcomes. As both these concepts have the same aim, there has to be a connection between both of them.

Inside the Agile Methodology

Agile was developed as a step-by-step approach to software delivery. Instead of trying to put all the pieces together for one single final product delivery, Agile project management encourages iterative development. Projects are divided into “user stories”—small pieces of user functionality, which are then prioritized and delivered in short cycles known as iterations.

A user functionality improvement can be implemented into an iteration of a software product. But, the functionality might not remain in place permanently. Whether or not it does depends largely on the feedback received once it has been implemented. This way, the entire software platform is developed and delivered in parts through regular iterations with a feedback loop.

The Agile process requires ongoing communication between the different experts who are working together to create the software, as well as between the developers and users who provide feedback on iterations.

How Can Agile Help Non-Engineering Teams?

When engineering is taken out of the Agile methodology, it becomes an iterative method of working where major projects are divided into manageable tasks and distributed amongst teams.

The Agile methodology answers a major question that every CEO is constantly trying to answer:

How can I empower my teams to work collaboratively and efficiently while also promoting innovation and creativity?

For instance, when you decide to build the company website from scratch, you require a team of illustrators, designers, copywriters, and web engineers. Along with this, you require all product heads to sign off on the design and layout of their respective pages. 

How do you get different teams to work together and have a steady line of communication and fluid exchange of ideas? Distributed ownership. Each team working on the project brings a specific skill set to the table. The project then turns into a gradually growing feedback loop, with quality checks and reviews at each step and each team member collaborating and working with the bigger picture in mind. The same concept applies to small-scale projects as well.

The agile process is nimble and responsive to change and is capable of accommodating the needs of any project irrespective of the size.

The answer that Agile offers are so self-explanatory that it proves to be a well-suited core for a digital workplace.

The Agile Methodology and The Digital Workplace

Great concepts require even better implementations to bring about a revolutionary change.

The Agile way of working is a wonderful approach toward team collaboration. But, to make that a reality, you need to have the right tools in place. A digital workplace becomes the enabler.

The principles of Agile development closely match the underlying philosophy of the digital workplace. A digital workplace is a common platform that has all the digital tools and processes that foster communication and enhance collaboration between employees. It’s an ideal requirement for Agile implementations across all teams.

A digital workplace offers all the required tools that enable teams to plan and execute projects and collaborate effectively around it. This becomes the ecosystem of the organization, where collaboration and innovation keep evolving into quality work and successful project completions.

Both the digital workplace and Agile create an environment that makes it easier for employees to do their jobs. Agile development provides core planning for achieving mastery and autonomy. The digital workplace provides the foundation to achieve these goals. Thus, a digital workplace is a prerequisite for the success of Agile development.

Think Big and Start Small

A digital workplace with the Agile methodology at its core, you can transform project management and turn it into a work ecosystem.

• Individuals and interactions over tools and processes
• Quality and speed over quantity and preset timelines
• Task ownership over task allocation
• Responding to change over following the prefixed plan

With the right digital strategy in place, you can promote your teams’ ability to remain creative while delivering concrete value. The effects will give your organization enough fuel to take off from the ground and become successful.