How to invigorate any organization.
When we think of Agile, versatility often comes to mind. However, it is important to remember that Agile’s versatility applies both to how organizations use Agile and what kinds of organizations use Agile. Larger organizations, often burdened by large numbers and dispersed teams, benefit greatly from the flexibility and quickness of Agile Practices. Likewise, smaller teams whose greatest leverage is often their ability to act quickly and circumvent the challenges faced by larger companies, benefit from the structures and stability of Agile.
But how can Agile, a single set of practices and mindsets, service such different types of teams?
The answer is simple.
Agile, at its core, is about flexibility, and Agile applied well is tailored to the specific needs of the user, augmenting their overall strength and adaptivity. For those larger organizations who span the country or even the globe, applying Agile will likely be more about counteracting some of the inherent challenges of those organizations. They are already strong and stable with plenty of resources, but they can also be overly bureaucratic, wasteful, and slow. Smaller organizations, whose lean operating style, usually limited resources, and fast-paced, high work-load environment, are better served by using Agile to free up the time and resources they ought to be spending on other projects and grounding the likely, very busy team.
So, what specific contributions does Agile make to Big and Small organizations?
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if your organization is a team of self-starters working toward something better or a well-established giant that spans the globe. Agile can work for you. It is just a matter of knowing where you’re at, what you need, and embracing change. And for the moments that you just aren’t sure about, it's also about having the right guide to help you tailor the perfect setup for you.