I recently had a great chat with Pam Ashby, a strategist at the Agile Business Consortium, to delve into the realm of Business Agility. This concept has been gaining traction, and rightly so. In our fast-moving, ever-evolving world, organizations need to keep up and stay focused on their customers to succeed.
Business Agility is all about how quickly organizations can adjust to external changes. It keeps businesses centered on customer needs, ensuring they can meet those demands effectively. Unlike Organizational Agility, which focuses more on internal structures and connectivity within a company, Business Agility zeroes in on business outcomes and is driven by people.
Adopting Business Agility isn’t just for IT or software development; it extends to areas like HR, finance, procurement, and marketing. By taking a comprehensive approach, businesses can enhance their adaptability and lead changes productively and cost-effectively without compromising quality.
One real-life example of Business Agility in action is Southwest Airlines. With the help of Agile Velocity’s coaching, they adopted Agile practices and significantly improved their online booking system. Within a year, this led to a notable increase in revenue, amounting to millions of dollars.
Pam also mentioned the Agile Business Awards, which recognize organizations that successfully implement Agile practices across various fields. There’s an inspiring story about Elavon Europe’s 18-month journey towards Business Transformation and Product Model overhaul available on the Agile Business Consortium’s website, along with other TED-style video presentations that provide insights into organizations embracing business agility.
Business Agility isn’t just a trendy term; it’s an essential strategy for thriving in today’s business environment. As Pam and I discussed, incorporating Agile practices across all areas can yield remarkable results and create a more adaptive, customer-focused organization.
If you’re keen on learning more about Business Agility, consider attending the free Business Agility Conference in 2024. And for organizations already on this path, think about applying to present at the Agile Business Awards Conference. It’s a valuable opportunity to showcase your efforts, regardless of how far along you are in the process. The application process is thorough and offers extensive feedback, enhancing your journey even further. The deadline for applications is December 4, 2023, with a Q&A session on October 9, 2023.
Let’s embrace agility, adaptability, and customer-centricity as we navigate the exciting journey of business transformation.