Agile Management for business

1Aurora Computer Studies

Agile Management for

Business

by Aurora Computer Studies

(auoracs.lk)

http://www.auoracs.lk/

Aurora Computer Studies (auroracs.lk) 2

Agenda• Overview• Agile philosophy• Agile practices• Attributes of an agile member• Pros & cons


What is agile management?


What is agile management?

• A modern management approach suitable for highly dynamic & competitive business environment

• Successfully used by o Agile manufacturing

• Incepted in Japano Agile software development process

• Incepted in America & now popular in most countries


Related areas• Lean management• Kanban• Kaizen• Six Sigma


Why is agile needed?• When the environment is

dynamic, successful business need to be flexible

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Benefits of agility• Better chance to adapt to ever

changing business environment and new technologies, etc..

• Increase productivityo Resulting higher profitability

• Facilitate faster growth

Aurora Computer Studies (auroracs.lk)

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How to practice?• Understand the agile philosophy• Follow the agile process



Agile Philosophy


What is philosophy?• Philosophy is a way of thinking

o It defines the value systemo Influence thinking and behavior


Agile values• Agility• Simplicity• Informal• Leanness• Excellence• Continuous improvement• Customer focus• Corporation• Sustainable growth

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Agility• What?

o You need to be flexible in all aspects• Why

o When things are dynamic, we need to be agile to survive and succeed

o Help fast growingo Facilitate quickly adapt to new situationso Better decision making


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Simplicity• What?

o Make things and processes as simple as possible

• Why?o Easy to implemento Make processes lightweight leading to agilityo Reduce waste of timeo Reduce costo Amplify learning & understandability


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Simplicity – A success story

• Google Vs Yahoo


Success Failure

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Informal• What?

o Do things in informal ways• Why?

o Reduce unnecessary overheado Faster decision makingo Improve trust and confidence among memberso Build genuine trust with customers


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Leanness• What?

o Do only the essential (where sufficient)• Do things that add value• Identify and eliminate waste• Low ceremonies

• Why?o Better productivityo Better agility


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Excellence• What?

o Strive for excellence in all aspects• Why?

o Go for the quality leadershipo Competitive advantageo Customer satisfactiono Employee satisfactiono Build reputation


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Continuous improvement

• What?o Focus on continuously improving the processo Adapted from Kaizen principle of japan

• Why?o Go for the quality leadershipo Competitive advantageo Customer satisfactiono Employee satisfactiono Build reputation


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Customer focus• What?

o Focus on customer needs (and not what you like)

• Why?o Customer is the reason for the existence of the

businesso Higher customer satisfactiono Higher sales


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Corporation• What?

o Everyone in the organization must collaborate each other and also with the customer where possible

o Focus on team objectiveso High band communication

• Why?o Move fasto Increase productivityo Higher employee satisfactiono Better customer satisfaction


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Corporation - Idea


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Sustainable growth• What?

o Grow with long term sustainability in mindo It is running a marathon, not a 100m race

• Why?o Focus on long term success and growth

• Long term customer loyalty• Long term employee commitment



Agile Process

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What is agile process?• Provide just the guidelines• One may modify/customize

according to the situation


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Key aspects• Adaptive planning• Decide late• Incremental changes• Activities are time-boxed• Manage flows


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Key aspects (con.)

• Feedback• Retrospectives• Prioritize on value-centric

delivery• Measure progress • Measure performance by value


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How to do in agile way?1. Agile planning2. Time-boxed rigorous execution3. Feedback4. Retrospective


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Adaptive planning - Idea“A good plan is as much useful as it can be successfully implemented..”

“Commit to a unrealistic plan will not deliver value, rather continuously adapt to a realistic plan and drive to success..”


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Adaptive planning – why?

• Focus is the outcome, and not mere following the plan

• Accept that you can’t get it right up front

• When higher the visibility, it will be more realistic


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Adaptive planning - Steps

1.Have high level overall (long term) plan

2.Refine (adapt) the plan when nearing


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Time-boxed execution• Major iterations/tasks/objectives are

always time-boxed• Team members rigorously work to

achieve the objectives• Deadlines are newer drag down

o Use of release traino If you are not ready, the train is not delayed, there is

another subsequent train that will arrive on time• If an objective is not achieved in current iteration,

let it be do in the next iteration rather than drag down everything


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Feedback• End of each iteration, review the

success and team is given realistic feed backo Measure success by realistic outcomes


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Retrospective• End of each iteration, the team get

together and discuss the pros and cons that happened during last iterationo What worked well that we want to continue doing?o What didn’t work well that we should stop doing?o What should we start doing or improve?

• Idea is continuously improve the process



Attributes of an agile member

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Attributes of an agile member

• Self motivatedo They have passion for what they do

• Focused and committed• T-shaped skills

o Experts in some areas and general knowledge in other areas

• Self-organizingo The team has necessary skills & knowledge


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Attributes of an agile member (con.)

• Musketeer attitudeo One for all & all for one

• Transparent communication• Works at sustainable pace



Pros & cons of agile management (discussion)

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Pros & cons of agile management

• Need change in management thinking (philosophy)

• Need changes in organizational hierarchy and culture

• The employees must be coached to think and behave in agile way

• More suitable with competent and motivated employees


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The final thoughts• Quickly adapt to new situation and change• Focus on customer’s real needs• Make process and products as simple as

possible• Build value (excellence) in every thing• Build trust• Continuous improvement• Competent, motivated & happy employees• Long term loyal customers


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References• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_

management• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen• https://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Sigma• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanba

n• https://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_project_managementAurora Computer Studies (auroracs.lk)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_project_management













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Thank You !Presented by Nalaka GamageAurora Computer Studies(auoracs.lk)

http://www.auoracs.lk/


"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." ~ Aristotle

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Agile Management for business

Leadership & Management