There are many companies out there where agile begins in most software development teams. This type of agile approach aims to deliver more value to the customers in a quicker way. This type of approach might be a great start, but you should know that valuable changes in your organization will only happen with scaling agile.
You should know that scaling agile means allowing different teams in the organization to start using the agile methods and tactics for streamlining how things used to be done and improving the value delivered to the end-user.
In this blog post, we will not explore the benefits of scaling agile or go through the common implementation process of scaling agile. But, we will be going through the three most common challenges that you might have to face while scaling agile.
Culture shift
Instead of being referred to as a set of practices, agile is mostly mentioned as a shared mindset or culture. And when it comes down to scaling agile, this nature of agile can be both a boon or a ban for the firm. On the one hand, the basic framework or method used for scaling agile will always be less significant than the shared mindset, but at the same time, a shared mindset might prove challenging to create.
When it comes down to scaling agile, firms need to act, think, and respond completely differently for every dimension. Right from how the work has been planned to its completion, you will need to have a commitment at the top in addition to time and intention. This can prove to be one of your biggest concerns for scaling agile.
Shifting work management
You should know that any cultural shift necessary to scale agile aligns the firms to the values that employees are looking to give their best and increase customer value. To do so, firms out there will need to shift their work management method. This type of approach will help in enabling the value to flow.
The lean-agile model flips the traditional paradigm of fixed scope. In this case, both time and resources become fixed. In addition to this, the teams start receiving feedback more often, and adjusting to the scope is made more frequently to shift swiftly.
Technology shift
In the end, it is the technological stack that must be addressed by companies that are looking forward to dealing with the everyday challenges. If you plan to scale agile in your firm, you will create and require transparency, information flow, and even increased visibility. There are many firms out there for whom this will mean complete replacement of different technological solutions.
The current technology that you are having must support alignment at a tactical level; otherwise, it will not be as effective as it could have been. Even when you will succeed in maintaining and managing the workflows and culture, there is no way you can scale agile if you do not have the right technological solution.
Just like any other business solution or policy, even scaling agile has its limitations and challenges. But instead of considering them as an obstacle and missing out on the benefits of agile scaling, you will need to take help from experts and get rid of the challenges as soon as possible. With these challenges solved, it will be only your firm and the benefits of scaling agile.
