Agility in companies
What does agility mean in the context of business? You often hear about agile companies but what is agility?
Agility has existed in the systems theory of organizations since the 1950s. The sociologist Scott Parsons has developed a scheme consisting of four functions that every system must fulfill in order to exist:
- Adaptation.
The system must be able to react to external conditions - Goal Attainment (pursuit of goals)
Define and pursue goals - Integration (inclusion)
Linking the different elements of a system (=cohesion) and keeping them together (inclusion) - Latency (maintenance)
Maintain fundamental values and structures
The concept was applied in the product area in the 90s and has gained more importance today due to Industry 4.0. The focus is on rapid product development and multifunctional teams. The principle of organizational agility is not only available for production and software but also in connection with entire companies.
What is the focus of agile processes?
Short, manageable planning cycles with results
Pre-solutions that can be improved again and again according to the requirements of the customer
This makes it possible to adapt more quickly to the conditions
But what makes an agile company?
Flat hierarchies and cross-functional teams
Agile working methods
Start customer orientation
Modern forms of communication
Advantages
- Speed
the customer is at the centre: companies can react quickly to customer - requirements
Adaptability: Companies can react dynamically and quickly to changes and adapt various processes to avoid delays - High level of transparency
Enables open feedback
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