How to be more agile TODAY

Hi Appraiser

I'm having some trouble. My boss keeps telling me to be 'more Agile.' what does that even mean? And how can I make an immediate turn toward Agility?  ~Walter Fall 

HI Walter,

We hear it all the time: "Be more agile!" But what does that really mean, and how can we actually start implementing it today?

Well, you're in luck, I've got three practical steps you can take right now to embrace agility.

On Airplanes and Agile

1. Involve Your Customer More Closely

The foundation of any successful agile project is a deeply involved customer. By integrating your customer as a product owner who can speak for the project, you're setting yourself up for success. If your customer isn't part of the team and doesn't have a voice in the project, it's like building a house without blueprints or feedback—you may end up with something you didn't expect.

2. Empower Teams to Define Their Processes

Agile isn't about sticking rigidly to one process; it's about evolution and improvement through retrospectives. Allow your teams the autonomy to define and refine their processes throughout the project. As they learn and adapt, so too will the processes, resulting in a more efficient and responsive way of working.

3. Clearly Define Roles and Accountabilities

Nothing steers a project off course quicker than uncertainty about roles and responsibilities. By clearly defining these at the outset, you give your team members the authority and responsibility to make decisions. This empowerment reduces the need for senior management intervention and streamlines the decision-making process, leading to a more agile project.

Implement these three steps, and you'll start feeling more agile right away.

Like this blog? Forward to your nearest engineering or software exec!

Jeff Dalton is a Certified Lead Appraiser, Certified CMMI Instructor, author, and consultant with years of real-world experience with the CMMI in all types of organizations. Jeff has taught thousands of students in CMMI trainings and has received an aggregate satisfaction score of 4.97 out of 5 from his students.

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