Why Whole Enterprise Agile Transformation is Hard

By: Dan McClure

Agile Transformation has never easy.  But today, when agile transformations encompass the entire enterprise, there are a new set of implementation challenges that leaders of creative change must address.  

Over the last 20 years there has been a multiple waves of 'Agile Transformations'.  These began with the transformation of practices for software development teams, moving from a highly structured waterfall approach to one where teams could learn and adapt as they took on complex challenges.  That was Agile 1.0.  With the advent of digital businesses and mobile applications, a second wave of transformation focused on independent business+technology teams that pursued distinct opportunities, often at arms length from the main business (Agile 2.0). 

Each of those prior versions of agile adoption could follow the mantra, 'start small and then gradually scale'.  It was like peeling potatoes. First you start with one potato (e.g. one software team), teach the practices there, and then move to the next potato (team).  Over time you progress through the whole pot of potatoes.  It's a step by step process that can be broken up into similar discreet pieces.  

Today there is a need for an even more ambitious form of agile transformation.  Agile 3.0 extends the practices of acting nimbly, learning, and adapting with flexibility to the entire enterprise.   This allows an entire organization to pursue fast moving opportunities in markets that are continually being disrupted and redefined.  

This is powerful stuff, but it breaks the potato peeling model of implementation.  When the entire interconnected enterprise of business, technology and partners, is involved you can't easily do one independent change after another.  The parts have to work together.   That makes an Agile 3.0 transformation across the entire enterprise harder to do.  However, it also offers far greater capabilities and impact when its successful.  

This article, originally published on ThoughtWorks Insights, was based on hands on work in bold enterprise wide agile transformations.   It explains why this next generation of agile transformations is more difficult, but also how all the parts of an organization can contribute to resulting creative power.   Read here about Why Lean Enterprise Transformation is Hard