mountainbike

April 11, 2021

Going Agile is like mountain biking
Mountain biking brings to mind images of an adventurer riding over mountain slopes and muddy terrains, evoking a spirit of exploration, risk-taking, and self-reliance. For the rider to successfully traverse the unpredictable journey, his bike has been equipped to withstand the rigors of off-roading. Like biking trails, today’s business landscape is not all straight and paved roads. There are no big, official signs that warn you of sudden twists and turns. No traffic lights to tell you whether you should stop or go. To operate safely in this circuitous route, businesses today need to be ready to adapt in any situation and to adopt new practices.  A free-spirited biker who explores the wild will eventually learn his limits and that of his equipment. The rider will then respond and continue to push by learning new techniques and tricks for riding. He will modify his bike by switching out stiff frames and thin tires with suspension and wider tires. He is then able to better absorb shock from rough roads and sudden turns. It is with the same spirit that businesses need to approach being Agile.  Mountain biking is not just about buying a mountain bike. Similarly, being Agile is not just about breaking up projects into sprints. An Agile organization needs to understand its own business goals against its current landscape and identify dependencies and limitations. When these are defined, the organization can proactively work on overcoming them. With goals in check and hurdles removed, a company can more quickly respond to the demands of the market, optimize cost, and increase the value they bring to customers. They can now be truly an Agile business. Finally, like how being able to diagnose and repair mechanical problems is an integral part of mountain biking as a sport, businesses must learn to inspect and adapt their people, processes, and systems to ensure that they continuously deliver value by being Agile. In Stratpoint, we train, practice, and get certified in Agile in order to more quickly respond to the needs of our customers. Let us help you get you to take the Agile path. Message us through the form below.