Need to Innovate Fast? Is Agile the answer?

“Agile” is a buzzword in today’s research and product development environment and while it has its advantages, it is important to consider exactly what your team really needs in a research process and methodology to be successful.?Is it truly about faster innovation or is there a fringe benefit of the agile process that could better serve you without the need to completely disrupt your current workflow?

An Overview of Agile Methodology

Agile methodology is an intentional, iterative approach to development and project management. It is a specific process with roots in IT and software development. Each part of the project builds on the next in a series of feedback loops, starting with exploring, then testing, validating, and optimizing before feeding into the next phase of development with additional exploration, testing, validation, and optimizing until the project is complete. The goal of an agile environment is to be responsive to shifts as they occur, rather than reactive to changes after the fact.?

While there are various specific frameworks that fit into the agile process, agile research at large depends on a high degree of transparent contact and efficient collaboration from a cross-functional team. The team itself has the power to make decisions to guide progress, instead of involving upper-level management in the day-to-day activities and decisions which tends to slow the decision-making process and the project progress. The team must be flexible, adaptable, and willing to respond to what is learned along the way, changing their trajectory as new findings are uncovered. A high degree of trust is needed both within the team itself, and between the team and management above it.?

However, challenges with implementing and conducting an agile approach include the team’s time commitment and attention needs to a single project, a step back from upper management on the decision making process, and receiving organizational and cross-functional buy-in on what may be a radically different way of working.?

Blueberry's Perspective | Agile as a Placeholder for Focus

We understand and appreciate that our clients have many competing agendas and daily responsibilities.?This can inhibit the ability to allocate the time and attention required to successfully drive an agile approach.?

Additionally, the organization and assembly needs that are required to support an agile approach can be a barrier to entry for some.?In an effort to explore how to best work with our clients in an agile environment and in considering the higher-level benefit that agile affords teams and projects, we’ve identified a common theme among agile and other speed-centric approaches: focus.?

The structure and time intensiveness required for agile research forces team to operate in a highly focused way. Often this requires frequent (daily) touchpoints of the team to stay informed of project developments. A high degree of communication is needed to keep everyone focused in the same direction and to quickly relay and respond to changes as they occur. The prioritization of a team’s time and resources which is crucial to the agile process underscores the importance of focus for the success of a research initiative.

Whether your organization is ready to support an agile methodology framework or not, Blueberry is experienced in delivering fast, focused insights from a customized approach.

To learn more about how we can help improve the speed and focus of your research initiatives, contact Blueberry today!