Increasing business agility: a three-speed race

If sound management of a two-speed information technology (IT) function ensures a digital transformation combining efficiency, stability and velocity, scaling the Agile methodology throughout the organization is one of the winning conditions for a successful digital transformation.

From the smartphone to the fuel pump and from the payment terminal to the payroll management system, it is everywhere, from the periphery to the centre of our lives. Whether it takes the form of an application, a series of programs integrated into an application, a programming interface or a digitized service, the software and, by extension, the software platform on site or in the cloud are the emblem of digital transformation.

The software and the platform shake up companies and pave the way for unprecedented changes. Systems and processes, management techniques, business models, partnerships and alliances, talent management, all facets of the organization are affected by the omnipresence of the software and the platform in daily operations. Mastering these changes requires an overall vision and strategy that integrate the software and the platform into all links of the organization’s value creation chain. This integration is the daily challenge facing the IT function.

Successfully managing a two-speed IT function

The full-scale digitization of the organization promotes the emergence of a two-speed IT function. On the one hand, teams working long cycles governed by traditional project management practices modernize existing systems and develop a base of middle-office and back-office services supporting day-to-day operations. On the other hand, the rapid emergence of innovations and the management of the expectations induced by these innovations force your organization to adopt very short software development cycles in order to offer value-added solutions, continuously and without interruption. The adoption of the Agile development and project management methodology and its complementary approaches, such as lean computing, are an answer to this velocity and customer-centric continuous improvement imperative.

Switching to third gear

If sound management of a two-speed IT function ensures a digital transformation combining efficiency, stability and velocity in the execution, scaling Lean and Agile practices throughout the organization is one of the winning conditions for a successful digital transformation. The nuance is essential and marks a change of gear.

In the 21st century, companies are more or less agile. What distinguishes winning companies is that they integrate the Agile methodology’s values into their culture and deploy these values throughout the organization. What began as a change in paradigm in software development becomes a change in paradigm in the conduct of business. From now on, growing and prospering in the age of the digitized economy means creating and offering innovative commercial solutions in response to the disruptions and the opportunities induced by these disruptions.

In the future, the agility that comes with a development approach based on the primacy of individuals, interactions, operational software, collaboration and adaptation to change must translate into business agility, the key factor for growth and prosperity in the digital economy. Increasing business agility requires that the actors participating in the creation of value, from marketing to sales, computing, finance and operations, be aligned with business objectives.

Unfortunately, and even more so in this day and age, few companies are able to transform IT agility into business agility. Regardless of their size or line of business, for many of them, the expertise and the resources required for this gear shift are simply not in place.

Fortunately, they can count on a partner who understands this issue and who offers a variable-geometry approach.

Evolving agile framework (Scaled Agile Framework or SAFe® : a digital transformation catalyst

To date, the SAFe is one of the most complete and documented Agile development methods. Among other things, it is an answer to the constraints brought on by the participation of a large number of internal and external teams to Agile software development.

A set of principles, practices and skills, the SAFe assists companies in scaling Lean IT throughout the organization. An Agile method, the SAFe also integrates the DevOps approach at the heart of this philosophy.

Thanks to the SAFe, companies can:

create the added value that distinguishes them from their competitors;
maximize team work thanks to collaboration within a large number of long-term agile teams (Agile Release Train);
ensure their solutions and project portfolios’ consistent quality;
adapt to disruptions;
pace the timing of deliveries for which squads are responsible in such a way that they meet the rapidly changing business needs;
increase productivity;
increase operational and financial results;
reduce time to market.

A flexible approach adapted to your reality

Cofomo proposes an approach inspired by the best Agile practices. Adapted to their reality, it enables its clients to take advantage of Scrum methodologies (iteration and incrementation) and the SAFe (adoption of agility on a large scale). In addition to Cofomo’s proven track record in Agile development and expertise in custom system, software and application development, the added value of its approach is flexibility. This flexibility adapts to the degree of technological, organizational and commercial maturity of your company.

Cofomo’s Agile and DevOps approach is resolutely pragmatic and breaks down as follows:

design of an Agile operational model of your IT function;
introduction of Agile methodologies in your environment by giving your development teams the proper tools, training and coaching;
change, communication, business models, business talent and information technology management;
implementation of ready to serve and reusable Agile solutions;
large-scale implementation of client-focused solutions, according to Agile and DevOps approaches.

Cofomo: expert in digital transformation acceleration

Cofomo shares your ambition. By prioritizing functionalities that offer the greatest value, continuous development, feedback and integration increase the profitability of your investment not only at its end, as is the case with traditional management (delivery of an operation product at the end of the project only), but as soon as the project is launched, and throughout its duration.

If agility undeniably stimulates innovation and growth, it must not foster laxity in the management of software development. Whether it is a question of developing a Java or .NET REST application programming interface, offering a contactless payment solution or using artificial intelligence to increase your revenues, the goal must remain the same: creating a quality solution (robust, efficient, secure and ergonomic), developed with the best adapted method, in order to deliver without undue delay the values meeting the client’s expectations.

You wish to transform your computing agility into business agility? You’re quite right, because that is the future. Cofomo helps you become the future right now.