Can I solve the top 5 problems in the company with the miracle cure agility?

By Björn Her ges - LCT Herges
Consultant, Coach & Trainer | Head of LCT Prime

In my consulting projects and seminars, the buzzwords Scrum, flat hierarchies and hybrid project management are always circulating; closely followed by statements like: "We have to work faster and more agile".

This is the ideal time for me to press the emergency stop button. Before I choose the desired high-performance project management method that will change everything for the better and compare the licence costs of software that is precisely tailored to it, I strongly advise you to take a close look at the current situation.

Among the top 5 most frequently mentioned problems in the companies are repeatedly:

Communication (wrong, too little, too much, does not take place across departments)
I don't have time (too many projects or tasks...besides my other activities)
Prioritisation (missing or constantly changing)
Completion date (projects are completed late or not at all)
No transparency and unclear processes & responsibilities (myth: "agility needs less leadership")

So before I start the agile sprint like Usain Bolt once did, I first have to prioritise which of these topics should have priority. Then I start analysing the causes, for example with the 5-Why method. Finally, I look at which solutions will bring me the greatest added value with the least investment. With these results, I will have a clearer picture of which methodology will give me the most benefits with the least side effects in terms of change work and structural changes. Is it really agile? Or still the classic approach via looking at the critical chain? Or perhaps a hybrid approach? All too often, unfortunately, I see the completely human and legitimate way of acting of rushing straight to the solution and the sought-after miracle cure instead of determining the actual goal in advance with the measures derived from the root cause analysis. Too often, the question is forgotten: what does agile working mean? What are the consequences; what are the advantages and disadvantages?

In addition, there is the phenomenon of method infatuation. Often, the attempt is made to achieve the desired results by strictly clinging to a method, even though it is the wrong chosen path; the path to a vicious circle. Discipline and process reliability are confused here with the necessary flexibility in choosing the right method. Is every project the same? My sweatpants are not my personal fashion all-rounder either and I can wear them on all occasions. Even if I want to stick to them as much as possible to show everyone at work that I feel very comfortable there. But it is likely to cause slight irritation at the latest at the business meeting. My preferred approach is therefore, in most cases, a hybrid project management concept that

a) sensibly combine the tools that are appropriate for my company / department and thus

b) will resolve the top 5 problems mentioned above; and

c) enjoys high acceptance due to successful project results and less complexity.

Conclusion: every project and company is unique and sometimes also requires an adapted strategy and method. Putting all your eggs in one basket "agile" seems very daring to me in many cases, as it is simply not suitable for every type of project. We can achieve great results with agile; I myself am a big fan of it. But it is often also used in projects that require a completely different approach; here there is a lack of flexibility. In addition, there are still people working in all projects and third parties are also involved. They must also be trained in the appropriate methodology and accept and want to use it. The best methodology; the best software tool will be of no use to you if the underlying processes are not clearly analysed, optimised and defined in advance. In the end, it's always the result that counts. When buying a coffee machine, no one is interested in whether the planning for the machine was carried out agilely, hybrid or classically. It is the result that counts; it is the enjoyment of the coffee that counts. The respective methods and tools should therefore be chosen carefully, combined in a target-oriented way and also communicated. There is not THE perfect method; there is not THE miracle cure. With this in mind, have fun and success with the upcoming projects and, above all, use the right method.