Agile Adoption vs Agile Transformation: 4 Key Differences

Many organizations are not transforming how they wish because they do not understand their transformation goals right. Agile transformation services have taken precedence in recent years and for a good reason.

Despite significant differences between Agile Adoption v/s Agile Transformation, people tend to mix them and use the terms interchangeably.

In this article, you will find about Agile Adoption and Agile Transformation and the difference between the two in IT Consultancy services.

Agile Adoption

A change in process to one compatible with Agile Values and Principles is the commonly recognized definition of agile adoption. The primary concern throughout the deployment of Agile is the change of processes. Moving from one process, such as waterfall or SDLC, to an agile process or framework is how you may conceptualize agile adoption. An Agile transition may also be used to describe this. Implementing the Scrum Framework is the most frequent modification in the procedure. Implementing Kanban, Lean Software Development, eXtreme Programming (XP), or another agile methodology is also necessary. Agile gets often introduced to most businesses in this manner.

Agile Transformation

The process of converting a whole organization to an agile, responsive strategy is known as agile transformation.

Agile transformation services are actually a much bigger project than directly altering how software gets developed, even if any firm going through this transformation is likely to adopt agile, Scrum, Lean, etc.

Instead, this is an extensive organizational reform that goes much beyond product creation. By fostering an atmosphere that values creativity and innovation, empowering staff members, and eliminating extra layers of administration, the company benefits with fresh vitality.

Agile Adoption V/S Agile Transformation

Let?s understand Agile Adoption and Agile Transformation with the help of the table below:

FeatureAgile AdoptionAgile Transformation
Planning TimeframeTemporaryLong
Production Gain100%300%
Speed Of ChangeQuickSlow
Change In CultureLocalisedWidespread
  1. Planning Timeframe

The planning timeline is another significant distinction between adoption and transformation. The majority of agile adoptions center on getting a project done. Adoption could be a short-term, transitory manner of functioning as projects are by their very nature transient. People could observe that decisions about Agile vs. Waterfall are made on a project-by-project basis, and people might work on an agile project for a time before switching to a waterfall project later. It is simple to understand how this may sabotage support for Scrum or any form of incentive to adhere to the Agile Values and Principles.

People don’t alternate between Agile and Waterfall and aren’t concerned about being given a new project to work on. They commit to a group and stay with them.

  • Production Gain

Scrum adoption can surprisingly increase team productivity. Simple actions taken by Scrum teams have a significant influence on productivity:

  1. Creating the position of Product Owner to establish priorities
  2. Ensuring that the team’s primary source of work is one prioritized backlog.
  3. Supporting the teams’ collaboration and shared ownership of their sprint goals
  4. Introducing openness and rapid feedback loops to help teams quickly develop the appropriate things
  5. Avoiding the wastes associated with thorough upfront planning, thrashing, work in progress, context switching, and rework.

While adopting Agile transformation services has many advantages, a business may profit even more from an Agile transformation. There have been claims that an agile transformation has advantages, which are close to 300%. Among the main benefits:

  • More creativity and innovation owing to employee empowerment and involvement
  • Fewer levels of administration and supervision

3. Speed Of Change

Quick Agile Adoptions is adopted quickly. They can be easily measured in weeks or a few days. Agile training might take one to three days. Alternatively, Kanban may be adopted in a day or less. Teams can start using Scrum right away with the help of an agile consultancy.

On the other hand, Agile Transformation could take a while. An Agile Transformation may be measured in years. Some businesses start their Agile journeys to foster culture change or continuous improvement.

4. Change In Culture

The agile team and its stakeholders may experience a shift in identity during an agile adoption. The team may feel more capable and, ideally, will get support for self-organization. Decision-making gets delegated to people who are closest to the job. They could make an effort to abide by the values and concepts of agile. Agile transformation can exist in businesses that have not undergone a complete transformation.

Whereas, the culture gets altered throughout an Agile transformation. The aim is not to be agile. Agile is the means through which cultural change will be accomplished.

Essential elements of this cultural transformation could be:

  1. Main priority on client happiness
  2. Courtesy for others
  3. Investing in developing people’s abilities
  4. Developing an attitude of ongoing progress
  5. Distributed decision-making and empowerment

Getting Started With Agile

Are you new to Agile? Progressed but not producing the expected effects? Or are you already in the thick of things and prepared to go forward? Regardless of where you are in your Agile journey, Xebia can evaluate your current state, implement changes via knowledge transfer, and ensure that you can succeed with them.

Xebia, an agile consultancy service provider, can drive value for your business with its Agile Transformation solutions in no time!

Contact Xebia for agile transformation services today!