3 Major Trends Transforming the Agile Method in 2019

The agile method, a project management process that was used primarily for software development, is being adopted by an increasing number of companies. For example, since 2017, organizations’ use of agile techniques has grown from 50 percent to 71 percent. This is because agile project management methodologies increase the speed at which companies are able to respond to changing market trends, which helps them deliver exceptional value to customers.

 

These 3 Trends are Impacting the Agile Method in 2019

Several trends have transformed the agile method this year. Here are a few examples:

Trend #1: Business analysts on agile teams

Agile teams are becoming more reliant upon business analysts, especially business analysts with strong agile analysis skills. On some agile teams, business analysts operate in differing roles, including cybersecurity specialist, data analyst, and other aspects supporting the team.

Agile is not merely a methodology, but it is also a mindset that enables business analysts to meet the needs of stakeholders. Today’s stakeholders want to work with BAs who are personal, hands-on, and highly communicative. They are more likely to hire a business analyst whose skills in agile analysis, which is “the warm concept of business troubleshooting,” per the Modern Analyst,1 can be proven. To validate their agile analysis skills, many business analysts are seeking agile analysis certification.

As business analysts become more skilled in the agile method, agile teams will view them as irreplaceable, and the trend of BAs in Agile will become the norm.

Trend #2: Agile is not just for software, but for digital transformation

According to IDC, 40 percent of all technology spending in 2019 will go toward digital transformations.2 Digital transformation is necessary but invites problems such as increased cybersecurity risks and rigid technology infrastructure. Agile analysts can help companies undergoing digital transformation avoid these pitfalls by ensuring they choose the best approaches for transformation.

Agile business analysts act as advisers to companies trying to navigate digital transformation, helping them manage organizational change, cleanse existing data, and invest in the right AI tools. As digital transformation grows, so will organizations’ use of agile analysts as digital transformation advisors.

Trend #3: Business architecture on agile projects

Business architecture hasn’t always been a priority for agile teams developing a strategic business model. In the past, agile teams saw business architecture as something that slowed their processes down. Today, business architecture on agile projects is becoming more popular. A contributor to Watermark Learning3 wrote,

“Now, organizations are realizing that business architecture has many benefits for Agile projects. It can aid in the budgeting process. It can help the team understand the interrelationship of business processes, particularly useful on complex projects with multiple Agile teams. And importantly, it can help ensure that a real business need exists before the team runs away with a solution that doesn’t solve any problem.”

The trend of using business architecture on agile projects is likely to grow as organizations see that agile teams that implement this practice consistently deliver better value.

  

 

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References

1. Modern Analyst. What is agile analysis?
https://www.modernanalyst.com/Resources/Articles/tabid/115/ID/197/What-is-Agile-Analysis.aspx

2. PTC. 14 digital transformation statistics & why they matter to the enterprise
https://www.ptc.com/en/product-lifecycle-report/digital-transformation-statistics

3. Watermark Learning. Five trends in business analysis, project management, and agile for 2019. https://www.watermarklearning.com/blog/five-trends-for-2019/