The article “What to Expect From Agile” by Julian Birkinshaw talks about how agile management, which started in software development, is now being used in other industries. It uses ING Bank in the Netherlands as an example to show how agile principles can change a whole organization. ING started its transformation in 2015 to deal with problems like too much bureaucracy and separate departments that didn’t work well together.
Summary
Agile is a method that focuses on being flexible, working together, and improving things little by little. ING decided to use it to make their operations more efficient, inspired by companies like Spotify and Google. They made big changes, like reorganizing their teams into smaller groups called “squads” that handle tasks from start to finish and larger groups called “tribes” that focus on similar goals.
Here are the key things ING learned during this change:
- Shifting Power: Managers gave up some control to allow teams closer to customers to make decisions. This led to a big culture shift, and some senior managers left because they didn’t fit this new way of working.
- Keeping Stakeholders Involved: ING worked with regulators and other important groups to show that agile could work while still keeping important rules in place.
- Focusing on Customers: Teams were organized based on what customers needed and could adapt their focus as those needs changed.
- Balancing Freedom and Structure: ING used quarterly business reviews to set goals and stay on track while letting teams decide how to get things done.
- Helping Employees Grow: Agile gave employees more opportunities to learn new skills and take on exciting challenges.
The results were positive: employees felt more engaged, customers were happier, and the bank saved money.
Reflection
What stands out to me the most is how agile balances giving teams freedom while still making sure they’re working toward the company’s goals. It’s not easy to find that balance, especially for industries like banking, where following rules is really important. It also impressed me how ING’s leaders had to let go of control and trust their teams to make decisions. That takes a lot of courage!
As a computer science and business administration student, I see how this case connects both of my fields. Agile started as a software development idea, but it’s now shaping how businesses are managed. If I were in a workplace like this, I’d like having the freedom agile offers, but I’d also want clear support systems to stay on track and make sure we’re meeting goals.
Citation
Birkinshaw, Julian. “What to Expect From Agile.” MIT Sloan Management Review, December 11, 2017.
Maria Delia 