What is an agile team?
An agile team is a group of people working together on a project. However, this does not come close to describing what an agile team really is. The concept of team in this instance means accountability. The agile team structure means that there is no individual; the successes or failures are attributed to the team in its entirety. Together, team members have a rounded expertise and the appropriate competencies to deliver their assigned task. Roles in an agile team are blurred as they blend in the group where every individual is needed to produce the desired outcome.
Agile teams are usually cross-functional. The outcomes are often delivered in small batches that are consumable by the audience and that slowly build up to the final output. Agile teams deploy an interactive approach to project management with projects delivered faster and with fewer hurdles; ideas are bouncing back and forth and individuals are challenging each other as well as the status quo. The objective is to question the existing and to create the new.
Small and medium enterprises greatly benefit from agile teams as they can manage the work effectively with fewer resources. In an agile environment, the tasks being worked on are always the most essential ones, which results in changes to requirements being addressed swiftly.
How to build an agile team for your business
When building an agile team, team members should be prepared for what the objective will be and what the dynamic of the group should be. Opinions will be challenged, there will be an influx of feedback, processes will be revisited and the drawing board extensively used. In an agile work environment, everything is on the table and can and should be questioned. The team will identify a roadblock that may lead to many others and will set themselves on a challenging but exciting journey of problem solving.
When setting up your agile team, make sure you consider the following:
Have a blend of expertise within the team
Having a good blend of expertise within the team is critical to make sure the agile team has all the capabilities and competencies needed to deliver on the set goals. Selecting people with an open mind, ready to challenge the status quo but who are also solution driven will lead to better, faster results. Agile teams are cross-functional; it is essential that there is a mix of individuals from various departments in the group.
Personalities matter
As mentioned, the agile team will be challenged. It is essential that individuals assigned to the team combine their abilities to be constantly tested with a strong team spirit. In addition, in these circumstances, feedback comes quickly, so individuals in the team should be able to take it in without any conflict. The team needs to be solution driven throughout the project and be able to overcome adversity together.
Have an open mind on business capabilities
Having a clear view on what the business can do versus what the business does today is essential. The idea is to remove any barriers and see the bigger picture. Individuals assigned to the team should have a strong drive and an open mind on business capabilities. Once the business capabilities are mapped, the board should be flowing with new ideas.
Technical expertise and organisational architecture
Individuals in the agile team need to combine the appropriate expertise to be able to identify if the ideas generated in the brainstorming stage can be developed and converted into a product or solution. By combining their expertise from the different departments they come from, they should be able to find out if the business can deliver the new product and how. Does it have the right technologies, roles, processes and people to be able to deliver? If it doesn’t, where are the gaps and how can they be addressed?
When building an agile team, make sure all the elements above are considered for the most effective result possible. Once this is set, the cross-functional team will do the rest of the work.
Typical downsides of agile teams
Building an agile team needs to be done thoughtfully as the group and the work it delivers can go wrong. Below are some points of vigilance we recommend are addressed.
Size of the team
Often, when setting up the agile team, the will to have all departments involved results in a large team where there is little room for individuals to express themselves. It is essential to keep the end goal in mind when selecting the team members. Finding the right balance between a small team and the right amount of expertise required is key. Having a smaller team will generate better collaboration, more openness and dialogue. Agile teams should not have more than 10 individuals.
Clear vision from the start
Another pitfall that agile teams might face is in relation to the vision. At the start of the project, the objectives should be clearly explained to all team members and any question should be addressed then.
The right skill set
Finding the right blend of skills can also be a challenge for those setting up agile teams. The variety of skills should serve the project and all individuals should complement each other. A common misconception is to think that seniority within the business is required. This is not always the case. Newer members in the business or even within the workforce often tend to have different views that can be extremely beneficial to the group. Having a blend of seniority levels should achieve better results. Check our article on why a multi-generational workforce is important and how to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
How does an agile team benefit your business
Agile teams are trendy, but this should not be the reason why businesses implement them. For a lot of businesses, the decision to implement agile teams comes from the fact that they have a desire to embrace change. Let’s explore some benefits of agile teams.
More visibility
Visibility is essential as it allows leaders to make informed decisions. It increases transparency and understanding with leaders but also accountability with the teams. Having more visibility across the business allows all employees to see the bigger picture, the purpose of their work and how they fit in. It indirectly generates a sense of belonging which boosts the morale and ultimately generates business success.
Many organisations struggle to get top-down visibility. Implementing agile teams can be an enabler. In its principles, an agile team scraps the concept of hierarchy and puts everyone on the same page, thus opening dialogue.
Increased adaptability
Adaptability matters as when a business grows, it becomes more complex and therefore slower at generating innovations. Implementing agile teams often results in finding streamlined processes within the business operations. The optimised processes will result in speed to market and better value for customers. By challenging the complexity, agile teams move away from traditional project management, which is often associated with heavy workload and complex methodologies. Simpler becomes better.
Increased alignment
Agile teams are self-organised. Once it is set up, it can work autonomously and continue to deliver value in small batches. This leads to continuous improvements to the solution. The team is open minded and takes in feedback which reduces time wastage. Levels of communication are high, which means all team members are aligned on their objectives and can work more efficiently towards their goals. External alignment happens naturally as a result of the prioritisation of the customer and the solution delivered to them.
Waived risk
To retain talent, it is the organisation’s responsibility to create an environment that encourages smart people to collaborate and feel valued. When assigned to an agile team, people will have the opportunity to gain new skill sets and create connections across business functions. In addition, agile teams are in place to challenge the status quo and therefore may identify some risks the business will run into in the future if it continues in its current direction, thus waiving the risks.
The above gives a glimpse into the benefits of agile teams. Ensure you have a strong company culture and that collaboration flows, as these are two success factors for agile teams. Fostering communication, trust, respect and commitment with the group will go a long way. Find out other ways to grow your business with our dedicated article on this topic here.
