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Real-world agility
MIS | Magazine > Real-world agility: "
In the real world, agility is a careful balance between institutionalised control and carefully choreographed redeployment.
Little wonder then that many executives see agility being achieved through specific decisions. Executives see agility achieved by creating independent business units to edge closer to key customers and markets.
Technologists see agility achieved through technologies such as Web services. Others see agility in mergers and acquisitions.
These views each have a grain of truth, but none captures the entirety of agility.
Enterprise agility is something you earn and build through your enterprise decisions and investments. There is no out-of-the-box agility despite what technology vendors and consultants say.
Agility is increased or decreased by management actions and attitudes. It is a characteristic that defines the quality of your enterprise, or how ready your organisation is to launch and support a new product. It is the ability to change when needed with cost and risk under control.
Agility's strategic value comes from its ability to support competitive advantage. Enterprises that can readily change without incurring unnecessary cost preserve their sources of competitive advantage. Because agility cannot be bought or sold, advantage attained through agility is sustainable over time. " ¶ 19:32
In the real world, agility is a careful balance between institutionalised control and carefully choreographed redeployment.
Little wonder then that many executives see agility being achieved through specific decisions. Executives see agility achieved by creating independent business units to edge closer to key customers and markets.
Technologists see agility achieved through technologies such as Web services. Others see agility in mergers and acquisitions.
These views each have a grain of truth, but none captures the entirety of agility.
Enterprise agility is something you earn and build through your enterprise decisions and investments. There is no out-of-the-box agility despite what technology vendors and consultants say.
Agility is increased or decreased by management actions and attitudes. It is a characteristic that defines the quality of your enterprise, or how ready your organisation is to launch and support a new product. It is the ability to change when needed with cost and risk under control.
Agility's strategic value comes from its ability to support competitive advantage. Enterprises that can readily change without incurring unnecessary cost preserve their sources of competitive advantage. Because agility cannot be bought or sold, advantage attained through agility is sustainable over time. " ¶ 19:32
