From agile software development to agile businesses

Agile software development has proven to be a good fit for knowledge work in environments of high change rates, often resulting in hyper-productive teams. The bottom line seems to be that applying agile methods to software development projects reduces risk and time-to-market while high quality is achieved at the same time. We show how agility can be useful well beyond the context of individual projects, first, when managing a portfolio of projects of a company and second, when maneuvering a company in the marketplace. Companies can become more demand-driven and value-driven by embracing agility on these three levels and benefit from agility over a wider spectrum. Agile businesses react fast on changed circumstances, are flexible, bring response to the market as fast as possible, are proactive, and sense the change.