Photo by  Victor Vargas

Originally Posted On: https://www.praecipio.com/resources/blog/what-is-business-agility-and-why-it-matters

At the end of 2019, Scaled Agile released a new version of SAFe: SAFe 5.0. The new version came with its fair share of updates, arguably the most significant being the introduction of Business Agility. This new addition has become a major focus of the updated SAFe framework, and it is key for businesses to thrive in the digital age.

What is Business Agility?

According to Scaled Agile, Inc, business agility is the ability to compete and thrive in the digital age by quickly responding to market changes and emerging opportunities with business solutions. In previous versions of SAFe, the main focus was on the IT team. For organizations to truly thrive in the digital age, SAFe 5.0 places focus on the entire organization. Business Agility goes beyond IT teams and requires the involvement of any team that takes part in delivering solutions, whether that be marketing, HR, etc. Those teams should follow the principles and practices of lean and agile when creating products and services. If the entire business does this, the organization can remain competitive in ever-changing markets.

Why does Business Agility Matter?

Business Agility matters because it allows the organization to focus more on the customer. If you have business agility, your organization is truly listening to the customer and readjusting the solutions to meet their needs. You have the flexibility to adapt to customer and market changes as they come, without having to restructure your entire organization. Business Agility involves more than just the IT team; it involves anyone who takes part in solution delivery. That means HR, Support, Finance, Legal, are typically onboard. Because of this, the whole organization is united behind one strategy and collective vision that delivers top solutions to the customer.

How does Business Agility affect me/my organization?

Business Agility is a new concept that Scaled Agile puts at the forefront of the updated framework and to achieve this is the ultimate goal of an organization, as it allows your teams to work more efficiently and deliver faster solutions. This saves you and your team time and resources in the long run while still allowing you to surpass customer expectations. Basically, Business Agility helps your organization thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace.

Our Thoughts on Business Agility

Digital Transformation is no longer an option for organizations; it’s vital for staying ahead of the constant market changes and emerging technologies. We’re excited about the new addition of Business Agility, as we believe it’s a tool that businesses can use to measure their growth and thrive in the face of disruption. With the inclusion of teams from all facets of the business (not just tech teams), it brings different groups together to innovate and deliver a high-quality product.

At Praecipio Consulting, we consistently work cross-departmentally to collaborate and deliver the best solution to our clients. We love that with Business Agility, work is no longer meant to be siloed across departments, and value is placed around the customer vision instead. We use this principle of Business Agility daily and find it helps us to give the client what they need, not to mention that it brings us closer together as an organization.

If you want to learn more about Agile Transformation or how SAFe can help grow your business, reach out to us!