Agile Methodology Implementation in Public Sector


To develop software and manage numerous projects, government agencies are looking forward to using new ways of working. Agile methodology could prove to be the best approach. Agile focuses on iterative and incremental approaches to work on a project or developing software. Agile is a work process that has been used by the private industry for more than two decades, and now government organizations are also looking forward to using this process.

Challenges Faced by Government Organizations to Imply Agile

Using Agile in Government Projects can be challenging. Agile methodologies are completely different from the traditional project management methodologies and government organizations are quite resistant to change. To make people understand, the working system of Agile can be very stretching.

Following is the list of all the major problems faced by the government organizations in implementing and adopting Agile Methodology −

Understanding of Agile Language

Agile methodology has its own terminologies, and a language which can be quite different as well as difficult to understand. Hence, it may discourage the employees as most of them are used to traditional management methodology.

Rules and Regulations

Employees working in the government sectors have to follow many more rules compared to the employees working in the private industry. Such a working system may have few effects on their ability to change methods.

Capability and Talent gaps

Agile capabilities include product management, user-centered design, and automation engineering, which are generally absent in the government sector. The IT departments in the government sectors face difficulties while recruiting competent talent with digital knowledge. This is majorly due to the salary caps, budget constraints, and policy restrictions.

Government should create roles and positions that are necessary for the agile style of working. Hiring processes should be tailored to particular skills requirements for this way of working.

Outdated Organizational Techniques

Different organizations with cross-functional teams are required for the shift to agile.

The emphasis on end-to-end development is also necessary for it. The business organizations team that designs services or delivers products for citizens; the IT sector is often soiled away. The IT function is organized by a series of stages such as building applications, software development, and diverse projects.

Implementation of Agile Methodology in Government Sector

Here are some of the basic steps in implementing Agile methodology in the government sector −

Set a Long-Term vision

Implementation of Agile methodology in the government sector can be tricky. But if the government organizations mark long-term goals, it may help them to set and acknowledge even smaller projects. To set a long-term vision, organizations might need to create multi-year maps to navigate the project ahead.

Assurity of Understanding of Agile

Most government employees have experience working with a traditional management approach, they might not completely understand what exactly Agile is. Agile methodologies were not used previously in the government sectors; hence government organizations mostly are unfamiliar with agile practices. It has to be ensured that they understand that Agile is the future. Thereby these methods are to routinized and infused in the process of adopting.

Initiate Small Projects and Valuable Outcomes

Generally, Agile methodologies show their value with quick and small achievements. Emphasis should be given to try to figure out the part of a project that needs to be completed first. Therefore, initiate agile methods in smaller projects, thereby by focussing on delivering valuable outcomes.

Client and Customer Involvement

The involvement of client is higher in the modern Agile management in private sector, which is very rare in the government sector. Thereby, less transparency in government sector.

Problem Escalation

In case there is an issue in the project working, all the members work together to solve it in the agile management; whereas in the government sector, the issue is right away escalated to the higher management. This way time involvement to solve or find a solution is more in the government sectors.

Assumption of Clients’ Knowledge

Many times clients are not hundred percent sure of what they want from a project. In government sector, the management assumes that clients know exactly what they want and they proceed accordingly, thereby do not show flexibility in case any changes are requested by the clients. Implementation of agile brings flexibility in the changes requested by the client as per project requirement.

Conclusion

No project guarantees hundred percent success without any changes or issues. However, implementation of agile, especially in the public sector gives possibility of maximum benefits, less time involvement and client satisfaction.

Updated on: 20-Apr-2022

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