The Agile Work Environment: What You Need to Know
You have probably heard of the term Agile. And if you are in the project management or development industry the word probably means more to you than simply the ability to move quickly.
Agile methodology has gained popularity over the years and chances are that you stumbling onto this article is because your organization also implements some form of the methodology.
However, following the agile methodology is not simply how you work but also where you work and which environment you work in.
We are referring to the agile work environment which coincidently is something that is not just adopted by teams following the agile methodology.
So, if you are wondering about the agile work environment, what it is, how it can help you and your team, and whether you should consider implementing it you have come to the right place.
Here is everything you need to know about the agile work environment .
What is an Agile Work Environment?
Let’s start off by defining what is an Agile work environment.
Simply put, an Agile work environment is aimed at optimizing space and providing flexibility to employees to be able to adequately accommodate their changing demands.
This environment mirrors the needs and requirements of the Agile methodology and lets you and your team cater your physical space in accordance with practices that work towards your organization’s goals and the company’s culture.
This often means doing away with the assigned seating model that is typical for an office setup and moving into a non-assigned seating model plan.
By using an Agile workspace rather than the usual typical office style layout, companies better utilize available space by optimizing the utilization of workspace available. We will discuss the benefits of adopting such an environment in detail below.
The Agile Environment is structured in such a way that it gives way for employees and leaders to create a culture where customer interaction and satisfaction come first. The environment supports transparency, collaboration, and openness.
Essentially, such an environment is seen to focus predominately on employees and their performance rather than being too concerned with where they are working.
What is Agile Methodology?
Before we move on to more details about the Agile work environment, just in case you need it here is a reminder of what Agile is.
For a more detailed explanation of the Agile methodology check out our other blog posts including this one which explains everything you need to know about the agile workflow .
Agile is a type of project management methodology. This methodology takes an iterative approach to project management breaking up the project lifecycle into smaller chunks or sprints.
The aim is to deliver work in small increments while focusing on delivering value to customers.
Here are the 12 Agile principles that can help you and your team implement and execute the agile methodology:
