Introducing Agile

18 Sep 2024

Many areas of the University are experimenting with new ways of working to bring about change and achieve results in a quicker and more responsive way.

There have been pockets of experimentation within the Projects and Business Analysis, Office for Open Research and AIIA Teams to move from a traditional project management approach, where we fully define and scope projects from the outset to a more agile approach to delivery.

Agile has traditionally been used in the world of software development and manufacturing but is increasingly being applied in other business environments.

Benefits

Agile is iterative and incremental, delivering only what the customer needs and reducing waste. The voice of the customer is integral. It encourages teams to be more outward looking, creating cross-functional teams with the necessary skills to create and deliver a product in a set period. Documentation requirements are minimised, although still essential.

Several agile frameworks and methodologies exist, the most recognisable being SCRUM which uses Sprints and KANBAN which is a pull system using visual boards.

Building on early experiences and having already formalised learning through an externally provided training course, a newly launched Library project is testing agile tools and methodologies through a number of case study projects. Lessons learnt will be used to create best practice documentation and guidance for a wider controlled roll-out of agile to all Library staff.

This is an idea that we want to adopt as part of the Ideas Adoption work; a way we can do things more efficiently; something we can share with other parts of the University, the sector and the projects industry generally; and we can ensure we are at the forefront of University developments, leading the way in new more efficient ways of working. We want to be the first Library to fully embed agile in a business change setting as a new, effective and enjoyable way of working.