Whenever there is a crisis, pretty much everything comes under scrutiny. Even systems and processes that have worked well for decades have their relevance questioned. And if there was ever a year in this millennium that could become the brand ambassador of the word crisis, it would have to be 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every industry finds itself questioning the relevance of many of its practices, systems, tools, and methods. To think that millennia defining ideas like the agile methodology would be exempted from this scrutiny would be a notion based on bias. Whether or not the agile methodology will withstand this crisis might very well be the million-dollar question that is staring stark in the eyes of businesses.
Whereas agile methodology, with its disciplined project management that encourages inspection and adaptation, and leadership philosophy that supports teamwork, accountability, and self-organization, shows promise that it will endure. It prioritizes individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, and responding to change over following a plan. In fact, the agile methodology promises not only to survive and endure but also to thrive and excel in this critical situation. With the open-minded and ‘agile’ nature of the methodology, the agile becomes a consistent, feedback oriented, and ever-evolving platform. This is particularly true because the biggest headache that businesses have to face in times of global crisis is figuring out ways to cut down costs. And agile adaption delivers in spades when it comes to cost efficiency by increasing predictability and productivity, taking less time to complete, minimizing uncertainty, and reducing failure.
With such importance associated with the agile methodology, it is natural for organizations to find themselves lost in a maze of technologically advanced agile solutions. To assist and provide a clear perspective, our distinguished panel, comprising key decision-makers and experts along with CIO Applications editorial board, has shortlisted some of the most effective service providers in the agile industry. In this edition of CIO Applications, we present to you the Top 10 Agile Consulting/ Service Companies 2020.
