Volvo, the Swedish car manufacturer, has successfully implemented agile principles on a large scale. Agile, originally a software development methodology, has been applied across the entire organisation, transforming Volvo’s operations and culture. This shift has been facilitated by the company’s CEO, Håkan Samuelsson, who has been instrumental in fostering a culture of trust and empowerment, key tenets of the agile approach.
Agile at Volvo is not just about speed and flexibility, but also about improving quality and customer satisfaction. The company has moved away from a traditional hierarchical structure, adopting a team-based approach instead, with the aim of fostering collaboration and innovation.
The company’s transition to agile has not been without challenges, however. To overcome resistance to change, Volvo has had to invest heavily in training and development, ensuring that all employees understand and are comfortable with the agile principles. Despite these challenges, the company’s commitment to agile has yielded significant benefits, including higher productivity, improved quality, and increased customer satisfaction.
Volvo’s experience serves as a powerful example of how agile principles can be successfully applied on a large scale, beyond the realm of software development. It demonstrates that with the right leadership and a commitment to change, organisations can reap substantial benefits from adopting an agile approach.
Go to source article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2020/01/26/how-volvo-embraces-agile-at-scale/#3b2f1cb64cf0