Agile Fundamentals vs Business Agility Fundamentals: How Do I Choose?
5 March 2024Agile Fundamentals vs Business Agility Fundamentals: How Do I Choose?
It has been more than 20 years since the Agile movement was kicked off by the signing of the Agile Manifesto, and ever since that time, people have sought training to understand better the agile mindset and how to apply it. The ability to swiftly respond to change, innovate, and remain resilient in the face of uncertainty is no longer just a competitive advantage—it's a necessity for survival.
SoftEd and Skills Development Group offers two courses aimed at equipping you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the agile landscape: Agile Fundamentals and Business Agility Fundamentals. Before delving into the specifics of these courses, it's essential to grasp the distinction between Agile development and Business Agility. At its core, Agile is grounded in 4 values and 12 principles that emphasise iterative and incremental development, focusing on collaboration, transparency and delivery of customer value. Business Agility transcends the confines of delivery teams, extending the Agile mindset and practices throughout the entire organisation with a focus on transformation, adaptability, innovation, customer-centricity, and responsiveness to market changes across the entire organisation.
So how do I choose?
The Agile Fundamentals course introduces the core values, principles, and practices of Agile delivery. It provides participants with a foundational and hands-on understanding of the Agile mindset, roles and responsibilities, events, key practices, and approaches that form part of discovery and delivery. This course is ideal for individuals and teams new to agility or seeking their team to have a consistent overview of the skills and tools necessary to contribute effectively to Agile projects and initiatives. Whilst agile practices were formed in the realm of software development, the course is applicable to all individuals and teams tasked with the delivery of a product or service.
On the other hand, the Business Agility Fundamentals course takes a more comprehensive approach, addressing not only Agile approaches but also the broader spectrum of organisational transformation. It delves into topics such as mindset, optimisation, discovery, and ways for working beyond team delivery, empowering participants to participate, facilitate and lead organisational transformation towards greater agility, resilience, and innovation.
In a nutshell, Agile Fundamentals is best for individuals and teams who are producing products or services, whilst Business Agility Fundamentals are best for individuals and leaders who are looking to support, facilitate and lead agility anywhere in the organisation. Both courses are ICAgile accredited, giving the participant an industry-recognised certification.
Agile Fundamentals may be the appropriate choice if your focus is primarily on mastering agile ways of working within the context of software, product or service development. However, if you aspire to drive and sustain transformation towards greater agility across all aspects of your business, Business Agility Fundamentals is likely the course for you. Both courses serve as a great starter or refresher to the pathway of Agile and other related courses in our catalogue. Whichever path you choose, embarking on the journey towards agility is essential for thriving in today's fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape.
Learn more about our Agile Fundamentals course or Business Agility Fundamentals course, or reach out to have a more in-depth discussion and discover what might work best for you and your team.
This article was written by Craig Smith, Global Agility Lead at SkillsDG.
