The Agile methodology emerged over a decade ago as a manifesto of good practices and tools to achieve dynamism in projects. It was a revolution for companies dedicated to the digital world and programming. Ten years later, the benefits of this methodology are so evident that it continues to spread to other companies and new sectors.
To enjoy the benefits of the Agile method, it is not enough to use the different work management tools that make up the method. Working in an Agile way implies a change in the approach to work, in its processes, and also in the design of the spaces. To achieve all this, it is first necessary to internalize some guidelines:
- Appreciate the value of people. No matter how much stress we have on our backs, we cannot forget that we work with human beings. It is necessary to foster a healthy, trusting, and open environment.
- Teamwork and collaboration are the basis of the project. Feedback and cooperation, both between working groups and with the client, are the way projects advance and tasks are completed.
- Pragmatism and efficiency should guide our decisions to achieve the objective.
- Changes are good. Revisions, corrections, and changes of direction are a way to improve and move forward, not a setback. That is why constant collaboration and feedback between those involved is important.
Flexible spaces, greater productivity
By changing the philosophy and organization of work, many of the traditional office spaces cease to be useful to us, and new needs arise. To work in teams, we will not need a large meeting room, but rather several spaces in which groups can meet simultaneously, work, and coordinate. Similarly, offices and cubicles lose all their meaning, as they would only hinder communication.
It may be complicated at first to design our office thinking about the Agile methodology, but it is much easier than it seems. The most important thing is to maintain flexibility, and everything will gradually fit together. Let’s look at the main characteristics of Agile offices:
1. An Agile office must allow spaces to adapt easily to the changing needs of projects and tasks. Not all phases of the project will require the same collaborators or the same tasks, so the furniture must be dynamic and easily adaptable.
2. We must prioritize communication and access to information related to tasks and the development of activities. Therefore, it is essential to use the walls and have whiteboards, bulletin boards, and visual material that allows us to quickly monitor the entire group.
3. The Agile method divides a large project into small tasks that are distributed by groups, so the objectives are not personal, but group-based. We must offer autonomy to each group to organize themselves as they see fit. Individual workstations lose their meaning, and practical spaces become necessary, which will be occupied by various people depending on the situation.
4. Having resources readily available is essential; it is not very dynamic to have to change rooms to have an additional monitor, or to have to ask permission to make photocopies.
Although each company and each project is a world, it is undeniable that the Agile methodology transforms work spaces. Offices tend to be increasingly dynamic and flexible, and even if we are not ready to implement this methodology in its purest version, we can certainly benefit from some of its proposals and methods in our offices.
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