Agile 2

10A Transformation Is a Journey

Transformation is the new normal. Today, organizations are in a perpetual state of change. We explained in Chapter 3 that the view that an organization exists in a steady state is obsolete and that, today, change is never-ending.

If change is never-ending, that means a transformation is never done! It means that when an organization undertakes a significant transformation and defines a “future state,” that if and when the organization arrives at the future state, the future state will be obsolete. This reality means that organizations need to be continually adjusting their goals. It also means that, in a sense, the goal post is perpetually moving away and that one can never reach it. It means that change is ongoing, and one's organization must be set up to continuously adapt, always reevaluating, always prepared to pivot its strategy, and always changing.

Small changes that are tactical can be accomplished in a finite period of time. Some big, strategic changes can be as well, but it is almost always the case nowadays that when one accomplishes a big change, circumstances have changed, and more change is needed.

Changing an organization's culture is a strategic change. Becoming more agile requires deep cultural change. It is definitely strategic. It is not a “process rollout,” because it affects not only what every function in the organization does, but how it is done. Becoming more agile requires every person in the organization to learn new ...