In an ever-changing business landscape, agility has become an essential asset for organizations looking for a competitive edge. In addition to software development, agility has also found its way into corporate management departments such as human resources (HR) and finance. This issue explores how agility is transforming both of these corporate fields.
I. Agility in human resources management
Human Resources is a key player in talent management, skills development and corporate culture. By adopting agile practices, HR can adapt quickly to change, foster collaboration and improve employee engagement. Here are a few concrete examples of the application of agile approaches in HR management:
1.Agile recruitment: HR can implement agile approaches such as competency-based recruitment and practical testing. Instead of focusing solely on qualifications and experience, for example, recruitment teams can assess candidates' technical and behavioral skills through real-life situations or projects. This helps to better target talent and speed up the recruitment process.
2. Skills development management: Agility in upskilling involves personalized, iterative approaches. For example, training sprints enable employees to focus on specific skills over a set period of time. Methods such as e-learning, short courses and learning communities promote rapid and continuous skills development.
3. Change management: Agility helps HR to support organizational change effectively. For example, using agile methods such as visual management, HR teams can create dashboards to monitor transformation projects in real time. Regular follow-up meetings, such as stand-up meetings like Sofrecom Maroc's Tea Time, enable obstacles to be detected quickly and resolved collectively.
II. Agility in financial management
Financial management is often associated with rigorous processes and slow decision-making cycles. However, adopting agility in financial management can bring significant benefits. Here are a few concrete examples of the application of agility in financial management:
1. Strategic agility: Agility enables finance to adapt quickly to market changes. For example, instead of planning on an annual basis, finance teams can adopt a quarterly or even monthly planning approach. This allows financial targets to be realigned with market developments, and new opportunities to be seized quickly.
2. Agile budget planning: Agile budget planning promotes greater flexibility. Agile approaches, such as results-based budgeting and flexible budget allocations, enable finance to quickly reallocate resources according to changing business needs. For example, if an initiative or project requires additional resources, the budget can be quickly adjusted to meet them.
This comes with a value-stream-oriented vision, and its application is simplified with the adoption of Safe's portfolio brick, of which Sofrecom is a bronze partner.
3. Operational efficiency: Agility improves the efficiency of financial processes. For example, process automation enables finance to reduce manual tasks and devote more time to analysis and decision-making. Tools such as integrated financial management software (ERP) help centralize data and optimize processes for closing accounts, managing cash flows and reporting.
Through concrete examples of the application of agile approaches, we were able to see how agility is concretely transforming these areas, promoting efficiency, adaptability and collaboration. By adopting agile practices, companies can strengthen their competitive edge and adapt more quickly to market changes. Agility is no longer reserved for software development; it has become an imperative for all corporate functions.
