In the 1950s, American sociologist Talcott Parsons developed the AGIL schema, a systemic theoretical model designed to secure the fundamental functions of a system. The acronym AGIL stands for Adaptation, Goal Attainment, Integration, and Latency (maintenance of the state).
Adaptation – The Ability to Adapt: The adaptability of systems to external events and changes is a core principle. In the context of agile work, this means reacting flexibly to innovations and changes, understanding them, and evaluating their function and acceptance.
Goal Attainment – Pursuing Goals: The strategic alignment with goals and visions is an essential aspect of agile approaches. Companies must continually reflect on their capabilities and adapt their goals to current market conditions. Agile work emphasizes the adaptability of goals.
Integration – Cohesion and Empowerment: The integration of individuals into groups and communities aims for cohesion and unity. Agile work not only promotes collaboration but also enables individual decisions and innovations within effective teams.
Latency – Maintenance of Value Patterns: Latency stands for the continuous renewal of knowledge and values. In an agile context, it is about continuously further developing values to keep pace with the requirements of a changing world.
The Evolution of Agile Work: In the 1990s, initial approaches to agile software development emerged to make the development process more flexible. Agile software development gained popularity in 1999 when Kent Beck published his book “Extreme Programming”. This laid the foundation for various agile processes and methods, which were later defined in the “Agile Manifest” by experts like Kent Beck, Mike Beedle, and others.
Driving Forces for Agile Work: External drivers such as technological progress and market changes require increased agility from organizations to respond flexibly to unpredictable changes. Internal drivers, such as the change in values in working life and the needs of new generations, mean that employees strive for self-realization and participation. Agile work allows these challenges to be met better by motivating organizations to work across teams and take responsibility.
The Significance of Agile Work: Agile methods and principles are of great relevance in a rapidly changing business world. They enable faster adaptation to changes, improved customer orientation, higher product quality, more efficient resource utilization, increased employee motivation and participation, early risk identification, and a conducive innovation culture. Given the ongoing changes in customer requirements, technologies, and markets, agility is key to the long-term success of organizations.
Conclusion: Agile work is more than just a trend – it’s a response to the constantly changing requirements of the modern world. The principles of agile work help companies adapt flexibly, drive innovations, and operate successfully in a dynamic environment