Use Agile Methods

Motivation

In business, the industrialized domain encourages coherence, coordination, efficiency, and stability. Yet, the discovery of new capabilities in the uncharted domain requires experimentation. Any structure, a company, or a team, needs to manage both of these polar opposites. Components are also evolving between these extremes. These transitional components have a different set of characteristics. They need a third mechanism of management.

Consider these first

• Use Lean Methods
• Use Six Sigma Methods

Illustrative description

Use agile and similar methods to reduce cost of change and build in-house.

Detailed description

The uncharted space is where no-one knows the outcome. This are unique, very rare, uncertain, changing all the time, recently discovered. This forces us to explore and experiment. Change is the norm here. Any method that you use must enable and reduce the cost of change. In this part of the map, consider agile approaches and building in-house.

In the below example we would build Online Image Manipulation in-house. We would use agile methods. We would do the same with Online Photo Storage.

It is worth noting that there are alternatives to building in-house. You could outsource novel component under a time-and-materials basis. A group that specializes in the experimentation required could deliver that component. This is different from outsourcing under a specification or volume operations. You could even outsource the novel to the market and let the market discover what is there. Procrastination can be a useful tool if used on purpose.

Reminder: Stop reading, take action

Consider next

• Use Appropriate Purchasing Methods