An Agile Organization

I got the opportunity to attend an HR conference today organized by NHRDN BBSR Chapter. The speaker for the evening was an HR veteran with over 20 years of experience in various companies covering the entire spectrum of offerings starting from IT to manufacturing set up.

The topic he discussed was very close to my heart. How an organization needs to be agile in order to adapt to changing times. I have always been a big promoter of embracing change, and love to observe the reaction of people to changes that are unexpected. The word that reverberated the entire hour and half was “Agile”. During these ambiguous times, with cut throat competition around for any organization, be it small or big, how can you stay ahead of the game from an organizational perspective? How can you create the much needed agility in your programs and processes? That was the whole crux of the talk.

Co-incidentally, today I also got to hear about a major change, you might call it a paradigm shift of sorts in my organization. And it was such a pleasant surprise. Although I was expecting something on these lines since about a month or so, but reading about it in black and white really reaffirmed my faith in the leadership. Moving with the times and in sync with the thoughts and aspirations of its people, is what makes an organization a force to reckon with. And I think, with this first step, we are very much on our way to challenge the might of say a Google, Apple or FB, companies which are renowned for their entrepreneurial work environment and a culture which promotes freedom of speech and expression.  A company which listens to what the people have to say and takes swift action upon it immediately, is the truest example of an agile organization.

During my MBA days, I read a book, “Built to last”, it was an essay on various companies over the years that had some trait or the other which enabled them to withstand the ravages of time and become world class organizations. And today I can say with utmost pride that, I am truly privileged to be working in such an organization.