REASONS, CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTING AGILE IN TODAY’S UNPREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Irma Chkhaidze E-mail: chkhaidze.irma@bsu.edu.ge Associate Professor, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University Batumi, Georgia https://orcid.org/000-0003-4430-181X Abstract. This article explores the efficacy of the Agile method in managing business projects, which enables companies to attain a competitive edge and sustain dynamic capabilities amidst rapidly evolving global circumstances. The article focuses on the "Agile" transformation, which is identified as a key priority for companies facing unpredictable changes in both the global context and in Georgia. This transformation is being implemented gradually, in line with contemporary challenges, and involves reshaping the hierarchical structure of organizations and redistributing functions based on employees' abilities, with the goal of creating professional teams. Consequently, the study aims to develop a strategy for efficient project management in Georgian companies and explore effective ways to implement it. The research findings uncovered the primary obstacles to companies transitioning to the method of rapid management of innovative business projects: challenges pertaining to organizational culture, resistance to change, lack of management support, unmotivated teams, and low skills among team members. The challenges associated with implementing the Agile methodology in the project management process were identified as follows: gaining competitiveness in the international and regional market, limited practical experience in IT Agile, and introducing innovations that do not align with user needs when using the waterfall method. The positive aspects of the rapid management of innovative business projects were assessed as follows: flexibility, customer collaboration, enhancement of goods and services through the implementation of short cycle processes, and incremental innovations aimed at meeting customer requirements. Through research, the alignment of the values of companies utilizing modern project management methods in Georgia with the principles of Agile project management was examined. These principles include teamwork, increased autonomy, high trust, customer feedback, enhanced adaptability to change, improved communication within and between teams, and the implementation of a results-oriented control process. The effectiveness of the Agile method was found to be contingent upon the development of a long-term motivational strategy. This strategy is based on two key factors: firstly, the creation and maintenance of a competent team, and secondly, ongoing collaboration with customers.