Understanding Agile Learning
Agile learning is a dynamic and ongoing approach to education that equips employees with the ability to swiftly adapt to changes within an Agile framework. It enhances their flexibility and adaptability, enriching both their technical and interpersonal skills to effectively tackle emerging challenges. The core principles of Agile learning are flexibility, speed, and collaboration.
In an Agile organization, change is the only constant. Agile projects require rapid development, often incorporating new technologies or methodologies. Establishing an Agile project demands quick decision-making regarding organizational structure. Cultivating an Agile learning culture is crucial for accelerating employees’ adjustment to these changes.
The Elearning industry website reports that “61% of organizations undergo three or more significant changes annually, yet only 17% of businesses deem themselves highly effective at managing change. Furthermore, only 30% have dedicated change and learning teams to assist employees through transitions.”
Implementing an Agile Learning Culture
To foster an Agile learning culture, two interconnected strategies are essential:
Firstly, strong leadership models from organizational leaders are vital. Leaders who embody a learning culture not only increase their adaptability to constant change but also encourage and legitimize a culture of learning throughout the organization.
Secondly, a formal, transparent, and well-structured learning system is necessary. This isn’t about tools; it’s about fostering a culture where employees can experiment, make mistakes, and even fail without fear, knowing they are in a supportive environment that nurtures their growth. Employees should feel free to inquire, share diverse perspectives, exchange feedback, and engage in debates, all within an open and growth-oriented mindset. For a successful Agile learning culture, employees must be on board, sharing common aspirations, values, and expectations about the learning process.
The Importance of Agile Learning
The fundamental nature of work and HR expectations have shifted in recent years, with a new emphasis on quickly adapting to novel technologies and work practices. Learning has become an essential component of professional success in this context.
Agile learning benefits all involved parties:
Employees receive the necessary support to enhance their skills, becoming more proficient professionals and individuals. Organizations that support Agile learning encourage employees to disseminate their knowledge and mentor others, fostering internal communities united by shared passions, interests, and values.
At Belatrix, various Agile learning opportunities are available to employees, including:
- Individual learning/micro-learning sessions during the workday
- Peer learning with colleagues
- Knowledge sharing sessions
- Internal coaching sessions
- Online training, videos, and webinars
- Access to free and paid online learning platforms
- Pentabars events
- Specialized internal communities
These initiatives aim to refine employees’ skills and strengthen the bond among individuals with similar interests.
Agile learning culture enables Belatrix to remain nimble through its employees’ flexibility, viewing new challenges as opportunities rather than pressures or risks. Rather than recruiting externally for specific skills, Belatrix can cultivate them more rapidly through the learning process.
Aligning employees’ personal goals with organizational objectives through Agile learning culture enhances employee engagement and retention, offering a significant competitive edge.
Clients also benefit from working with Agile learning teams, which are well-adjusted to new challenges, attuned to market trends, more creative, open-minded, and adaptable to new technologies and methodologies.
Responsibility for Agile Learning Implementation
Agile learning is a collective responsibility. In a Scrum Team, for example, each member contributes to its implementation:
The Product Owner, acting as the product’s “CEO,” is primarily responsible for creating learning teams, modeling learning behaviors, and fostering an environment conducive to learning. By incorporating learning into the sprint backlog and prioritizing it, the Product Owner supports the learning process’s impact on project success.
The Scrum Master, tasked with team efficiency and mindset, ensures everyone understands the vision and benefits of Agile learning. They also support the Product Owner in recognizing the importance of learning activities and maintaining a learning-friendly context within the Sprints.
The employee, as the primary beneficiary of Agile learning, must embrace the learning process as a fundamental human trait. Despite time constraints often cited as a barrier to learning, the real challenge may be the employee’s motivation to learn and prioritize these activities.
Therefore, the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and employee share equal responsibility for the successful implementation of Agile learning.
Skills for Agile Learning
Certain skills are beneficial in the Agile learning process, including:
- Curiosity: A genuine interest in a topic can lead to quicker assimilation of new knowledge.
- Determination: Curiosity must be coupled with the willingness to dedicate time to learning and prioritizing it accordingly.
- Organized thinking: Structuring the learning process by setting goals, researching, experimenting, documenting progress, analyzing results, drawing conclusions, and sharing findings is recommended.
- Commitment to continuous improvement: A natural desire for ongoing enhancement underpins Agile Learning.
Organizing Agile Learning
Learning should be seamlessly integrated into team workflows. In an Agile setting, employees might set specific learning-related OKRs each quarter.
The Product Owner should ensure learning is visible on the Sprint backlog, dedicating time for it in each Sprint. A “just in time” learning approach is also supported, where employees access training as needed.
Tools, Methods, and Materials for Agile Learning
Various dedicated software like Jira, Asana, Monday.com, and Trello can support the Agile learning process. According to the Agile Alliance, there are six learning areas to consider: Individual, Intra-Team, Inter-Team, Organizational, Global, and Fearless learning.
Dan Pontefract, in his book “Flat Army: Creating a Connected and Engaged Organisation,” suggests a variety of learning materials, including case studies, books, mentoring, videos, blog articles, and forums.
- Selecting materials that best meet your needs can be engaging and crucial for a successful learning process.
Topics Covered by Agile Learning
Agile learning allows individuals to choose their learning topics, outcomes, and pace according to their interests, adding value to the project. Sometimes, the Product Owner or Scrum Master may require specific expertise to be covered by the learning process.
While technical or product-specific skills are often the focus, soft skills are increasingly valued in the labor market. Positive attitudes, communication skills, creativity, adaptability, time management, and stress management are among the essential skills for project success.
The goal of Agile learning is to enhance knowledge on a specific topic, learn something new, or improve soft skills, helping individuals become better versions of themselves and add more value to their work.
Takeaways
- Learning is fundamental to progress, whether theoretical or experimental. Agile learning is a mutually beneficial process, offering numerous advantages for employees, the organization, and its clients.
