The agile enterprise

Abstract

The research topic of this master thesis is organizational agility. The purpose of this research is to study the factors that shape and facilitate an enterprise-wide agile transformation. In response to turbulent and unpredictable market environments, established business organizations recognize the need to tear down the rigid and hierarchical structures and become an ‘agile enterprise’ – an organizational paradigm shift that promises to deliver increased flexibility and speed in reaction to changes, stronger innovative power and products with higher market value. An enterprise-wide agile transformation is a daunting undertaking, changing nearly all elements of a company. Building an open mindset and developing agile capabilities are key for success. Existing frameworks and models primarily stem from a specific realworld setting and offer limited assistance. The aim of this research is to develop a conceptual design for a self-assessment tool that assists interested business organizations in identifying the current state of agile maturity in a non-framework specific way. Secondly, the artifact supports management in setting goals to strengthen agile capabilities, a necessary step for organizations that aspire to become an agile enterprise.