One land, a billion minds

BANGALORE, INDIA: Is agility only about enterprises being open to changes? Does agility means allowing an enterprise to do any thing that it wants to do?

These were some of the questions raised by Ramanujam Sridhar, chief executive officer of Integrated Brand-Comm Private Ltd, during his presentation on Principles of An Agile Enterprise on the final day of the C-Change 2008 here today.

Sridhar said there are two kinds of companies namely those that move quickly and others that are dead. Today it is not enough by just being respondent to changes.

Innovation is the heart of agility and enterprises need to drive innovations within their organizations. He cited Apple's 'Think Differently' advertisement campaign that shows how a company like Apple has proven innovation is the heart of agility.

The recent products that Apple has rolled out such as iPods, iPhones that have revolutionized the whole global electronic industry, Sridhar said. "The recent innovations from Apple's stable reflect the way the company thinks and innovates."

He also cited successful advertisement campaigns from Titan that has been in the heart of innovation in India.

A report indicated that about 50 per cent of Titan sales accounts from gifting for anniversaries, birthdays and other anytime gifting. That is again an example of successful innovation, he said.

Sridhar also showed a series of different campaigns with agility to look and think differently. Agility needs innovation and it could be in products, process, position and paradigm. So how to be an agile enterprise?

This is what he pointed out:

*Set aside time for learning the look out for the best

*Use adhoc management teams

*Develop processes and skills in managing innovation

*Increase in the quality of decision

*Shift from authoritative style to collaborative style

*Changes begin at top and so get fresh blood in your organization.

Microsoft uses agile methodology and so has been successful in developing many innovative products. So is the case with Philips, GE and Lockheed Martin.

He added that as corporate agility starts and ends with the customer and so plan your company's agility and monitor the progress.

(manohars@cybermedia.co.in)