Agile Management

Agile Management

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        Today's business environment is filled with changes that need actions promptly. Managers are required to make instant decisions that determine the success or failure of the firm. Companies are now interested in and training agile employees who can quickly identify when there is a need for change and the best approach to be used ("Agile Project Management: Organizing Productive, Flexible Projects", n.d.). With that said, we cannot forget Henri Fayol's contribution to management. His five functions of management- planning, organizing, commanding, controlling and coordinating- are essential to the success of any management (McNamara, 2011). For a 21st manager, he or she is viewed as effective by incorporating agility into Henri Fayol's management functions. The five functions of management serve as a tool for managers for leading the employees. Planning, coordinating, controlling, commanding and organizing are all duties of the manager, and hence the use of Fayol's functions of management ensures that managers carry out their duties as expected (McNamara, 2011).

        Henri Fayol's functions of management ensure that management has a clear path to follow. By introducing agility into the picture, the manager can deal with changes occurring in the midst of a project. Accommodating change is a major factor for any business, and it should never be ignored ("People and Agility: Creating an Agile Workforce", n.d.). Practicing agile project management ensures that the organization stays relevant in the ever- changing world. By combining Fayol's functions with agile management, a manager can overcome any changes experienced in the market in an efficient manner ("People and Agility: Creating an Agile Workforce", n.d.). 21st-century managers agree that completely doing away with Fayol's functions creates an imbalance in how managers carry out their tasks.

References

Agile Project Management: Organizing Productive, Flexible Projects. Mindtools.com. Retrieved         2 March 2017, from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/agile-project-        management.htm

McNamara, D. (2011). From Fayols Mechanistic To Todays Organic Functions Of Management.         American Journal of Business Education (AJBE), 2(1). Print.

People and Agility: Creating an Agile Workforce. Managementstudyguide.com. Retrieved 2         March 2017, from http://www.managementstudyguide.com/creating-an-agile-        workforce.htm