Agile Process & Motivation

In recent economic turmoil most of the business organizations are trying to cut different costs to remain in business successfully. The current cost cutting approach is visible in different level across entire organization. But since cost cutting can not save the business completely because of competitive product edge across business paradigms, that’s why it is also necessary to build business of higher success by developing new technology with lower cost of service and maintenance. Corporate are looking for integrated solution with highest throughput that is completely unique and innovative, such that their business can withstand this lowest economic fall down by providing services with cheaper and effective way. Thus, many organizations are inclined to find a complete solution with high end technology and innovative concept whose deployment and maintenance cost should be very very low and it should give highest business edge compare to their competitors for long run. Keeping this in mind, Corporate will look down to a solution provider who can provide innovative cutting edge technologies with lowest service and maintenance cost. Microsys is one such solution provider who had complete integrated solution in CRM ,Billing and Content management. Currently Microsys is one of the market leaders in this niche area. To remain competitive in market and business, Microsys needs to develop this organization to be highly innovative and driven by highly motivated employees who can provide integrated solution with lowest service and maintenance cost.

To cope with the current economic turmoil and grow in business, Microsys already taken lots of bold steps to consolidate their business and market presence. To provide cheaper solution Microsys already implementing new business process that is very effective in software development and testing. The new Agile process is highly effective and also many corporations are taking advantage of this business process to find lower cost of deliverables within shortest delivery period. That improves customer’s satisfaction by empowering them with up to date solution and increasing their turnover within a period of month and so. But in long run this business process will be very effective only when Microsys can develop a highly motivated mindset of its employees to work in a very aggressive way to fulfill customer’s requirements day to day basis. Unless this mindset is developed and grows in long run, Microsys can not enjoy all fruits of its new Business Process that is currently in practice. Thus, changing mindset towards innovation with higher motivation is very key to success in the new Business Paradigm.

Now the important point is how Microsys can build such higher motivation among their employees to become successful with this new business process? Motivation is again key to innovation. If one is not enough motivated with one’s current work and responsibilities, one can not become innovative to find better solution for any business issue on which one is currently working. That’s why motivation develops with higher responsibility and an atmosphere that drives the mindset towards success with higher appreciation of achieving business goal. Agile process gives such responsibility to grass root employees. Only giving responsibility can not create motivation unless one get appreciated for the success of achieving target. To start with giving responsibility to grass root employees is the first step by giving a chance to become successful. But once this goal is achieved, to motivate further to same group of employees it requires appreciation and the reward to this success. Sometimes few token of words could be appreciation and sometimes it may not. The highest level of appreciation is what you receive that you give. In that concept, since we grow in business we should look towards the personal growth of employees those who were contributing to this success by achieving corporate business goal. In that concept, to achieve our business goal through this new Agile business process we must look at the personal goal of each team member who are contributing to this success. That’s why to achieve the highest business goal with higher motivation in log run, Microsys can not ignore the reward of promotion and financial benefits to its employees who will be contributing to make business success in this new Agile Process.

Now the question comes who are these people should be rewarded? It is not possible to reward everyone those who are working in each focus team. Since it is a team effort that’s why it is very much the team will be benefited. As a thumb rule since entire team can not be promoted at a time, that’s why giving some bonus to highly successful team is one way of appreciation that will motivate the entire team. That could be a good idea to consider first to motivate entire team. Some times may be special bonus will motivate the team spirit. But the other thing must also be considered. Whether we can keep such team spirit without any promotion for long run? Are we competitive comparing to other organization? If some one from a highly motivated team gets better job offer from outside definitely he/she will leave. Then the team will loose its spirit seeing other member to quit for better position. It always happens that if one of a very high performer employee leaves from a highly motivated team, other members automatically becomes little nervous and may look for something else. That’s why promotion can not be stopped entirely in this business process.

Since current economic condition is very gloomy that’s why giving promotion means higher cost. Microsys already accepted a policy of “promotion freeze” in entire organization. But to keep on motivating a successful team, promotion must not be stopped in entry level employees like B1, B2 etc who are highly contributing to the success of team. If it is not possible to promote a good number of employees of entry level then there should be few more promotions in this level compare to the next higher level of employees. The reason is very simple. In every organization the ratio of employees who are working in entry level like B1 and B2 etc. against the next higher level is almost 1:10. That’s why promotion of one higher level to Management category is 10 time less effective in motivation factor comparing to the promotion of one entry level of employees. In that sense to create higher motivation to the diffrent focus team and entire business organization with high working and production spirit, entry level promotion is 10 times more effective comparing to a promotion of management level in Agile Process.

The conclusion is

In this current economic situation to remain competitive by providing low cost innovative solution with a very successful business process for long run, the following ideas may be considered to be very effective

1) By Implementing Agile Process effectively and building highly motivated mindset within employees and team members
2) Appreciate highly motivated team and reward them with special bonus when ever needed
3) “Few Low Level Promotion” is better than “No Promotion” towards team motivation
4) Sometime shaking the tail of dead elephant is better than one dead or sleeping elephant for long time. Means give promotion to selective management stuffs whenever necessary until economy improves