11
04
FROM LAME DUCK TO AGILE PERFORMER
Clustering of the investigated companies within a performance matrix also shows :
In today ’ s competitive environment , success is difficult if not impossible without the agile routines .
FOUR COMPANY CATEGORIES
PERFORMANCE |
Get agile to sustain performance |
5 %
ENDANGERED PERFORMER
|
36 %
AGILE PERFORMER
|
Get support to sustain agility and performance |
|
Get agile to catch up |
30 %
LAME DUCK
|
29 %
TRACTION SEEKER
|
Get focused on doing the right things |
By classifying organizations along the axes of agility and performance , four categories emerge :
AGILITY
ENDANGERED PERFORMERS : Five percent of the companies in our sample were able to achieve above-average success despite having low agility ; their performance belies their capabilities . The small number of firms in this category suggests that in the current market environment , good performance is very difficult to achieve w thout the agile routines . The companies in this category urgently need to take action : they should implement as many of the routines as they can to shore up their success over the long term .
LAME DUCKS : About one-third ( 30 %) of the companies investigated scored low on both agility and sustained performance . Companies that fall into this category should take a closer look at the agility factors and figure out how they compare with competitors . This will reveal the likely hotspots that the company should address first to become more agile and draw level with competitors .
TRACTION SEEKERS : Just under a third ( 29 %) of the firms have above-average agility scores , yet still perform lower than expected ( and no doubt lagging behind on their own expectations ). It is important to investigate exactly how the company codifies and practices agility . For example , is it focusing on the wrong things and putting too much energy into activities that have little or no impact ? The analysis reveals pointers on how to leverage agile action into specific advantage , and which measures can help to make this happen .
AGILE PERFORMERS : 36 % of the companies investigated showed above-average performance and agility . As Agile Performers , they are at the same time “ best practitioners ” acting as role models for other companies in their environment . The goal for these players is not to lose their leadership , but – with appropriate support – to continue to leverage their high agility as a success factor .