Agile in crisis: unveiling perceptions and advantages of agile management in organizations in times of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In March 2020, the WHO (World Health Organization) declared that the world is experiencing a pandemic of the new coronavirus, which means that an epidemic that used to be localized only in a specific location has spread to several countries and continents, exacerbating the scenario of changes and uncertainties in the business environment. Moreover, with the exponential advancement of technology and the dynamism of the market, companies need to adapt ever more quickly to changes and trends to remain innovative and competitive and offer better experiences to consumers. In this context, this study sought to find out whether, during the pandemic, organizations have used agile project management to adapt to the rapid changes in market demands caused by the COVID-19 quarantine. To this end, an exploratory survey was used to gather information and perceptions from professionals working in companies during the pandemic. The study concluded that companies that had been using agile project management for less than a year, or that started using it during the quarantine, performed well, but were at a competitive disadvantage compared to companies that had been using agile methodologies for a longer period of time. It is recommended that companies that are having to overcome challenges adopt agile project management, ensuring better customer satisfaction, greater competitiveness and more efficient internal processes. As limitations of the research, firstly, due to lack of time, the survey had fifty responses and could have been more exhaustive, with a statistical sample. To overcome these limitations, it is proposed to carry out new surveys after the quarantine period, in order to be able to analyze the data statistically.