Applying Agile Principles in Institutions of Higher Learning: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to have devastating effects on every facet of human endeavor. The pandemic has caused countries and organizations to rethink their strategies to put them on the path of recovery and growth. Besides, they also have to respond to the pandemic with limited information and countless uncertainties. The ability of organizations such as higher learning institutions to be agile has been stressed from many angles, particularly regarding policies, measures, and the level of decision-making in the wake of the outbreak. This study used observations of COVID-19 responses of a university in a developing country university to discuss the concept of agility and further offers a way to evaluate the concept. Principally, agility relates to the speed of responding to changes in an environment. This study reports how the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed a public university to show agility elements as it relaxes its institutional structures and policies to ensure that it delivers online education. Target Audience This chapter is targeted at practitioners, students, and those interested in understanding agility as a vital element in responding to pandemics such as COVID-19. The chapter provides the necessary guidance for practitioners and managers of institutions to help them make the best decisions during pandemics. Mainly, the chapter outlines the need for institutions to understand the dynamics in their contextual environment and offer ideal responses needed by relaxing institutional structures to provide greater efficiency and consistency in their operations. Understanding these dynamics feeds into the activities of policymakers as they can use the insights to mitigate rigidity which is very common in most government institutions. Again, the chapter outlines lessons for practitioners who need to be innovative in designing information systems with the required capabilities to respond to pandemics such as COVID-19. Finally, for students, the lessons from this study provide endless opportunities. First, it provides a framework for understanding the concept of agility. It also explains how students can become flexible in the face of adversity and learning to adapt to technologies they have least tested.