june2021 - 19

FEATURE
Using Agile Methodology on the
Digital Transformation Journey
TRANSFORMATION IS A concept applicable to nearly
every aspect of our lives: our diet, our home, our leadership
style, etc. And regardless of the application, the
focus is consistently the same: moving from point A
(the current state) to point B (the ideal state).
Digital transformation within
businesses, however, is different. It's
an ongoing journey, evolving in ways
we have never seen. Not because
targets aren't identified, but because
the targets are moving due to business,
market and societal changes.
Case in point: social media. Initially
it was a digitally enabled platform
for people to connect. It has quickly
become a critical medium for growing
businesses, expanding political
platforms, and driving health and
safety awareness. Social media as a
communication tool has been both
the driver and the product of digital
transformation.
DEFINING " DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION "
Before going ahead, let's take a step
back and look at the overall concept.
What is " digital transformation " ? It
is a mobile-first, cloud-enabled, agile
and automated mentality. It is a
nimbleness, requiring continuous
innovation to integrate technology
into nearly all aspects of business
to achieve faster, more effective
and more resilient solutions that
enhance the user experience.
The current pandemic has
magnified the necessity of technologies
and security to enable digital
operations. The ability to access
all of the following from your cell
phone, iPad, or home office became
a necessity for many: real-time
business unit P&L, the status of
month-end close, medical test
results, call center agent status,
user acceptance findings, and the
list goes on. Moreover, our business
meetings, our children's school
meetings, celebratory events and
medical appointments have largely
converted to Zoom, Google Meet,
Teams via our devices and remote
networks.
The need for ever evolving digital
transformation can be summed
up by this expression: " The last best
experience that anyone has had
anywhere becomes the minimum
expectations everywhere. "
From an accounting and finance
perspective, the journey of digital
transformation started slowly but is
catching on rapidly. Organizations
are realizing that by automating
low value, routine transactions will
allow more time to handle exceptions
and analyze the business.
This automation is occurring across
the entire accounting and finance
function from accounts payable to
month and quarter close processes
and beyond.
USING AGILE TO ENABLE
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Therefore, an agile approach is
necessary to undertaking digital
transformation initiatives. Whether
developing or acquiring software to
enhance each customer's online
experience, or to meet the internal
and external demands for real-time
reporting, or to redact personally
identifiable information from millions
of emails, the path is a journey.
Because no ultimate point B
testing for effectiveness,
By Jim Grundner
human touch has never been
more important. As artificial
intelligence,
robotic
process
automation and machine learning
become more common, the
opportunities to interact humanto-human
must be seized with a
high degree of empathy, patience
and personalization.
exists,
acceptance and applicability along
the way (and from the beginning)
are critical to keeping pace with the
speed in which requirements, expectations,
desires and the competition
change.
Speaking of " competition, " a
digital-enabled business uses a lens
much wider than its own industry
as a window into its competition.
Whereas taxi, limousine and car
service businesses were once in their
own sector, now technology companies
(e.g., Uber, Lyft, Google) are key
competitors. We once thought only
food could be delivered; now we can
order just about anything via your
favorite personal assistant, Alexa via
Amazon Echo.
The bottom line is that businesses
that have embraced digital
innovation are thriving, even in
the most difficult of circumstances,
while others who stayed the course
are now falling behind or experiencing
bankruptcy.
Whether your focus is back, mid
or front office, technology and digital
advancement must remain at the
forefront to continue to achieve personal,
team and company success.
A couple key points follow:
1. Ensuring a strong emphasis on
2. Focusing on innovation rather
than invention will enable
the journey. Invention is hard,
creating never-before-patentable
approaches takes time. Innovation
though can speed it up. The key
is in keeping your eyes and mind
open. Be curious, as a habit. Look
at every mobile app, every website,
every interaction you have as a
customer as a possible new way
to serve your stakeholders. Don't
believe in boundaries - they no
longer exist. If someone is serving
you or other customers in some
new and interesting way, consider
how you might apply it to your
situation.
Digital
transformation is an
entire company mindset. Implications
to people, process, technology,
culture and security require
continued focus and evaluation. The
concept of " operations anywhere "
(e.g., virtual workforce, remote connections
to business platforms, etc.)
heighten the need for hopping on
the digital transformation journey.
Ongoing modernization, automation
and innovation are key pillars for any
organization's growth and success. ■
Jim Grundner is Agile Practice Leader
at Vaco and has 20+ years of Agile and
DevOps transformation expertise. His certifications
include Certified Agile Leader
(CAL), Certified Scrum Professional (CSP),
Certified SAFe Agilist (CSA), Certified
ScrumMaster (CSM), Certified Scrum
Product Owner (CSPO).
JUNE 2021 ■ www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
19
http://www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com
june2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of june2021
