Adopting New Ways of Working – DfEA and DfE

Design for Ease of Adoption and Design for Evolution

Introduction

The concepts of “Design for Ease of Adoption (DfEA)” and “Design for Evolution (DfE)” form the core of any effective approach to adopting new ways of working in large organisations.

Design for Assembly (DfA) – An Overview

In the manufacturing sector, Design for Assembly (DfA) concentrates on focusing product design on easier, quicker, and more cost-efficient assembly. Principles of DfA guide the creation of products that are simple to assemble, thus minimising the complexity, time, and resources required in the assembly process.

Design for Ease of Adoption (DfEA) – Adapting DfA for Agile Adoptions

Drawing inspiration from DfA, DfEA aims to make the transition to agility as straightforward and efficient as possible. DfEA minimises the complexity typically associated with agile adoptions, striving to make them more approachable, practical, successful and sustainable.

Principles of DfEA

i. Ease: Taking a leaf out of DfA’s book, the central principle of DfEA is ease of adoption. Ease means lessening the cognitive load on teams and individuals, reducing the risk of disorientation, and facilitating adoption.

ii. Modularity: Echoing DfA’s notion of modularity, DfEA recommends adoption in discrete, manageable ‘modules’. This method permits gradual adoption and smoothly advances the organisation into new ways of working, avoiding overwhelm.

iii. Standardisation: Much like DfA, DfEA encourages standardisation to promote consistency across the organisation. Uniform terminology, practices, and expectations facilitate smoother adoptions and ensure everyone in the organisation comprehends and can contribute.

iv. Incremental Adoption: Inspired by the stepwise assembly process in DfA, DfEA advocates for a gradual adoption process. This approach boosts enthusiasm and engagement and allows for ongoing learning and adjustments based on feedback and experiences.

Design for Evolution (DfE)

The DfE principle steers the growth and adaptation of approaches to adopting new ways of working. Recognising the dynamic nature of the field, DfE ensures an approach remains responsive and adaptable. It concentrates on collecting feedback, learning from experiences, and making data-driven and AI-driven adjustments to continually enhance the effectiveness of the approach. This dynamic evolution keeps things relevant, resilient, and increasingly valuable over time, mitigating the risk of becoming yet another outdated adoption approach.

Conclusion

DfEA and DfE form the backbone of any adoption approach, fostering a more effective and sustainable path. By drawing upon proven principles from the manufacturing industry and the core tenets of continuous learning and adaptability, these concepts ensure that the journey towards and beyond enterprise agility is not only accessible and efficient but also aligns with the constantly evolving adoption environment.