Glossary of agile organization

Self-actualization is the idea that humans are motivated by a fundamental desire to realize their full potential.

The term Agile comes from a project-based software development methodology.

Antifragile refers to an organism, person, idea or system that improves when disturbed.

The organic social approach focuses on an organization's impact and collective well-being.

The systemic approach to management sees the organization as the sum of its internal interactions.

Self-organization is the idea that systems can emerge and evolve without explicit external intervention.

Authority is distributed in an organization when more than one or just a few people can make decisions.

Beyond Budgeting postulates that forecasts are inherently biased, as any fixed projection system instantly renders forecasts obsolete.

Change management encompasses everything that is put in place to help an organization carry out a major change.

Choosing by consensus means that you can move forward when everyone supports the proposal.

Choosing by consent means you can make a decision as long as no one objects to the proposal.

Cybernetics is the study of interactions that take place within a system and the catalysts for those actions.

Design thinking is a creative strategy used to solve problems. It begins with empathy for the end-user, followed by ideation, prototyping and testing.

Employee engagement measures how motivated they are to contribute to the success of their team and organization. Low commitment generally leads to poor performance.

A facilitator is someone who ensures that meetings are inclusive and productive.

Feedback is essential to organizational growth and development. It enables employees to improve their performance, which benefits both the individual and the organization.

Getting Things Done (GTD) is a productivity management system that aims to organize the chaos around us.

Governance is the set of processes used by leaders to manage a group of people.

Holacracy is a collaborative governance model that positions itself as an alternative to the traditional hierarchical pyramid model.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are measurable values set to evaluate the success of a project or objective.

Kanban is a visual work organization method that divides the workflow into three main categories - to do, in progress, done - to continuously improve processes.

LeSS is a project management framework for software development. It complements the Scrum methodology by facilitating the coordination of multiple Scrum teams working on a single product.

The role of circle lead is to enable his circle to accelerate towards its purpose.

Lean Management is a methodology designed to optimize production by minimizing waste.

Lean startup is a market research method that focuses on testing, measuring and iterating based on the feedback received.

Management is about coordinating people, tasks and information to achieve specific objectives important to the organization.

Management 3.0 emphasizes collaboration between employees, managers and executives through dialogue and sharing.

A system is considered viable when it survives autonomously in a changing environment thanks to its ability to adapt.

The New Work redistributes people's time into three thirds: traditional work, intelligent or autarkic production, and personal fulfillment.

The OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) methodology aligns individual, team and organizational objectives.

Opal organizations are based on three pillars: trust in others, authenticity, and scalability.

A flat organization has few or no levels of middle management.

Responsive organizations adapt quickly to unexpected obstacles and opportunities.

An organization that encourages wholeness allows individuals to be their complete selves.

A consent-based decision-making process validates a decision as long as no one has any objections.

The Quaker method of governance is based on a common purpose, consensus and the absence of hierarchy.

A purpose is an inspiring motivation that explains why and how we act.

Accountability is the ability to take responsibility for a specific task.

The role of a circle representative is to bring the voice of his or her circle to the parent circle.

Empowering someone means giving that person the authority to make a decision and take action.

Resilient organizations are proactive in preventing risks arising from internal and external change.

Employee retention is an organization's ability to hold on to its talent and keep it from leaving.

A tactical meeting is used to discuss decisions impacting the organization's roles or policies.

A tactical meeting follows a specific structure to move operational projects forward.

SAFe is a project management methodology for software development that accelerates decision-making while reducing risk.

The Scrum method is an empirical, dynamic and participative approach to project management.

A scrum master helps a Scrum team apply the Scrum methodology and defined processes.

In a holacratic or sociocratic organization, each circle elects a secretary to take notes and publish minutes.

Self-organized teams get the job done without authoritarian supervision.

Sociocracy is an alternative collaborative governance model to the traditional hierarchy.

Spiral Dynamics is a psychological model that explains individual behavior within organizations.

An autopoietic system is created by itself: it is in perpetual renewal, and this regeneration is autonomous.

A psychologically safe environment allows people to be themselves without fear.

Taylorism methodically reorganizes work by breaking down and optimizing tasks.

Systems theory studies how each part of a system contributes to form a complex whole.

Transformation is the process of changing organizational culture to achieve a specific goal.

VUCA describes the uncertain and unpredictable business world in which companies operate today.

Successful companies practice five disciplines: personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, team learning and systems thinking.