Today, a car is rarely just a car. It’s a computer; an entertainment system; an elaborate smartphone attachment; a home away from home; an extension of your stylistic and technological identity. As such, customers expect a great deal more from their vehicles than being mere boxes with wheels that get them from A to B.
As ever more features are laden onto the automotive experience, one trend seems here to stay: electric vehicles (EVs). According to a March 2021 Electric Vehicle Market Report, the global electric vehicle market is expected to grow nearly 30% from 2021 to 2026.
For automotive brands and project leads, creating an innovative new product for the organisation’s line of electric vehicles (EVs) can be a daunting task. This is especially the case if the brand is relatively new to the EV space – and either building models from scratch or “electrifying” existing models.
New challenges often benefit from a more modern approach to problem solving and project management. As the dust has settled from the last few decades of rampant technological disruption, one approach in particular stands out: the Agile methodology.
But is Agile suitable for EV projects? And how should one approach building a high-performing Agile team?
In this article, we’ll explore whether the Agile methodology is suitable for automotive production and how you can build an agile EV team that delivers quality products.
What is the Agile methodology?
In a nutshell, the Agile methodology is a project management system for software development that involves breaking down large projects into small “sprints”, which are worked on by cross-functional teams. Continuous learning and iteration are fundamental to any Agile project. As such, new requirements and solutions uncovered as the teams are working are then addressed in future sprints. This allows for far more adaptive and flexible project management – ideal when things are moving quickly with many variables and high levels of uncertainty.
So we know it works for software, but how applicable is Agile to the automotive industry?
Adopting the fast-paced, iterative philosophy of the Agile methodology empowers automotive companies with the ability to shorten production cycles and ensure innovations are still up-to-date when the new model reaches the market.
When consumer demands are constantly shifting and production lines need to keep up, an Agile approach is essential for resilience and survival.
What are the key roles and responsibilities in an agile team?
To build an agile EV team, it helps to know which positions are essential and how they work together to move the project forward. While there may be additional roles for a specific project or within the context of your organisation, every agile team will have three key roles. These are Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Team Member.
If the project were a ship, the Product Owner would be the captain. This person has a deep understanding of the end goal and is responsible for communicating that vision to the rest of the team to ensure all activity is aligned and on track. The Product Owner is additionally responsible for ensuring the product design and features are aligned to the needs of the customer. If the EV goes to market as planned and no one ends up buying it, the Product Owner would have a lot of explaining to do. They should be heavily involved in market research and obsessed with creating a product with genuine, tangible, desirable value.
The Scrum Master is responsible for keeping the project running smoothly according to agile processes. This includes setting up relevant meetings, such as daily stand-ups, sprint reviews and retrospectives, as well as ensuring that all team members have what they need to do their job. The Scrum Master additionally facilitates effective information flow – from ensuring the Product Owner is clear in their communication, to giving team members the opportunity to report back on their activity and flag potential issues.
Team Members are all the specialists actually doing the work: designers, engineers, manufacturers, assemblers, technical writers – the list goes on. These specialists tend to focus on their specific area of expertise, as it relates to realising the Product Owner’s vision.
In the context of co-creation, team members would encompass the specialists and experts brought in from partner organisations. For instance, tesa engineers may be the team member responsible for creating and implementing an adhesive solution for the vehicle’s powertrain.
Agile co-creation for better EV innovation
As we’ve discussed in a previous post, co-creation is invaluable for genuine innovation in an industry as fast-paced as EV automotive. This makes it perfectly aligned with the Agile methodology – leveraging customer collaboration and faster feedback loops to create better products that meet current consumer needs.
If you’d like to learn more about co-creation and its benefits for players in the automotive industry, you’re in luck. We’ve recently created a detailed guide outlining everything you need to know about leveraging co-creation to deliver better products that deliver genuine value to your customers.
Click the button below to download our guide for free.
