What is Agile-Lean?
Being Agile means delivering business value frequently and consistently while adapting to changing business needs. While many businesses aspire to achieving innovative consistent delivery of business value developing a way of being Agile that works for your business requires a strong commitment to and focus on achieving excellence.
What are the Benefits of an Agile-Lean Approach?
The benefits of an Agile-Lean approach go beyond achieving a business more responsive to customer and market demands to companies having a more engaged workforce and empowered teams.
Where Does my Company Start?
Enterprise Ireland have a range of supports that can assist client organisations seeking to become Agile, implement Agile-Lean methodologies or start by understanding ways in which they can apply Agile principles to their business.
What Supports Are Available from Enterprise Ireland?
While how far your company goes in implementing an Agile-Lean approach may be an unknown Enterprise Ireland has a range of supports to help get you started to tailored support packages for companies with a long-term goal of being Agile.
LeanStart
Lean Start Projects highlight the opportunities for companies to apply Agile and Lean principles in their business.
The goals of an Lean Start project may include;
- The introduction of Agile-Lean principles to a company,
- The completion of a specific project to demonstrate the business value of the Agile-Lean approach, and/or,
- The development of an Agile-Lean roadmap/action plan with a company (this should include an assessment or benchmark of the current situation).
Maximum funding is €5,000, Based on 7 days consultancy where the eligible costs are capped at €900 per day. Note that actual costs to the company are based on market rates and may be higher.
LeanPlus
Agile-Lean Plus Projects are medium-scale business improvement project facilitated/supported by an external business expert (e.g. Agile coach).
The aim of the project shall be develop Agile-Lean practices that will consistently deliver business value by establishing and embedding Agile-Lean practices across teams and/or across the wider workforce.
In order to support the change process within the company, the grant can also be used to cover part of the salary cost for up to 3 Agile-Lean project ‘champions’ over the project duration. The goal of the project champions is to develop Agile-Lean business practices within the company by learning themselves and subsequently training others in Agile-Lean principles and application.
Applications may vary in size and scope but will typically be completed within six months.
Maximum funding is €50,000 for any one project based on an equal or greater company spend on eligible costs.
Companies are eligible to apply for support for an additional Lean Plus Project subsequently where a clear business value of this approach has been demonstrated.
LeanTransform
Lean Transform is a large scale, extensive and holistic change programme which focusses on developing the capability and capacity of employees through training.
The goal is to deliver a company-wide transformation in culture and embed Agile-Lean practices by building a training programme around Agile-Lean, Kanban or related business process improvement approaches along with leadership or management development to support the transformation.
- The project outcomes should clearly demonstrate the delivery of signifcant business value
- A new organisational structre
- A new business model
- A mature Agile-Lean Culture
Projects may vary in size and scope but will typically be 12-24 months in duration.
An Enterprise Ireland Team relevant to the company’s Transform ambition are available to assist with scoping and advise on application stages. Applications for Transform support must include a business plan, relevant project plans and associated costs.
How do I apply?
All applications for funding should be discussed with your Enterprise Ireland Adviser prior to submission. Company specific support with application is available for Lean Transform For LeanStart and LeanPlus you can apply via the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System.
Prior to applying you must contact your assigned Enterprise Ireland Adviser to discuss your application.
If the company has already initiated the project before submitting an application to Enterprise Ireland, the application and associated expenditure will not be accepted.