Page 383 - IMDR JOURNAL 2023-24

IMDR’s Journal of Management Development & Research 2023-24
workforce. It aims to pinpoint indicators of workforce agility. The study reveals that agile

workforces exhibit five critical capabilities: intelligence, competencies, collaboration, culture, and

information systems (IS). From an information technology (IT) perspective, crucial factors
determining workforce agility include adaptable infrastructure platforms enabling rapid integration

of new IS and the improvement of IT skills among all staff members. Furthermore, the study

emphasizes the importance of information and communications technology applications,
particularly in promoting collaborative work, as a significant catalyst for workforce agility. Our

primary theoretical contributions involve identifying and analyzing i) the attributes and traits that
delineate workforce agility and ii) the policies, initiatives, and approaches necessary for its

cultivation. Through our research, we have delineated that an agile workforce encompasses four
interconnected and interdependent dimensions: proactivity, flexibility and adaptability, resilience,

and competence. These characteristics can be fostered through various strategies pertaining to

education and training, organizational work arrangements, human resource management practices,
and the culture and structure of the organization.

The expansion and widespread acceptance of Agile principles and techniques extend beyond the

realm of IT, originating from its roots in manufacturing. Agile's adaptable, value-centric,
collaborative, and empowering characteristics encourage innovation through iterative and

incremental approaches rooted in organizational and experiential learning. Despite the emergence of

methodologies like XP, Scrum, DSDM, and SAFe®, each highlighting different facets of Agile in
engineering, product development, project management, and enterprise architecture, challenges

persist. These challenges prompt organizations to thoroughly evaluate existing frameworks,
hierarchies, cultural standards, and processes to effectively align with the fundamental essence and

objectives of the enterprise within the context of Agile principles.

INFOSYS, an IT services and consulting company, is a leader in management innovation in India,

says its unique agile practices are major reasons for its success.

Infosys, headquartered in Bangalore, India, is one of the largest IT services companies globally,
providing consulting, technology, outsourcing, and digital solutions to clients across various

industries. The company recognized the importance of agility in responding to rapidly changing

customer needs, market dynamics, and technological advancements. Consequently, Infosys
embarked on a journey to transform its workforce management practices to embrace agility.

Infosys has established itself as a leading force in the Indian Information and Technology Industry,

transitioning from a conventional "Body-Shopping" model to a comprehensive End-To-End
solution provider. This evolution has been propelled by a robust process-centric approach and a

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