AGILE APPROACH

AGILE APPROACH

Topic: Economy

In news: The central theme of this year’s Economic Survey is the “Agile approach”, implemented through India’s economic response to the COVID-19 Pandemic shock.

About:

• The preface of Economic Survey states that the “Agile approach” is based on feed-back loops, real-time monitoring of actual outcomes, flexible responses, safety-net buffers and so on.
• The Economic Survey 2021-22 argues that the “Agile framework: is particularly relevant today because of the explosion of real-time data that allows for constant monitoring.
• Such information includes GST collections, digital payments, satellite photographs, electricity production, cargo movements, internal/external trade, infrastructure roll-out, delivery of various schemes, mobility indicators etc.

What is an Agile Framework?

• It is a framework for project and policy implementation that is considered highly efficient for getting work done.
• It was developed in 2001 and is based on 12 principles, which include customer satisfaction, collaboration, adapting to change, feed- back loops and breaking project silos.

What was the framework that India followed earlier?

• India and most countries across the world typically follow the Waterfall Approach. This involves analysis of the issue, detailed planning and meticulous implementation.
• India’s earlier five-year plans were based on this.
• Waterfall Framework is linear and is developed systematically from phase to phase.
• this approach works best for projects with concrete timelines, well-defined de- liverables and little uncertainties.

Why is the Agile Framework preferred today?

• Real time availability of data allows constant monitoring of a policy at a time when there are lot of uncertainties helps governments to adopt the Agile Framework.
• The Short term policy responses can be tailored to an evolving situation rather than what a model may have predicted.

Is the Agile Framework economical to implement?

• According to some studies, projects implemented through Agile Framework are four times cheaper than a similar project implemented through Waterfall Strategy.