Businesses in Singapore are adopting an agile approach in order to transform and adapt to the unpredictable business climate due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to research from the National Trades Union Congress LearningHub.

The majority, or 83%, of Singapore employers agree that the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of agile working and also believe that agile skills are key in preparing workers for the digital age. However, more than half of employers (57%) face the challenge of adopting the agile methodology due to the lack of teams' understanding of methodology requirements.

Another challenge that was cited is 'a lot of time and commitment is needed to collaborate among the team' (55%). The new mode of working also poses an issue in the adoption of agile, with 48% of employers indicating that 'work-from-home arrangements make team communication more challenging'.

Meanwhile, 71% of employers currently using the agile methodology chose to do so due to the ability to adapt and respond to rapid changes. Most, or 75%, of these employers also believe that the agile methodology has helped employees in their efficacy and productivity at work.

NTUC LearningHub’s Head of Infocomm Technology, Isa Nasser, said, "In 2021, where only uncertainty is certain, we must brace for a 'never normal'. The key to survival is strategic planning and an agile approach to how we operate and adapt to new challenges. An agile-ready workforce is more likely to triumph over any adversity as it can swiftly adapt and adjust to operate successfully compared to non-Agile teams. Employers and employees must work together to make the organisational shift to agile through upskilling."