Understanding Agile in Project Management: Insights from the APM-Commissioned Study
Agile methods have transformed how projects are managed across industries — from technology and construction to healthcare and education. Yet, despite its popularity, the meaning and application of “agile” remain diverse and often misunderstood.
To address this, the Association for Project Management (APM) commissioned a study titled Understanding Agile in Project Management. The aim was simple yet ambitious — to examine how agile is used in real project environments, identify common challenges, and highlight where agile adds the most value.
The Study: Researching Agile in Practice
The research adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Stage 1: The team began with a systematic literature review, exploring existing knowledge and academic perspectives on agile project management.
- Stage 2: They conducted interviews with over 30 project professionals — all experts in agile — to gather first-hand insights from the field.
- Stage 3: Building on these findings, they launched a survey that attracted more than 600 responses, offering a comprehensive picture of agile practices across multiple sectors.
This approach allowed the researchers to map not only how agile is being applied but also how it is evolving in response to new business realities such as digital transformation and changing leadership cultures.
The Survey: Key Observations
The survey revealed that agile usage is steadily increasing, particularly as organisations embrace digitalisation and flexible leadership models. Agile principles encourage better communication, stronger collaboration, and faster decision-making — enabling project teams to have their voices heard and their expertise used effectively during planning and prioritisation.
The outcome? Improved project delivery and greater value realisation — often much sooner than through traditional project methods.
However, the research also uncovered a surprising fact: for many organisations, agile is still relatively new.
Only a small percentage of respondents reported having more than five years of agile project experience. In such cases, both organisational competence and cultural readiness were found to be still developing.
Key Findings: The Impact of Agile
Despite its varied levels of maturity, the benefits of agile were clear and consistent across the study:
- Improved project quality and adaptability
- Better management of priorities and shorter delivery times
- Higher customer satisfaction and reduced project risk
- Greater visibility and transparency across teams
- Enhanced team morale and productivity
The study highlighted how agile equips organisations to respond rapidly to change — a strength that proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic. As lockdowns and remote work disrupted traditional workflows, project managers turned to agile methods to adapt quickly, maintain continuity, and minimise disruption.
Agile in a Changing World
Agile is no longer just a methodology; it’s a mindset. The study reinforces that agile enables rapid learning, responsiveness, and resilience — all vital in today’s volatile project environments.
By enhancing communication and empowering teams, agile creates organisations that can adapt rather than react. It transforms uncertainty into opportunity.
Acknowledgements
Dr Nicholas Dacre expressed his gratitude to the many professionals and organisations that contributed to the project, including BBC, Arcadis, Turner & Townsend, DMOD, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), for their valuable guidance and support throughout the study.
Conclusion
The Understanding Agile in Project Management study marks an important step toward clarifying how agile is shaping the future of project delivery. It demonstrates that while many organisations are still on their agile journey, the benefits are tangible and transformative.
Agile enhances not only how projects are delivered but how teams think, communicate, and create value.
As Dr Dacre summarises:
“Agile provides the capability for rapid deployment, steering, and adjustment — qualities that define effective project management in the modern world.”
