Lexicon

Agile transformation means shifting from slow, rigid ways of working to more flexible, adaptive ones. Instead of long projects that deliver results years later, teams work in shorter cycles and adjust quickly when things change.

Scrum is a simple framework for getting complex work done. Teams break big goals into short bursts of work called sprints, meet regularly to stay aligned and aim to deliver something useful at the end of each sprint.

Geopolitical risk management is about preparing for how world events - like wars, elections or trade disputes – can affect your business. It helps leaders avoid nasty surprises and keep things steady when politics spills into economics.

Sustainable Pace is the idea that teams do better work when they’re not constantly burning out. It’s about finding a workload that people can handle week after week, so performance doesn’t collapse under stress.

Scenario planning involves imagining different possible futures – like economic downturns, new regulations or tech breakthroughs – and working out how your business would respond. It’s like fire drills for strategy

In Agile, an increment is a small, finished piece of work that adds value. In software it might be a new feature; in business it could be a process improvement. Each increment builds on the last, so progress is steady and visible.

The ‘Definition of Done’ is a shared checklist spelling out all of the work that must be done for something to be considered truly complete. It avoids confusion by creating a standardised set of expectations and forms the basis for estimation.

Strategic alignment means everyone is pulling in the same direction. Projects, teams and resources all connect back to the bigger goals, so energy isn’t wasted on things that don’t matter.

Corporate strategy is the overall plan for how a company grows and competes. It covers big choices, like which markets to enter, what products to focus on and how to invest resources.

A volatile economy strategy helps companies prepare for destabilising macroeconomic events like recessions, inflation or sudden policy changes. The goal is to stay resilient, make smart moves and spot opportunities in the chaos.

Revenue growth strategies are the different ways a business can bring in more money, e.g. selling to new markets, adjusting prices, launching new products or partnering with others. The best strategies build on the company’s strengths.

Business Intelligence is the practice of turning raw data into useful insights and predictions. Think of it as dashboards, reports and analyses that help leaders make better decisions, instead of relying on guesswork or gut feel.

Institutional capability is an organisation’s ‘superpower’ – the unique combination of skills, systems and culture that set it apart. Identifying your superpower helps you to focus on your company’s strengths, and present a clear point of difference in a crowded market.

Supply chain optimisation is about making sure goods and materials move smoothly from supplier to customer. Done well, it lowers costs, avoids delays and makes the business more resilient to shocks.

Adaptive planning means making a plan but being ready to change it when new information comes in. It’s flexible enough to adjust as needed, without losing sight of long-term goals.

An MVP is the simplest version of a product that can be released to answer a question (i.e. will people buy it). It’s built quickly to test ideas and gather feedback before investing heavily in the full version.

Governance is the system of rules and responsibilities that keep an organisation in check. It provides clarity on who decides what, ensures that things are done properly and helps to avoid chaos.

Emergent properties are results that appear when parts of a system interact – outcomes which you couldn’t predict from looking at the parts alone. This could be teamwork creating innovation (upside), or silo’d teams causing delays (downside).

Digital transformation is using modern technology to change how a business works. It’s not just moving old processes online – it’s rethinking customer service, operations and products for the digital age.

A Chief Geopolitical Officer is a new leadership role focused on tracking global political risks. They advise on how events like trade wars, sanctions or regional conflicts might affect strategy.

’Higher for longer’ means central banks are likely to keep borrowing costs high for an extended time. For businesses, it makes loans more expensive and pushes leaders to be cautious about investment.

Acceptance criteria are the conditions that must be met before work is signed off as complete. They keep teams and stakeholders on the same page about what “good” looks like.

Lean Six Sigma is a method for making processes more efficient and consistent. It focuses on cutting waste, removing errors and delivering better outcomes with less effort.

Lean Portfolio Management is taking a flexible approach to the allocation of resources like time, money and people. Instead of sticking to rigid yearly budgets, organisations shift in real time, to prioritise the work that matters most.

Business agility is a company’s ability to adapt quickly when conditions change. It’s about spotting shifts early and adjusting without losing focus or momentum.

Synchronous work happens when people collaborate at the same time, like in meetings or calls. Asynchronous work happens at different times, like leaving comments in a shared document. Good teams mix both for flexibility and speed.

Productivity acceleration is finding ways to get more done in less time, without burning people out. It might come from better tools, smarter processes or sharper focus.

Design Thinking is a way of solving problems that starts with people, instead of processes. Instead of jumping straight to solutions, you begin by understanding what users really need, then generate ideas, build quick prototypes and test them.

An operating model is the blueprint for how a company runs, showing how strategy is turned into day-to-day action. It covers key elements like structures, processes and technology.

A data strategy is the plan for how a business collects, manages and uses data. It ensures information is reliable, secure and available for making smarter decisions.