Agile and asset management: Efficiency in decision-making for operational life-cycle projects in transmission system operators

Integrating Asset Management (AM) and ‘Agile’ methodologies holds significant potential for enhancing the management and decision-making processes within Transmission System Operators (TSO). TSOs face considerable challenges, including ageing infrastructure, resource constraints, and escalating maintenance and lifecycle enhancement costs. As the transition to renewable energy sources intensifies, the need for transparent and data-driven decision-making becomes increasingly critical. This paper explores implementing a combined AM and Agile process to address these challenges, focusing specifically on operational life-cycle projects (OLP). An applied design science research (DSR) methodology examines the current state of OLP management within a TSO, leading to a new, scalable, agile, and transparent decision-making process. The findings suggest that integrating Agile principles with AM practices can significantly improve flexibility, adaptability, and overall efficiency in project management. Enhanced data utilisation and transparency are critical factors in supporting strategic decision-making and aligning with organisational objectives. The study concludes that adopting a combined AM and Agile process can effectively address the operational and sustainability challenges TSOs face, ultimately contributing to transparency, efficiency, and accountability of activities related to power grid management.