In today’s digital-first world, large enterprises face a dual challenge: they must leverage their scale and resources while also moving with the speed and adaptability of a startup. The key to thriving in this environment is adopting an engineering mindset—one that prioritizes experimentation, rapid iteration, and cross-functional collaboration. At Publicis Sapient, we’ve spent over 30 years helping some of the world’s largest organizations transform their cultures and operations to become both big and agile. Here’s how your organization can do the same.
Established businesses enjoy significant advantages: deep resources, brand recognition, and millions of customer relationships. Yet, these same organizations often struggle with bureaucratic processes, risk-averse cultures, and siloed teams that slow innovation. Meanwhile, digital-native competitors are setting new standards for customer experience and speed to market. To remain relevant, large enterprises must fundamentally rethink how they organize, operate, and deliver value.
An engineering mindset is more than just technical proficiency—it’s a cultural shift. It means:
Rather than organizing around traditional functions, leading enterprises are forming smaller, autonomous teams aligned to specific products or service lines. For example, a major European banking group worked with Publicis Sapient to restructure its digital division into clusters of around 200 people, each supported by agile coaches, engineers, designers, and business analysts. This “team of teams” approach enabled faster decision-making and more direct alignment with customer needs.
Cultural transformation is at the heart of engineering agility. Organizations must move away from a fear of failure and instead celebrate experimentation. At Publicis Sapient, we encourage “playful competition” within teams, where the focus is on collective achievement and continuous improvement. Feedback loops are built into every process, ensuring that teams learn and adapt quickly.
Adopting lean methods and agile principles is essential. For one of the UK’s largest banks, we introduced value stream analysis to map workflows, identify waste, and highlight opportunities for improvement. This approach led to:
Modern engineering transformation is powered by data. Enterprises must make data accessible and actionable across the organization, enabling teams to personalize experiences, identify new opportunities, and measure impact in real time. Implementing platforms that democratize data—like the Enerlytics platform for a global energy client—can unify operations and drive continuous improvement.
Transformation must be championed from the top, but it’s the “stuck middle” of the organization—those managing supply chains, procurement, or finance—where change often stalls. Effective change management involves clear communication, celebrating wins, and sharing lessons from failures. Leadership should set the vision, but also empower teams at every level to drive the transformation forward.
Success in engineering transformation is measured not just by speed, but by value delivered to customers and the business. Key metrics include:
A leading global consumer products firm partnered with Publicis Sapient to launch a digital-first working model, creating over 40 agile squads across the business. The results were dramatic: a 300% increase in website launch capability, 200% faster time-to-market for innovations, and a 50% boost in development efficiency. Most importantly, the transformation unlocked new leadership and collaboration across the organization, proving that even the largest enterprises can become both big and agile.
Digital business transformation is a holistic journey—one that requires changing how your organization thinks, organizes, operates, and behaves. By adopting an engineering mindset, breaking down silos, and fostering a culture of experimentation, large enterprises can unlock the speed and agility needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. At Publicis Sapient, we’re ready to partner with you on this journey, helping you build the capabilities to adapt, create value, and stay ever-relevant.
What’s next for your business? Let’s achieve it together.
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