Written by Shawn Belling, InterPro & Farwell Project Advisors
In the evolving landscape of project management, a recurring theme seems to have emerged across LinkedIn and other social media platforms: the proclamation that “Agile is dead.” As an author, practitioner, and academic who uses and teaches agile methodologies, I consider these headlines to be primarily clickbait. These claims often seem to originate from frustrated scrum and agile practitioners who lament the dilution of their once-exclusive domain. But is Agile truly on its last legs, or are these claims missing the mark? The reality, however, is far from these dramatic declarations of death.
What is Agile?
Agile product development is an iterative and flexible approach to creating products, where cross-functional teams often work in short cycles, known as sprints, to continuously deliver small, functional increments of a product. This method emphasizes collaboration, customer feedback, and the ability to adapt to changes quickly, ensuring that the product evolves based on real-world needs and user input. Agile promotes transparency, regular communication, and a focus on delivering value to the customer throughout the development process.
The “Agile is Dead” Narrative: Clickbait or Reality?
A common theme of these “Agile is dead” articles often involves the perceived misuse or misinterpretation of agile and scrum methodologies. The authors need to recognize that project management is dynamic; it continually evolves. The most successful and pragmatic practitioners do not focus on rigid adherence to a methodology or framework, but on delivering value to their customers. Any organization worth its salt prioritizes value realization and efficiency in project execution and delivery, regardless of the approach used to do so. A CIO I once reported to told all of us in the project management office (PMO) something along the lines of, “none of our customers know what methodology or approaches you use on any given project, and nobody cares – and that’s how it should be. They know that you are delivering value for them, and that’s what they care about.”
Balancing Agile and Traditional Methodologies
As a strong advocate of agile practices with decades of experience in agile and traditional waterfall methodologies, I can appreciate the strengths of each. Savvy and pragmatic practitioners understand that the principles of plan-driven and agile approaches can coexist and be applied as needed to meet specific challenges. This flexibility is the hallmark of effective project management.
The Competition of Expertise in Agile
I had an enlightening conversation at a Scrum event last year. A fellow attendee introduced me to the phrase, “the competition of expertise.” We discussed how various agile practitioners often champion their methods as the only correct approach, leading to unnecessary debates over the “right” way to be agile. This competition of expertise and the noise it creates detracts from the primary goal: delivering value and solving real problems for customers and organizations.
Agile Satire: A Reminder of Core Principles
Recently, my LinkedIn feed popped up a post by an agile trainer satirically declaring, “Agile is dead” – and we should all use his approach instead. Of course, his approach was intentionally a repackaging of core Agile tenets and practices. His satire underscored the absurdity of such claims by reinforcing the fundamental tenets of agile – especially making the point that true agile practices are timeless and invaluable. This post highlighted an important truth: agile methodologies are not about strict adherence to a single way of working, but about flexibility, continuous improvement, and rapid value delivery.
The Timeless Roots of Agile Practices
The values and practices of agile trace their roots back to time-tested business, product development, and manufacturing practices such as plan, do, check, act (PDCA), understanding customer points, rapid prototyping, and small, cross-functional teams focused on a single project. These principles transcend any framework or methodology, proving that agile is not dead but thriving under various guises.
Finding the Right Agile Approach
For those new to agile or looking to deepen their understanding, it’s crucial to avoid methodology zealots who insist their way is the only path to success. Instead, seek out pragmatic trainers and practitioners who recognize that true agility involves flexibility and adaptability in planning and execution. Here are some practical tips:
- Combine high-level strategic planning with agile execution at the tactical level.
- Focus on delivering value rather than rigidly adhering to a single methodology.
- Be open to blending traditional and agile approaches to meet specific project needs.
Learn More About Agile
If you want to learn more about agile practices for technical teams, the UW–Madison College of Engineering offers a pragmatic two-day seminar titled “Agile for Technical Teams.” In this seminar, I emphasize the core tenets of agile practices without the zealotry. This course provides practical, immediately useful information that can enhance and evolve how your technical teams deliver products and projects.
Conclusion: Agile’s Resilience in Modern Project Management
In conclusion, agile is alive and continually adapting to meet the needs of modern project management. It thrives under various aliases and disguises, resisting those who seek to discredit it or push a one-size-fits-all methodology. Agile’s enduring principles ensure it remains a vital approach in delivering value and efficiency in project and product delivery. As you navigate your own projects, consider how Agile principles might be adapted and applied to deliver even greater value.