Agile has been a dominant force for nearly two decades. However, recent trends and observations have led many to question: Is Agile dead, or at least on its last legs? Let's delve deeper into the debate by examining perspectives from industry leaders, real-world challenges, and attempts to revitalize Agile.
Is Agile Dead - Examining the Decline in Market Demand and Popularity
This blog post explores the current state of Agile, drawing some parallels with the rise and fall of Six Sigma, and examining the symptoms that suggest a potential decline in Agile's effectiveness and popularity.
1. Symptoms of Agile's Potential Decline: Is Agile Dead?
Proliferation of Agile Certifications
Numerous Agile certifications have flooded the market
Quality and value of these 2-day certifications is widely debated
Focus has shifted from practical experiential skills to theory, jargon, multiple certification bodies etc
Reference – Circus of Agile Certifications
Overly Complex Processes
SAFe – The elephant in the agile room.
Teams spend more time on policed Agile rituals than delivery of value
The simplicity, adaptability and flexibility that made Agile attractive are often lost
Diminishing Value from Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches
Role of Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches has become ambiguous in many organizations
Some companies question the ROI of these roles
Lack of measurable impact on project outcomes.
Declining Participation in Agile Conferences
Agile conferences are seeing reduced attendance, leading to speculation about whether Agile is dead?
2. The AI and Agile Fusion Attempt
Efforts to combine Agile and AI though courses, frameworks and new theories all trying to piggyback on the AI and GenAI wave.
SAFe and AI Courses The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and other organizations are offering courses that combine Agile principles with AI, attempting to modernize Agile practices.
AI & Agility Courses by Scrum Alliance and many other certification bodies
AI and Agile: Pioneering the Future of Hyperproductive Teams by Jeff Sutherland
Reference: Linkedin Post
3. Comic Agile: This strip shows 100+ ways how agile is being used incorrectly
The emergence of "Comic Agile" has unintentionally fueled criticism by highlighting the various ways Agile principles are being misused or misunderstood.
Websites and social media accounts dedicated to Agile memes highlight common pitfalls and misinterpretations
These comics often depict scenarios where Agile practices are followed blindly without understanding their purpose
Comic Agile has exposed deep-rooted issues in Agile implementations, particularly in large-scale frameworks like SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)
The popularity of these comics suggests widespread recognition of Agile's shortcomings
While intended as humor, Comic Agile has become a mirror reflecting the industry's frustrations and the potential decline of Agile's effectiveness
3. Thought Leaders' Defense of Agile
The very creators of the Agile Manifesto have been vocal about the state of Agile:
Jim Highsmith's Perspective Jim Highsmith, one of the original signatories of the Agile Manifesto, has expressed concerns about Agile losing its essence. In a LinkedIn post, he shared:
"Agile has lost its soul... We need to reimagine Agile for the future."
Highsmith elaborates on this in his article "Reimagining Agile: How it Lost its Soul and Seeking to Get it Back", where he discusses the need to return to Agile's core principles.
Jeff Sutherland on Agile Evolution Jeff Sutherland, co-creator of Scrum, emphasizes the need for Agile to evolve. In a recent LinkedIn post, he discusses how Agile must adapt to new technologies and methodologies.
Mike Cohn's Insights Mike Cohn, a prominent figure in the Agile community, shares thoughts on the ongoing relevance of Agile in modern development environments and on the debate of is it really dead?.
4. Challenges in Roles and Practices
Let us look at few of the many examples:
The Scrum Master Conundrum
Some major companies, including Capital One and Royal London, have eliminated the role of Scrum Master.
After many years, there's still a lack of clarity on how to assess a Scrum Master's and Agile coaches performance in real-world scenarios
The Story Points Debate
Finance and delivery teams continue to struggle with quantifying story points.
The creator of story points Ron Jeffries, who is also one of the signatories to the Agile Manifesto has expressed regret over their misuse, suggesting a need to reevaluate their application.
Widespread Misunderstanding
Based on over 100 interviews conducted, hardly 10% of professionals truly understand how Agile works in practice. There are many out there with the 2 day certifications.
5. Contrasting Views: Dead or Evolving
The Agile community is divided on the state of Agile:
The "Agile is Dead" Camp Some argue that Agile has strayed too far from its original principles. An article on Medium titled "Agile is Dead" presents this perspective.
The "Agile is Evolving" Proponents Others, like Scrum.org, maintain that Agile is not dead but evolving, adapting to new challenges and technologies.
The question "Is Agile dead?" might be better reframed as "How can we adapt Agile principles to meet the evolving needs of modern software development?" As the industry continues to change, so too must our approaches to project management and software development.
Looking Beyond Agile: Preparing for a Post-Agile World
The Rise and Fall of Methodologies: Lessons from Six Sigma
Six Sigma, once hailed as the pinnacle of quality management, saw its peak in the early 2000s
Overemphasis on certification and rigid processes led to a decline in its practical value
Companies began to see diminishing returns on their Six Sigma investments
For those concerned about Agile's potential decline and wondering "Is Agile dead?", these opportunities can be explored. These jobs are expected to stay for some more years to come:
Program Manager: Oversees multiple projects within a program, aligning them with strategic goals and ensuring coordination across teams for successful delivery.
Coach: Guides individuals and teams in developing skills, fostering growth, and improving performance, often focusing on Agile practices and mindset.
Product Manager: Manages the product lifecycle, from conception to delivery, ensuring the product meets market needs and aligns with the company's vision.
Conclusion: A Call for Reflection
The debate over whether Agile is dead reveals deep-seated issues within the Agile community. While some argue for a return to core principles, others push for evolution and integration with new technologies. In conclusion, while it's premature to definitively declare Agile dead, the methodology is certainly at a crossroads. The widespread recognition of Agile's misuse suggest that the industry is ready for change. By staying informed and adaptable, professionals can navigate these changes and continue to drive value in their organizations, with or without traditional Agile practices. The question "Is Agile dead?" may be less important than "How can we evolve our practices to meet the challenges of modern software development?"
References
Agile Alliance. The Circus of Agile Certifications. Retrieved from Agile Alliance.
Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). SAFe 5.0 and AI Integration. Retrieved from Scaled Agile.
Highsmith, J. (2021). Reimagining Agile: How it Lost its Soul and Seeking to Get it Back. Retrieved from Jim Highsmith's LinkedIn.
Sutherland, J. (2020). AI and Agile: Pioneering the Future of Hyperproductive Teams. Retrieved from Jeff Sutherland's LinkedIn.
Cohn, M. (2018). Is Agile Dead? Examining the Evolution. Retrieved from Mike Cohn's Blog.
Medium. (2015). Agile is Dead: Exploring the Debate. Retrieved from Medium.
Scrum Alliance. AI & Agility: A Comprehensive Introduction. Retrieved from Scrum Alliance.
Jeffries, R. (2018). The Story Points Debate: A Re-evaluation. Retrieved from Ron Jeffries' Blog.
Comic Agile. (n.d.). Comic Agile Cartoons. Retrieved from Comic Agile
LinkedIn Posts. Various dates. Insights from Jim Highsmith, Jeff Sutherland, and Mike Cohn. Retrieved from their respective LinkedIn profiles.
