Agile Has Stopped Being Agile: What Happened, and How Can We Get Back on Track?

A phrase I hear more often is, “Agile has stopped being agile.” (or worse still “Agile is dead”). What started as a flexible, innovative approach to delivering value has, for some, become just another bureaucratic system. Organizations that set out to be more adaptive and people-focused end up feeling stuck in rigid frameworks and ceremonies. … Read more

Ingenious Agility: Why Every Organization Needs More Than Adaptability (Or Agile)

In an era of rapid change and complex challenges, the need for agility extends far beyond the boundaries of businesses. Public sector organizations grapple with shifting societal demands, evolving regulations, and constrained budgets. Third-sector organizations navigate growing expectations for impact and transparency amidst unpredictable funding landscapes. While businesses aim to stay competitive, public and third-sector … Read more

Egg and Eggbox Analogy in Agile: Balancing Value and Frameworks

A few days ago, during a fascinating discussion at a Business Black Belt workshop I was facilitating, we explored an intriguing analogy: eggs and eggboxes in the context of Agile. This discussion delved into the delicate balance between the value (the eggs) and the systems or frameworks (the eggboxes) that ensure their safe delivery. Understanding … Read more

Project Mode vs Product Mode

Last week I mentioned that we are seeing a subtle shift from project mode to product mode. It’s been driven by a combination of market dynamics, customer expectations, and organizational imperatives that demand greater adaptability, value orientation, and a user-centric focus. It stimulated some fairly intense debate on one of my Twitter accounts. So, I … Read more

Why Shift from Project Mode to Product Mode?

We are seeing a subtle shift from project mode to product mode. It’s been driven by a combination of market dynamics, customer expectations, and organizational imperatives that demand greater adaptability, value orientation, and a user-centric focus. Here are the key drivers: 1. Increasing Customer Expectations 2. Rapid Market Changes 3. Emphasis on Value Over Outputs … Read more

“Agile” Isn’t the Point Anymore…

After spending the past 5 years in enterprise-sized organizations (both public and private sector), I’ve noticed something unusual: fewer people are talking about “agile” Where they aren’t. There is a distinct lack of obsessiveness over frameworks, certifications, maturity models, etc. In fact, it’s not that people are opposed to agile—it’s more like they’re… indifferent. And … Read more