Is Agile Dead? Revisiting the Values and Principles of Agile

By: Brian Tallon

The headline read, “Agile is Dead.” The author argues that the agile movement has failed to live up to its promises. They assert that various methodologies have become rigid and prescriptive. Agile coaches, once technical experts, are now caricatured as micromanagers incessantly asking, “Is it ready yet?” But can you truly kill an idea?

Certainly, there are implementations of agile methodologies that deviate from its core intent—what some call "anti-agile patterns." But does that mean Agile itself is “dead”? Let’s explore.

My Journey into Agile

About 20 years ago, I was managing a small to mid-sized development team. While productive, we struggled with the pitfalls of traditional waterfall development: endless rework, poor quality, and the dreaded 90% done, 90% left to do phenomenon. Then, I discovered an article about the Agile Manifesto and a new way of working called Scrum.

At the time, Scrum was virtually unknown. The Agile movement was still in its infancy, but its promises were exactly what my team needed. I attended one of the first Certified Scrum Master classes in the Northwest—back when “Scrum Master” sounded more like a quirky title than a role.

I became hooked. I returned to my team determined to implement Scrum. Convincing my boss of the necessity for such a radical shift wasn’t easy, but I believed it would transform our work. And it did. This was before tools like Jira dominated the scene; every change we made was guided directly by the Agile Manifesto and its 12 Principles.

Over the next decade, I applied Agile principles not just to software development but to various operational teams across industries. With minor adaptations, the Agile mindset proved transformative, fostering collaboration, efficiency, and adaptability.

Has Agile Lost Its Way?

Over time, agile methodologies have evolved, introducing formalized roles, refined processes, and frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, and SAFe. While these systems aim to stay true to Agile’s foundational values, their implementations sometimes stray. The result? Agile practices that feel bureaucratic, rigid, and disconnected from their core intent.

Here’s where I disagree with the headline: Agile is not dead. It can’t be. Its values and principles remain timeless.

Can anyone argue that individuals and interactions are less important than processes and tools?

Would anyone prefer exhaustive documentation over working software?

Should we abandon customer collaboration for rigid contract negotiation?

Can following a static plan ever outweigh responding to change?

Agile is not about Scrum Masters, Sprints, Kanban boards, or Retrospectives. Those are just tools and practices. Agile is its four core values and twelve guiding principles.

Revisiting the Agile Manifesto

Agile Values:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
2. Working software over comprehensive documentation
3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
4. Responding to change over following a plan

Agile Principles:

1. Satisfy customers through early, continuous delivery of valuable software.
2. Embrace changing requirements, even late in development.
3. Deliver working software frequently, with a preference for shorter timescales.
4. Foster daily collaboration between businesspeople and developers.
5. Build projects around motivated individuals and trust them to deliver.
6. Use face-to-face communication as the most effective method of conveying information.
7. Measure progress through working software.
8. Promote sustainable development with a constant pace.
9. Prioritize technical excellence and good design.
10. Maximize simplicity—do more with less.
11. Let self-organizing teams drive the best architectures and designs.
12. Reflect regularly to improve team effectiveness.

Is Agile Dead?

When we remember Agile’s core, it’s clear that it’s not dead. The challenge lies in how it’s implemented. Some organizations misinterpret or misuse Agile, leading to “checklist Agile” which feels hollow and mechanical.

Does Agile need improvement? Perhaps. But its foundational values and principles remain just as relevant today as they were 20 years ago.

Instead of asking if Agile is dead, let’s ask better questions:

• Are we staying true to Agile’s core values and principles?
• Are we prioritizing individuals, collaboration, and adaptability?
• How can we ensure that Agile evolves while preserving its essence?

Agile is not about dogma or rigid frameworks. It’s a mindset—a commitment to continuous improvement, collaboration, and delivering value. And that mindset is far from dead.

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