The Agile Manifesto, 18 Years Later

2001. The year when Agile Manifesto was born. And the question is: Does it still make sense, 18 years later?

My last post was about the Manifesto, now it’s time to harvest the fruit. Agile methodologies were quickly speeding up through IT areas (via Scrum, XP and many others).

As time went by, Agile was elbowing its expansion... as a methodology! It stepped forward based upon “Process & Tools”. Not because of the Manifesto’s values. (Knowing how successful this path has been is a completely different story). In fact, people and / or companies tend to pose two questions before Agile: Where did it work? Which steps do we need to follow?

I apologize for my distrust, but, the first value at the Agile Manifesto mentions “Individuals and interactions over processes and tools” so, what does this mean? Please, think about this during a few minutes.

On my point of view (very humble, indeed) I like to say that we would rather change the method than the mindset. We find it easier. And, in spite of this, we are not still aware that we need to change the mindset.

So, let us go back then. The Agile Manifesto is born in 2001 and caused a strong impact over methodology but ...when (and HOW) does it turn into a trending topic?

In 2016 Embracing Agile reaches the cover of Harvard Business Review Magazine, and its leading article announces that we are aware that strategies would have to be adapted over and over, that failures happen and that...we have to know what Agile is about!

The first Business Agility Congress takes place in USA in 2017, and another one is held in Chile, in 2018, under the same name. Agile is buzzing, drifting away from the IT world. Or, at least, it is part of the agenda.

Harvard Business Review becomes very excited with it during 2018. Both “HR goes Agile” and “Agile at scale” clarify all doubts. Agile is one of the main topics of the year. (The discussions on this publication will be a subject to a separate post).

What about the present? Where are we now, in 2019?

Agile is still a trending topic. Some people might think Agile is a fashion item, and some others consider it like a demand of the current age. Whatever the case, I think this anniversary gives us an opportunity to stop and reflect.

Which is the current status? The majority of the companies who look for us (”us” = the Agiles) is looking for magic, copy-paste recipes, instant results. A chain of contradictions. And this is normal! Extremely normal! Because they do not know that Agile is a mindset. Even less, that coherence is key to work with this mindset.

Our responsibility as Agiles, in this scenario, is HUGE. We must not be part of this siren songs, beads and mirrors games. Taking part of cosmetic actions is a waste of time. It is indeed counter-productive. Our key terms must be impact and transformation, escaping to every make-up operation aiming only to keep the status quo. We must be honest, with ourselves and with the others.

On the other hand, we must be conscious. Conscious of our limitations, and above all, of our own mindset. Even though we feel saved, we are not. To build ourselves out of a new mindset is a great challenge for us.

And, last but not least, we must be brave. We are in the midst of an adventure that requires us to jump into the void. Over and over. Maybe, that’s why agility requests us to work in communities (with other colleagues), and this is our network.

What about people and organizations that want to be Agile? Where are they now? They are lost. And this is natural. Because this is not an easy road. Agile means to innovate culturally, and this is an artisan road where we are required to start from scratch, right from the culture and idiosyncrasy of each team.

Please, do not believe in people who behave like magicians. There are no magic solutions. Magicians are misleading. No matter the certifications they bear. You may be awarded many prizes and ribbons, but an Agile DNA cannot be bought.

Find some statements here:

• If we think that we need a toolkit revolution we are making a big calculation mistake.
• If Agile implementation contradicts the Manifesto, it will be just another fad. A new way to keep the illusion of a certain and manageable world.
• The Agile revolution we need is the revolution of values. If we wish to survive to this evolving world (instead of suffering it) we must change our mindset

So, here is an invitation: Let us all embrace the responsibility of slow changes, the importance of respecting the existing cultures and the power of the inner transformation. The Agile Manifesto will only make sense if we behave accordingly.