Between Chaos and Conformity Lies Success: Navigating the Pitfalls of Conformity in Agile

In my previous post, I discussed the chaos side of Agile environments, where teams believe they are unique and avoid established patterns, leading to inefficiency. Today, let’s explore the other extreme: conformity.

Conformity in Agile can be just as detrimental as chaos. This is where teams follow Scrum by the book, SAFe by the website, or any other framework by the letter, without questioning or adapting them. It stifles creativity and prevents teams from finding better ways to deliver value. This rigid adherence can lead to a false sense of security, where teams believe they are doing everything right simply because they follow the rules.

"Scrum and SAFe are frameworks—collections of patterns and practices. They provide a solid foundation, but they are not one-size-fits-all solutions."

Each team and project is unique, and flexibility is crucial for success. Conforming strictly to a framework will limit your ability to address specific business challenges effectively.

If you find yourself saying things like, "because the Scrum Guide says," or you have roles in your company solely because the SAFe framework recommends them, you might be stuck in the conformity space. To move towards success:

• Start with the problems. Look at what’s available in the market, outside of the frameworks, to help you out.
• Engage with different patterns and practices as starting points for understanding, not strict rules.
• Understand the principles and values behind these frameworks and apply parts of them in a way that best serves your team’s goals and your business’s needs.
• Encourage continuous learning, experimentation, and iteration of your processes.

"Success lies in finding the right balance between structure and flexibility."

Remember, you don’t need the entire collection of practices from Scrum, SAFe, or any other Framework. You can build your own approach from individual patterns and practices.

The goal is not to follow a guide to the letter but to deliver value effectively and efficiently. By doing so, you create a system that fosters a productive Agile environment, moving away from conformity and towards success.

Leadership plays a crucial role in this transition. It’s important to:

• Support teams in adopting and adapting established practices.
• Provide the necessary environment for experimentation and innovation.

This balance will enable teams to thrive and deliver better outcomes faster.

Stay tuned as we continue to explore finding the middle ground between chaos and conformity, enabling teams to deliver the most value.