Let's UnPlug Agile!!

Some reputed and credible publications claim nearly or over 84% failure rates in Agile Transformations. As per what I have experienced in many gatherings and forums, I feel that no stone is left unturned to portray Agile and Agility as "complex" thing and being.

Lately, I have developed a conundrum of sorts:

"Is Agility so complex that it's becoming difficult or almost impossible to achieve?"

Here are some examples or instances I wish to share:

1. Implementing "modern" Agile frameworks or practices is considered as 'Becoming Agile'. Frameworks and practices are being "sold" as the gateway towards Agility and a magic-wand for solving all our current business problems and challenges.
2. Digital Transformation is a current age movement in the technology and business world. We will come across many articles, presentations and keynote talks where Digital Transformation is quoted synonymously as Agile transformation. Many Agile conferences have a dedicated track on Digital Transformation.
3. "How long it takes to transform my organisation to Agile?" ask many of my clients and workshop participants. Even more interesting is, when they reveal about an "Agile Consultant" recently hired for their Enterprise Agile Transformation for a fixed-duration "Agile Transformation Project". As the participants say, the Agile consultant has all the templates and best practices from the industry, and has guaranteed 100% success in Agile Transformation in fixed duration of time.

Here are my views on the above points, and I will keep it simple:

• We become Agile by living a set of values and principles in everything we do and we are, and when we have a Growth Mindset; Not by blindly following certain frameworks and practices which have become or are becoming the industry standards for Agility.

"Merely adopting an Agile framework will not fix your organisational dysfunction, nor make you Agile."

• Although both Digital Transformation and Agile Transformation are about delivering value to customers, these are two different concepts. Digital Transformation is more about leveraging technology to deliver value to customers and carry out day-to-day operations in an organisation; Agile Transformation is more about people and culture, and much more than value delivery only. In certain cases, Agility can catalyse or expedite your Digital Transformation journey.

"Digital Transformation is about technology; Agile Transformation is more about people and culture."

• Agile Transformation is a journey, not a goal. It is not about reaching a certain maturity level in implementing Agile frameworks, practices or processes. Rather, It is about building certain set of capabilities across all layers or competency areas with focus on the mindset. These capabilities will keep on evolving over time as the technology and business landscape changes.

"There are no best practices in Agile that can work exactly the same way for all teams or organisations."

• Agile Transformations need passionate Coaches who understand, believe in and live the core values; have the right mindset, and have expertise in organisational change; Not the consultants who are only experts of a particular framework or practice.

" Focus on people, inculcate the right mindset, reward good behaviour over performance, and let the culture evolve."

Few months back, I was in a deep conversation with my peers from the Agile community. We were discussing around the current trends in the world of Agile, and the above mentioned points were a key part of our discussions. Some of us got a little emotional about the sad state, which we called as "Business of Agility". [Pun intended]

We asked ourselves, "Why not do something about this and contribute more towards spreading the right message about Agility?" We felt the need to reiterate on the basic building blocks of Agility, and to focus on the Agile values, principles and mindset in the purest sense. We felt the need to unplug Agile from the unnecessary amplifications and complications. That's precisely when the theme for the Pune Agile UnConference 2019 (PAUC19) was conceived: "Agile...UnPlugged (Keeping it Simple)" [Watch this short video "Ever Wondered..?" on the PACU19 Theme.

No doubt, the "Agile World" will keep on evolving and emerging, with the advent of new frameworks, practices and at times, mere jargons. But we cannot really become Agile unless we start believing in and living the core values and principles, and develop the right mindset. In my opinion,

"The real essence of Agility lies in its simplicity and human-centricity."

Let's UnPlug Agile!!

**************************************************************************************

About the author: 

• Vineet Patni is the Founder-Director and Principal Agile Coach at ScaleUp Consultants (a company specialising in Organisational Change and Lean-Agile Enterprise Transformation). (https://www.scaleupconsultants.com/)
• He is the Conference Chair for the Pune Agile UnConference. (https://www.PuneAgileUnConference.com/)
• An avid learner and a passionate facilitator, Vineet has been assisting enterprises and individuals in becoming truly Agile. Check out his upcoming workshops.
• Please feel free to connect with him at [email protected] . 

**************************************************************************************

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are the author's own. The author welcomes and respects any difference of opinion.