Observations From The Agile Frontier

As we wrap up 2024, I thought I’d drop by and share what I see in the agile/agility world and my thoughts about the future.

Is Agile Dead? No, but mechanical Agile Theater is undoubtedly out of favor. While organizations still need to be more agile, more leaders understand that agility requires focusing on intent and principles. Organizations are significantly reducing investments in training and certification and turning their attention to making it work (what I call - Fixing/Repairing your Agility)

Product Operating Models are all the rage, but under the covers, the answer to HOW to become product-oriented goes through the same agility principles. (And there’s significant concern that the Product Operating Model will become the new theater)

While this is happening in the Enterprise Technology space, Agile continues to make headway beyond software and product development. Some of you are at the forefront of leveraging agile ideas in a variety of product, commercial and organizational initiatives in BioTech, Consumer Goods, Pharma, Deep Tech and beyond.

We’re also seeing a convergence of agile/agility and strategy. It is becoming clear that business operating systems need to adopt agility principles. Operational leaders are working on deploying frameworks such as OKRs and EOS to improve strategic alignment AND enable effective execution. 

I’ve also been reflecting on where I fit into all of this. I help leaders who want agility but are skeptical of by-the-book frameworks streamline processes, improve flow, and accelerate innovation outcomes at scale.

Unlike many others in this space, I focus on pragmatic, intent-based, context-adaptive, evolutionary application (instead of prescriptive by the book dogmatic installation of frameworks)

More concretely, this means helping leaders fix agility and bring it to new frontiers. It means continuing to work with technology/engineering/transformation leaders, doing more work with product leaders, and helping early adopter operational / company leaders who are pioneering strategic / change agility. 

And, of course, continuing to reflect and share my point of view and applicable insights with you, my readers. I hope these themes are on your mind as well. Every reply/comment I receive from you helps further my thinking (and makes my day!) 

Speaking of that - I’m working to get my point of view on agility in front of more leaders. With the above framing in mind - Can you think of 1-2 people who will enjoy these emails? Would you mind forwarding the ones you like to them?