Agile in a Nutshell

I will attempt to give you a nutshell, but whats inside may be the root of the issues (if indeed there are issues). First, let’s define what Agile is in software development context which will help those who don’t know, to know and those who think they know to be re-educated.

What Agile is:

Agile is a mindset, described by 4 values, defines by 12 principles, manifested through an unlimited number of practices.

What Agile isn’t:

Something that is bought, new, a process, an excuse for poor quality, undisciplined, unproven, a quick fix, a silver bullet.

So, you are either Agile or your not, you have an Agile mindset or you don’t, you accept, understand, and value the agile values, you understand, apply, and live by agile principles, and you are using a common agile framework or some other practice.

Why do Developers Dislike Agile?

The Agile Manifesto was created by developers for developers. It’s like saying you dislike something you made and was made for you to help you professionally make your work life easier.

Personally, I think the problems tend to stem from communication and having a shared understanding. In my post about Optimists, Realists, and Pessimists, I talk about the different types of people and how they interact with each other. Constant communication aids in coming to a shared understanding.

The main point is that if everyone is one the same page and has the same understand then you are able to address any real problems that may stem from bloated process, the work itself, co-workers or managers but not necessarily from Agile. I think Agile gets a lot of heat, much like any constitution or manifesto that provides a set of values and principles to live and work by (there will be naysayers).

What developers need to understand is that if someone has a different understanding of agile then they do, these are opportunities to bring them to a shared understanding so they can address the real issues that plague development teams, like culture or motivation.

Communication at the Center

As shown in the graphic above, communication is at the center of an agile practice, any agile practice. Most of the problems are typically grouped under the umbrella of agile being the main culprit, while agile is only providing the values and principles and leaves it to the teams to develop their own practices.

I truly hope the stigma of agile being the problem ceases, as this is something that does not deserve unprecedented criticism, especially from developers who agile was created for.

Please leave your valuable feedback below : )