“It’s weeding time, right? Sometimes you have to weed out stuff that doesn’t work. Dead wood is not good on a tree.” - Stephan Neck
Is Agile really “dead,” or just misunderstood and badly applied? In this lively podcast episode, Mark, Stephan, and Niko challenge the buzz about Agile’s demise and share why core principles of flexibility, fast feedback, and collaboration remain essential—even if the word “Agile” has lost some of its shine.
The Agile Hype and the Reality Check
Over the past year, you may have heard conflicting headlines—“Agile is Dead!” versus “Agile is Thriving!” The truth seems to lie somewhere in between. The hosts argue that many organizations adopted Agile by the book—Scrum ceremonies, product owners, and endless backlogs—without truly embracing the mindset that underpins it. This results in rituals with little substance and disappointment when promised benefits don’t materialize.
Misunderstood Child Star
An entertaining analogy emerges: Agile as a once-celebrated child actor. Just like Macaulay Culkin or Lindsay Lohan, Agile gained rapid fame but got derailed by an industry eager to exploit it. The hosts note how corporate certification factories and “by-the-numbers” rollouts diluted Agile’s original spark and led to frustration, leaving many asking: “Is it even worth it anymore?”
What Really Killed “Agile”?
Rather than pointing fingers at one person or movement, the conversation highlights multiple factors:
- Oversimplification: Believing that simply running sprints or adding stand-ups ensures success.
- Lack of Technical Depth: Neglecting engineering practices like continuous integration or test automation erodes the agility needed to release quickly.
- Religious Framework Wars: Distracting debates over Scrum vs. Kanban vs. SAFe overshadow the goal: deliver customer value and adapt rapidly.
- Weak Commitment: Leadership often wants the label but not the deeper change in culture and mindset.
So…Is It Dead?
Not really. The panel agrees the core idea of responding to change and delivering outcomes rapidly is more vital than ever. They note that what people call “Agile” may be morphing—focusing on product thinking, DevOps, or simply excellent collaboration. You might not see as many “Agile Coach” job titles, but businesses still crave those skills: facilitation, iterative development, and an experimental mindset.
Actionable Takeaways
- Emphasize Mindset Over Method: The best frameworks fail if you don’t deeply understand customer value and empower teams to learn fast.
- Invest in Technical Agility: Automated testing, continuous delivery, and modern engineering practices are the foundation of true adaptability.
- Collaboration Is King: Whether you call it Agile or not, bringing the right people together to solve problems and share knowledge remains critical.
Conclusion
If you’re intrigued by whether “Agile” should be retired or revived, give this episode a listen. Join the discussion: share your experiences, comment on social, and consider how the spirit of agility can be rekindled in your organization.
