What Does Agile 'Feel' Like?

Len Lagestee is an agile coach and consultant based in Chicago. He runs illustratedagile.com.

  Agile   Decision Making   Leadership   Strategy   ProjectsAtWork  

At some point during an Agile transformation effort, individuals and teams start feeling better, worse or indifferent about the changes taking place. Beyond the mechanics and mantras, what should organizational agility "feel" like? Here are seven “DNA markers” to gauge if you're on the right track.

After many conversations and observations over the past couple of years, it would seem a substantial number of organizations aren’t experiencing a meaningful improvement after a move to Agile. Sure, stories are being written, work is being done within sprints, and planning sessions are being facilitated. Perhaps a scaled framework has been introduced, full of promise and opportunity. The teams seem be doing everything right … but something still feels amiss. Beyond the mechanics, the hype and the marketing of Agile, the dysfunctions of the past still linger below the surface.

When I encounter organizations frustrated with the lack of real transformational change I often respond by asking a simple question. “Well, what does it feel like?” Typical responses are “It doesn’t feel any different from before”, or all too frequently, “It feels worse than before; we’re thinking of going back.”

What should an Agile organization “feel” like? Here is a list of just a few of the things I look for in an …

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.