Success in Agile goes beyond simply tracking velocity. It is measured by the value delivered to customers, the team’s ability to adapt to change, and the sustainability of their processes. Metrics such as customer satisfaction, business outcomes, quality of deliverables, predictability, and team engagement provide a more holistic view of progress. Agile success is ultimately reflected in whether the team delivers working solutions that meet real needs, fosters continuous improvement, and creates an environment where both the product and the people involved can thrive. Saving Changes...
Akin Fadare, this will go back to the objectives that we want to achieve (regardless of which methodology or approach) and what "success" means to the project team - which metrics/indicators are we going to use to determine "success" or "failure"?
...
1 reply by Akin Fadare
Aug 23, 2025 5:46 PM
Akin Fadare
...
Aung Sint Thank you for your thoughtful submission. The team defines success. Akin
Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Akin Fadare An interesting perspective is that Agile success should not be reduced to velocity. Velocity is only an internal measure of delivery pace, not of value.
True success can be seen in three areas: delivering meaningful outcomes for stakeholders, ensuring team health and sustainability, and strengthening adaptability and trust.
When these dimensions are present, Agile is no longer just about doing things faster — it becomes a way of creating value that lasts.
...
1 reply by Akin Fadare
Aug 25, 2025 11:33 AM
Akin Fadare
...
Luis Branco Thank you! Agile is about value delivery and customer satisfaction. Thanks Amigos!
As Aung has indicated, adaptive or predictive are merely approaches to deliver outcomes. The definition of success varies based on a project's context and its stakeholders, not the delivery approach.
However, if you are looking at metrics to assess the delivery process, then I'd skip velocity as its basis is fictitious and the prerequisites needed for reliable usage are rarely met.
I'd suggest a combination of metrics focused on throughput (e.g. work items delivered within a time period), quality (e.g. defect counts at various stages of the delivery process), customer/stakeholder value & stakeholder satisfaction (both external & team members).
Kiron
...
1 reply by Akin Fadare
Aug 23, 2025 5:49 PM
Akin Fadare
...
Thank you, Kiron Bondale Very thoughtful submission.
Akin
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Success is subjective; it depends on the views of stakeholders, which will change over time and can be opposite to those of other stakeholders (example of a cost-down project which pleases the CFO but has disbenefits for laid-off employees).
So, when does an agile team think it is successful, and at what point? If they agree that it is velocity they will measure themselves against, then velocity is their success measure during the project. But is velocity even meaningful at the project end or some time after the project ends? Most projects are seen as more successful years after they ended (some call this hindsight bias).
...
1 reply by Akin Fadare
Aug 25, 2025 11:56 AM
Akin Fadare
...
Thomas Walenta Thanks for the comment. Yes, it is the responsibility of the agile team to establish what success looks like for the team, and at what point. But a project can never be successful if the end users/customers/shareholders are not happy with it. Value creation, which is often not visible until several years after the project's conclusion, as you have stated. Thank you for the thoughtful submission.
Akin Fadare, this will go back to the objectives that we want to achieve (regardless of which methodology or approach) and what "success" means to the project team - which metrics/indicators are we going to use to determine "success" or "failure"?
Aung Sint Thank you for your thoughtful submission. The team defines success. Akin Saving Changes...
As Aung has indicated, adaptive or predictive are merely approaches to deliver outcomes. The definition of success varies based on a project's context and its stakeholders, not the delivery approach.
However, if you are looking at metrics to assess the delivery process, then I'd skip velocity as its basis is fictitious and the prerequisites needed for reliable usage are rarely met.
I'd suggest a combination of metrics focused on throughput (e.g. work items delivered within a time period), quality (e.g. defect counts at various stages of the delivery process), customer/stakeholder value & stakeholder satisfaction (both external & team members).
Kiron
Thank you, Kiron Bondale Very thoughtful submission.
I agree velocity shows movement, but not always progress. For me, success in Agile comes down to 3 things: are we delivering value, maintaining quality, and keeping the team healthy? If those are in place, the rest usually follows.
...
1 reply by Akin Fadare
Aug 25, 2025 11:29 AM
Akin Fadare
...
Sandeep Kashyap Thanks for that thoughtful comment "speed doesn't mean progress" It's all about meeting customer's satisfaction.
I agree velocity shows movement, but not always progress. For me, success in Agile comes down to 3 things: are we delivering value, maintaining quality, and keeping the team healthy? If those are in place, the rest usually follows.
Sandeep Kashyap Thanks for that thoughtful comment "speed doesn't mean progress" It's all about meeting customer's satisfaction.
Akin Fadare An interesting perspective is that Agile success should not be reduced to velocity. Velocity is only an internal measure of delivery pace, not of value.
True success can be seen in three areas: delivering meaningful outcomes for stakeholders, ensuring team health and sustainability, and strengthening adaptability and trust.
When these dimensions are present, Agile is no longer just about doing things faster — it becomes a way of creating value that lasts.
Luis Branco Thank you! Agile is about value delivery and customer satisfaction. Thanks Amigos!
Community Champion
