You keep using that word

In January 2001 a gathering of like-minded individuals produced the Agile Manifesto, an astonishing document that is still just as relevant nearly 14 years later. Then the commercialisation, commoditisation and certification began, and the enterprise world began adopting a set of methods that are anything but “agile”.

As Inigo Montoya continually chides his companion Vizzini in The Princess Bride: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

In this talk, Dan North attempts to unpack the popularity of these anything-but-agile methods from both inside and outside the enterprise tent – Dan as an independent consultant proposes an alternative that might just work in the enterprise. A combination of lean thinking, hypothesis-based change and giving people control of their own workplace could be the solution. It’s harder to sell certificates though.

Transcript

1. You keep using that word Dan North @tastapod
2. @tastapod
3. @tastapod Agile Manifesto, 2001 We have come to value… Individuals and interactions over processes and tools Working software over comprehensive documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Adapting to change over following a plan
4. @tastapod Agile Methods, 2015 We have come to demonstrate… Individuals and interactions over processes and tools Working software over comprehensive documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Adapting to change over following a plan
5. @tastapod Agile Methods, 2015 We have come to demonstrate… Processes and tools over individuals and interactions Working software over comprehensive documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Adapting to change over following a plan
6. @tastapod Agile Methods, 2015 We have come to demonstrate… Processes and tools over individuals and interactions Comprehensive documentation over working software Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Adapting to change over following a plan
7. @tastapod Agile Methods, 2015 We have come to demonstrate… Processes and tools over individuals and interactions Comprehensive documentation over working software Contract negotiation over customer collaboration Adapting to change over following a plan
8. @tastapod Agile Methods, 2015 We have come to demonstrate… Processes and tools over individuals and interactions Comprehensive documentation over working software Contract negotiation over customer collaboration Following a plan over adapting to change
9. @tastapod What is our goal?
10. @tastapod What is our goal? Rapid delivery
11. @tastapod What is our goal? Rapid delivery 
 …at scale
12. @tastapod What is our goal? Rapid delivery 
 …at scale 
 …sustainably
13. @tastapod What is our goal? Rapid delivery 
 …at scale 
 …sustainably
14. @tastapod “I tried Agile/BDD/Scrum and it didn’t work…”
15. @tastapod “I tried Agile/BDD/Scrum and it didn’t work…” …in my context
16. @tastapod “I tried Agile/BDD/Scrum and it didn’t work…” ( ) Practises Principles Context = …in my context
17. @tastapod “I tried Agile/BDD/Scrum and it didn’t work…” ( ) Practises Principles Context = …in my context What context do current agile methods assume?
18. @tastapod ( ) An asymmetric function Practises Principles Context =
19. @tastapod ( ) An asymmetric function Principles Context = ???
20. @tastapod ( ) An asymmetric function Practises Principles = ???
21. @tastapod ( ) An asymmetric function Practises ??? Context =
22. @tastapod What is your context?
23. @tastapod What is your context? Technology
24. @tastapod What is your context? Technology Architecture
25. @tastapod What is your context? Technology Architecture Business
26. @tastapod What is your context? Technology Architecture Business Capabilities
27. @tastapod What is your context? Technology Architecture Business Capabilities Culture
28. @tastapod Principles enable Consistency
29. @tastapod Principles enable Consistency Contextual Consistency: “Given the same context, and the same constraints, we are likely to make similar decisions”
30. @tastapod Consistency enables Sustainability
31. @tastapod Consistency enables Sustainability Use opportunity to deliver strategy
32. @tastapod Consistency enables Sustainability Use opportunity to deliver strategy Kaizen is first class work
33. @tastapod Consistency enables Sustainability Use opportunity to deliver strategy Kaizen is first class work Discovery is first class work
34. @tastapod Consistency enables Sustainability Use opportunity to deliver strategy Kaizen is first class work Discovery is first class work Features are not the only fruit
35. @tastapod To deliver sustainably…
36. @tastapod Uphold your principles To deliver sustainably…
37. @tastapod Uphold your principles 
 Observe your context To deliver sustainably…
38. @tastapod Uphold your principles 
 Observe your context 
 Adapt your practises To deliver sustainably…
39. @tastapod Uphold your principles 
 Observe your context 
 Adapt your practises To deliver sustainably…
40. @tastapod Your own agile process? Inconceivable! Thanks
 
 Dan North @tastapod