• Agile & Scrum Basics

Here’s why Agile working doesn’t always work!

The Netherlands also has its own success stories of Agile working. Coolblue, WeTransfer, Booking.com, ING, Achmea … everyone is working Agile. It seems as if you are left behind as a company if you don’t work Agile. But rest assured. And comfort yourself with the thought that working Agile is not for everyone.

In many organizations, an Agile way of working is not an unknown phenomenon. Agile teams, Agile manager, Agile organizations … Whether first steps have been taken or an entire transformation has been implemented: many organizations are working on it every day.

Teams are formed, they master the Agile way of working and deliver just a little more each sprint than the last. Estimation improves and more and more tools are used to work effectively. But what if real innovation fails to materialize?

The Dark Side of the Agile way of working

• Gap between parties
• Closed communication
• Lack of ownership
• Old behavior
• Organization-wide responsibility
• Lean and lead

Gap between parties

Management appoints an Agile project manager or Scrum Master from Scrum Academy. This creates an awkward gap between terms such as he, we and they.

Closed communication

Of course, “burning each other down” is not an option. A successful Agile team involves open communication to take each other to unprecedented heights. Why Agile working does work. Agile is agile and so there must be room for improvement and it is a continuous process of pushing each other toward the best solution(s) for the customer.

Lack of ownership

Often organizations struggle with a lack of ownership, also called ownership, within an Agile team. Feeling truly responsible and daring to express that is important. And a lack of ownership results in a lack of initiative.

Old behavior

A common problem is habituation in an Agile team. Words don’t change behavior immediately, of course. The old behavior can be deeply ingrained in an organization. Thereby, in the “old” world, there was always a manager, who could solve problems and whom people could lean on.

Organization-wide responsibility

Is ownership solely a team responsibility? No. It involves all levels of the organization. From management to people on the shop floor. The Agile way of working must be broadly supported to motivate uniformity and enthusiasm.

Lean and lead

Make sure you don’t sit back too much. An Agile transformation benefits from coaching and facilitative leadership. An Agile manager who sets frameworks and keeps the famous dot on the horizon in mind. It may also be that the Agile manager intervenes when the situation calls for it.