Unlocking Agile's Missed Potential

Agile has not delivered on its promises, due to feature-based waterfall release planning perpetuated in a vain attempt to achieve business predictability. This book introduces a novel solution that enables product teams to deliver higher value within shorter cycle times while meeting the predictability needs of the business. It uses Cost of Delay principles to prioritize work with the highest value and shortest cycle times, and provides a vehicle for collaboration and innovation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2022
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Agile has fallen short of its promises, with businesses still experiencing lengthy delays despite expecting faster time to market. Engineers were promised the opportunity to build products right the first time, but they are rushed to deliver new features within impossible schedules. The root cause of the problem lies in the perpetuation of feature-based waterfall release planning, an attempt to achieve business predictability. Agile failed to address the business's need for multi-year financial predictability. The Agile community's response, "The business needs to be more Agile," was simplistic and misguided. Waterfall release planning with fixed schedules contradicts the fundamental principle of Agile development—the ability to adapt content within a timebox to accommodate evolving requirements and feedback. Agile without flexibility is not truly Agile.

This book presents a groundbreaking solution that empowers product teams to deliver greater value in shorter cycle times while meeting the business's predictability needs. Organizations today seek product teams that transcend traditional boundaries between product management and engineering to achieve schedule and financial objectives. Until now, there has been no effective way to implement product teams within the rigid confines of traditional organizational structures.

The Investment planning approach outlined in this book facilitates small development increments planned and executed by product teams aligned with common schedule and financial goals. It employs Cost of Delay principles to prioritize work with the highest value and shortest cycle times. Investments serve as a platform for collaboration and innovation, fulfilling the promise of highly motivated self-directed teams.

By embracing this novel approach, organizations can unlock the full potential of Agile and achieve a competitive edge in the fast-paced digital landscape.

Weight: 524g
Dimension: 243 x 176 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781119849087