Why is the agile message not getting out?
There was a post on the scrumdevelopment mailing list asking why the agile message was not being picked up as clearly as we wish. Why do people not "get it"?
The problem as I see it is to do with the fundamental differences in the principles underlying both waterfall and agile development. It's the difference between management and leadership - both of which are terms bandied about interchangeably by people who don't often understand the difference.
Management is directing & controlling a process (ie having control)
Leadership is influencing & trusting people (ie releasing control)
There's an Agile Manifesto describing the principles behind agile projects. I think a "Waterfall Manifesto" would be something like
Waterfall = Management
Agile = Leadership
Leadership is a helluva lot harder than management, especially for techies-turned-bosses. Let's face it soft skills are hard to teach and people are such unpredictable things! ;-)
The problem as I see it is to do with the fundamental differences in the principles underlying both waterfall and agile development. It's the difference between management and leadership - both of which are terms bandied about interchangeably by people who don't often understand the difference.
Management is directing & controlling a process (ie having control)
Leadership is influencing & trusting people (ie releasing control)
There's an Agile Manifesto describing the principles behind agile projects. I think a "Waterfall Manifesto" would be something like
- Process & tools over individuals & interactions
- Following a plan over responding to change
- Contract negotiation & self-protection over collaboration & trust
- Comprehensive documentation over useful software
Waterfall = Management
Agile = Leadership
Leadership is a helluva lot harder than management, especially for techies-turned-bosses. Let's face it soft skills are hard to teach and people are such unpredictable things! ;-)