The Agile Manifesto, published almost a quarter of a century ago, aimed to revolutionize software development with its principles of flexibility and collaboration. However, over the years, its lofty ideals have often clashed with management’s desire for process and accountability. John Kern, one of the authors of the Agile Manifesto, describes this as the “Agile industrial complex.”
Kern has been vocal about the proliferation of processes and frameworks that have emerged since the Manifesto. “It’s as if the manifesto never existed and we’re back to heavy processes,” he tells The Register. The recent report on the number of failures in Agile, which he criticizes for its methodology and conclusions, has prompted Kern to speak out publicly. “I think this study is garbage. It doesn’t even remotely reflect what I would consider Agile,” he asserts.
Kern points out that some of the study’s findings, such as unclear project requirements until the software development process begins, are outdated. “The suggestion that the Manifesto says ‘give up on clear demands – why do you need them’ is simply stupid,” he says.
Returning to Agile’s Roots
Kern explains why some people gravitate towards processes that seem contrary to what the Manifesto advocates. “Why do we go back to these giant diagrams or giant processes? Because it reassures those middle managers who don’t really know what’s going on,” he explains. He compares the situation to a comedy sketch where a patient in an operating room gets lost among all the shiny machinery.
Having distanced himself from the Agile scene for about ten years, Kern has returned with a renewed focus. “Starting in 2023, Kern and others are, in his words, ‘redefining Agile.’ The goal is to find examples where Agile is thriving and shine a light on them so people can see what a good approach looks like.”
Kern and his colleagues are specifically interviewing teams to understand what makes Agile work. “It’s not about using Kanban or Scrum; there are misconceptions about the difference between doing some Agile frameworks and being Agile,” he clarifies.
A Beacon of Hope
Despite the challenges, Kern is optimistic. He believes that the original spirit of the Agile Manifesto can still be a beacon of hope. “There is a whole generation of engineers raised on Agile who don’t remember some of the heavyweight processes popular in the previous generation,” he says. “I feel like I have an obligation to at least try to help this generation.”
Kern focuses on providing clear examples and practical advice. “We need to help people understand what’s behind Agile thinking and that it’s not the stupid bullshit you see everywhere,” he emphasizes. “The more people understand what it takes to be Agile, the more likely we are to help people cope with ever-increasing complexity.”
Looking to the future, Kern describes the Manifesto as timeless. “It captures the essence of this social thing we call software development, and it is not difficult to extend it to any kind of product development,” he notes. However, he acknowledges that Agile is more of a mindset than a process. “It’s more pragmatic than dogmatic, and we treat it more like a dogmatic process. So I think it’s that dichotomy that makes things suck.”
In conclusion, Kern remains committed to helping the next generation embrace true Agile principles. We at NIXSOLUTIONS will keep you updated on our efforts to redefine Agile and showcase successful examples.