What is the best way to begin with Agile?

[Amit Dabli]

Implementing Agile is what organizations are striving for today. But how to get started with Agile? What is the right approach for organizations to implement Agile with success?

[Scott Theus]

Hi @Amit Dabli ,

Let me say right off the bat that this is a hard question; even companies that already are Agile struggle with finding the right approach to it. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. I can, however, offer some guidelines to get you started down the road. 

First, an Agile transformation has to be a top down effort for it to succeed. If the C-level of the organization does not embrace the mindset the individual departments may have some success implementing Agile into their processes, but the organization will never fully transform.

Second, Agile is a mindset, not just a methodology or a process. When you are going through an Agile transformation you also need to change your mindset. Rather than focusing on profit, ROI, shareholder returns, etc. as most companies do, and Agile organization focuses on its people first, then it's product, then profit. By focusing on people first, the rest will follow naturally. The Agile mindset is built on:

• Respect
• Collaboration
• Continual Improvement
• Continual Learning
• Pride in Ownership
• Focus on Delivering Value
• Ability to Adapt to Change

Finally, ask yourself why...why does your organization want to move to Agile? What are the benefits you hope to get out of it? What problems do you hope to solve? I've worked with many organizations that have been told by their leadership that they have to "do the Agile" as if it was a cure-all for their woes, but they were not ready to change their mindset from the top down, and therefore failed. Further, when they fail to change they also fail to recognize why they failed; they could not change their mindset and blamed Agile for being a buzzword, not a panacea.

-Scott