In February 2001, 17 software development leaders published the “Manifesto for Agile Software Development”. The Agile Manifesto is 16+ years old. Does it mean it is outdated, Are the days of Agile over? Gunther reflected upon the value and originality on Agile, as it is. No new names. No new content. Other, better words to describe it, and describe its need.

1. Gunther Verheyen, Ullizee-Inc
Scrum. Connector, writer, speaker, humaniser.
Agility
in the face of
perplexity
GOAT 2017
20 November 2017
Ottawa (Canada)

2. 2Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Are the days of ‘Agile’ over? 1”
‘Agile’ dates from 2001. How relevant is it today (2017)?
Raise your hand if you feel that:
1. ‘Agile’ is still worthwhile (and even more needed than ever).
2. ‘Agile’ doesn’t need to be renamed (it’s already difficult
enough to explain as it is).
3. ‘Agile’ applies to software development only.

3. 3Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Your company wants to become Agile, too. You are invited to come
enlighten your CEO and the Executive Team.
The CIO says to already know about this thing called Scrum. The HR
Director believes half of the workforce would have to be replaced
because of this self-organization.
What is your approach? What do you say?
e.g.
• What is the definition of ‘Agile’ you use?
• How do you relate ‘Agile’ and Scrum?
How do you explain what ‘Agile’ is about? 2”

4. 4Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
When asked for a definition (n)
Agile
• The mind-set expressed through the value
statements and the principles of the Agile
Manifesto, http://agilemanifesto.org
Scrum
• A simple framework for complex product
delivery, http://www.scrumguides.org
More: guntherverheyen.com, “Agile and Scrum, actually (2015)”

5. 5Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Agile is the obvious question. Agility is the actual need.
„agility (noun) /əˈdʒɪlɪti/
1. To be quick and nimble;
The ability to move quickly and easily;
The ability to think and understand quickly.
2. A state of constant flux, evolution, innovation,
improvement and re-invention.
The capability to adapt, to swiftly address
challenges,
to explore and change direction, to take advantage
of

6. 6Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
There may be
many reasons to
pursue agility.
What is your #1
reason?
Does your
management
know/agree?
Start with why for meaningful conversations
• Improved customer relationships
• Higher engagement of co-workers
• Easier to change direction
• Increased productivity and quality
• Taking advantage of market opportunities
• New competitors on your markets
• Early elimination of risk
• Reaching market faster
• Increased Return on Investment
• Reduced Total Cost of Ownership

7. Agility…
• can’t be planned
• can’t be dictated
• has no end-state
• can’t be copied_
Grow your own model. Use your imagination.
Source: Gunther Verheyen, “Scrum – A Pocket Guide (A Smart Travel Companion)”, 2013

8. 8Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Still. Exploring new ways to explain ‘Agile’.
“Rather than questioning, doubting and scorning,
I aspire uncovering new ways, new words, to
show the value and the originality of ‘Agile’.
I do it for the purpose of clarity over the essence
of ‘Agile’, to disentangle the clew that ‘Agile’
turned into, to help people thrive in a world of
complexity.”

9. “Complexity is our world.
Simplicity is our path.”
Gunther Verheyen

10. 10Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Work variables
Complexity is our world
Work spaces

11. 11Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Your iceberg is melting. Your
cheese is being moved. At light
speed.
The balance of society has rapidly
shifted from industrial, often physical,
labor to digital, often virtual, work;
changing the fabric of society and of
our social systems. The industrial
paradigm is rendered useless.
Hence, the value of the Agile
paradigm.
Much work has shifted to the Complex Novelty space

12. 12Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
‘Agile’ is more needed than ever
The Agile paradigm defines the new thinking and
behavioral tools to turn around the perplexity
resulting from the ruling complexity.
Acting with agility is key to avoid complexity
turning into perplexity; an inability to act.

13. 13Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Patterns that (might) work in the
Ordered Stability space:
• Governance controlled separation of
skills, functions and positions, and
other forms of micro-management
• Predictive plans and other pre-
empted scenarios based on the belief
in linearity
• Direction-less task assignment and
other forms of utilization-focused
approaches to keep people busy
What the industrial plague left us with
Governance
Functions
Business IT
Executives

14. 14Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Probably the most
unfit approach for
thriving in the
Complex Novelty
space. Ever.
Main expressions of the industrial paradigm
Governance
UtilizationPlans

15. 16Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
(Collaboractiv
e) People
Value
(for a
Purpose)
(Deliberate)
Emergence
The Agile paradigm. Simplicity is our path.
Who
How
Why
The Prime Agile Tenets

16. 17Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
The Prime Agile Tenets – Collaboractive People
The days of super heroism are over. People are in a continual
state of ability and willingness to act in concerted ways, to
actively engage in collaboration when needed, regardless
position, title, hierarchy, or function.
• Facets of “Collaboractive People”
– Accountability
– Professionalism
– Teamware
(Collaboractive)
People
Value
(for a
Purpose)
(Deliberate)
Emergence
The Prim e Agile Tenets

17. 18Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
The Prime Agile Tenets – Deliberate Emergence
More changes than remains stable in the Complex Novelty
space. Predictions don’t work (anymore). Emergence prevails.
Feedback is provoked deliberately. What works today, might not
work tomorrow.
• Facets of “Deliberate Emergence”
– Time-boxing
– Feedback loops
– The iterative-incremental continuum
(Collaboractive)
People
Value
(for a
Purpose)
(Deliberate)
Emergence
The Prim e Agile Tenets

18. 19Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
The Prime Agile Tenets – Value for a Purpose
Success cannot be predicted in big bang deliveries. Value is
continually optimized through the delivery of finished slices of
work. What is important today, might not be tomorrow. Purpose
guides us.
• Facets of “Value for a Purpose”
– Measuring value, measuring agility
– The value in valuation
– Exploratory ownership
(Collaboractive)
People
Value
(for a
Purpose)
(Deliberate)
Emergence
The Prim e Agile Tenets

19. 20Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Facets of Collaboractive People
• Accountability
• Professionalism
• Teamware
What does ‘professionalism’ mean?
e.g. Does getting paid for work make a person a ‘professional’?
Why is ‘professionalism’ important in the Complex Novelty space?
Are we skilled for the Complex Novelty space? 2”

20. 21Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Thoughts on professionalism from my personal life
Professionalism encompasses technical and behavioral credibility;
people that combine technical craftspersonship and personal
integrity.

21. 22Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Complex Novelty work requires Agile Professionals
• Craftspersonalities
– Technical mastery (a craftsperson)
– Behavioral integrity (e.g. a collaboractive stance)
• Not misrepresenting complexity as ordered and predictable.
– Promising certainty where there is none.
– Not pretending being able to predict the inherently unpredictable.
– Presenting simple rules to emerge complex patterns, not misrepresent the
nature of the problem as simple (which is simplistic).
• Focusing on the path (enacting the Prime Agile Tenets). Allowing the
destination to unravel.
A lack of professionalism is a major root cause of perplexity.

22. 23Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
Growth in the Complex Novelty space
Growth can be benign or
malignant. Consider how to
spend energy and resources in
the Complex Novelty space.
• Facets of “Growth”
– Servant Management
– Team of Teams
– The extreme org

23. “The future of Agile is in the small.
Adaptiveness comes through small,
networked communities and
ecosystems collaborating.”
Source: Gunther Verheyen, “The future of Agile (is actually in the small)”, 2017

24. 25Gunther Verheyen – Ullizee-Inc, 2017 - @Ullizee
About
Gunther Verheyen
Independent Scrum Caretaker
• eXtreme Programming and Scrum since 2003
• Professional Scrum Trainer
• Shepherded Professional Scrum and co-created Agility
Path, EBMgt, the Nexus framework for Scaled
Professional Scrum
• Author of “Scrum – A Pocket Guide” (“Scrum
Wegwijzer”, “Scrum Taschenbuch”)
Mail gunther.verheyen@mac.com
Twitter @Ullizee
Blog http://guntherverheyen.com