What does Agile really mean?
Especially when a company says they want to offer Agile tools and services?
Too often the answer is that the company want to capitalize on the word Agile implying that they do things quicker and more reactive than before and the competition. They do NOT base the statement on Agile practices evolved in Software Deveopment but simply focus on speed improvement and cost reduction as a result of using their tools and services. If you look in a dictionary that is a fair interpretation, but it is only a small part of what Agile development practices based on the Agile Manifesto really is. Hence the word Agile is often reduced to just another buzzword…
The essence of Agile software development based on the Agile manifesto is increased collaboration, open dialogue and releasing decision-making down to the individual/team that is closest to the problem. By doing so, there will be a very high level of transparency and this drives trust amongst all involved. If you have trust in your collegues making the right decision at the right level you can be very reactive and responsive to change. This will most likely NOT be because everybody works faster according to a set plan, but rather they will be able to decide only to do the things that generate identified value.
So, the irony is that Agile software development is faster because you do less (but smarter), not everything faster…
At present Agile development practices are found mostly in IT development organisations but closer collaboration, better transparecy and trust is very relevant in all organisations.
