For the past week or so I’ve had the phrase “Agile all the way down” ringing in my head. I guess that it’s resonated so much because it is reminiscent of the quote, “Turtles all the way down”, which I first read in Terry Pratchett’s “The Colour of Magic”, but apparently has a history way beyond that (https://quoteinvestigator.com/2021/08/22/turtles-down/).
Anyway, this has been mulling around so much, that I should start writing down my thoughts before they all get jumbled up. I will attempt to write a more structured (and thought-through) article about it in the future - for now this is just what’s in my head and needs to get out, so I can get on with other things.
Let's go...!
Everything is in a state of constant change. Well most things. The majority of things, let’s say.
The dichotomy is that people (and groups of similarly minded individuals) often double down on keeping things the same.
The rise of Agile in the tech world (which I experienced most significantly in the early 2000s) was a real eye-opener (mind-opener more like). Once I ‘got it’ (and it is a mental shift that’s required, rather than just ‘doing the things’ cargo-cult-like), I started to see how it could shape my thoughts, actions and attitudes beyond delivering software. (See “Agile Beyond IT" [Amazon UK affiliate link] for Adrian Pyne's thoughts on that.)
So I’m thinking about what being agile (in business) means across a number of facets:
Business unit/function/silo
- What does it mean to be an agile Marketing/Sales/Delivery/Customer Support department?
Hierarchy
- What does it meant to be an agile team leader/management team/leadership team/board?
Process/Culture/Operations (needs a snappier moniker)
- What does an agile strategy look like? What does that mean for objectives/tactics?
- How does having an agile mindset help us to understand our culture?
Summary
- Maybe “Agile all the way down” should be “Agile all the way down, across and through” 🤔
- I need to create something more structured from all this waffle. I’m deliberately not researching what’s already out there, as I want to get my thoughts and opinions down, rather than be biased by other people’s thinking.
I help organisations solve complex operational & delivery challenges, streamline processes, and improve efficiency. If you are struggling with your strategy or disappointed with your delivery, I’d love to help you out. Drop me a line.