The Future Of Agile

What's the future of Agile? This article will discuss the current and future trends for the Agile methodology.

Where Are We Today?

Agile was formulated in 2001 with a Manifesto for Agile Software Development. Since then, several enterprises across the world have adopted the agile methodology. Most organizations build complex products using Agile frameworks such as Scrum, Extreme Programming, Feature-Driven Development (FDD), Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), or Crystal. Several organizations leverage the Lean methodology alongside the Agile methodology and track their work using the popular Kanban method. Since these frameworks didn't address the specific problems faced by large organizations, many organizations also adopted scaled Agile frameworks such as Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Large Scale Scrum (LeSS), and Disciplined Agile Delivery (DaD).

With increased Agile maturity, teams adopted DevOps practices such as Continuous Integration (CI), Automated Builds, and Continuous Deployment (CD), as well as practices as Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD), Test Driven Development (TDD), Acceptance Test Driven Development (ATDD), Automated Unit Tests, and so on...

What's The Future Of Agile?

The next big thing in Agile is the Purpose-Driven Development (PDD). There is a clear need to understand enterprise's objectives or purpose, program objectives, and product goals before starting development on any product feature. The product goals, when mapped to primary personas and to enterprise OKRs, bring the maximum benefit. Not only do they drive the product roadmap, they also bring alignment across product stakeholders. 

Thus, the future is to bring strategic planning to the product. Leaders should invest time in understanding their customers or users, their problems, and how the product can benefit them. The personas, together with enterprise objectives, should drive the product's purpose or goals, which in turn, should drive the product's roadmap.

If product goals no longer align to enterprise objectives or the persona's needs, then the enterprise should have the agility to quickly adapt to the change, move funds or people, and re-plan priorities.

Download the FREE Agile templates for strategic planning:

• The Product Persona Template
• The Product Vision Template
• The Product Roadmap Template

You may also be interested in these articles...

• Enterprise Agility - Expectations Vs Reality
• Agile and Lean Methodologies - Same or Different?
• Expert Agile Tips and Techniques
• Scrum and Kanban: Same or Different? Which one is better?
• What are the 12 Agile Principles? Learn, Apply, and Be Agile!
• What is a Sprint Burndown Chart? - Agile Scrum Framework
• Differences between Waterfall and Agile
• 5 Habits that Successful Leaders Have
• 7 Traits of High-Performing People

...and below books on Agile and Lean:

• Enterprise Agility with OKRs
• The Basics Of Agile and Lean
• The Basics Of Scrum
• The Basics Of Kanban