Reimagining Agile: Shaping the Future of Agility

This Emerging Initiative is offering a vision of Agile's future.
Reimagining Agile
Reimagining Agile

Reimagining Agile Initiative Launch Group Announcement

Businesses are constantly evolving and adapting to change has become more crucial than ever. The Agile movement, which was originally focused on software development in the early 2000s, has now expanded its horizons to address the broader needs of today’s dynamic enterprises. A new initiative called “Reimagining Agile” has emerged to refresh, extend, and make Agility accessible to everyone, offering a vision of Agile’s future and its relevance in the modern business landscape.

What is the Purpose of the Initiative?

The purpose of the “Reimagining Agile” initiative is multi-faceted:

1. Historical Remembrance: The initiative aims to remind us of the historical intent of the Agile movement. This serves as a foundation for newcomers to better understand Agile’s roots and principles.

2. Future Acceleration: Its primary goal is to accelerate the future of agility across the enterprise. This involves solidifying the foundation of Agile values and principles, emphasizing their significance in today’s business environment.

3. Learning from Success: The initiative seeks to learn from organizations that have successfully allowed agility to flourish within their ranks. Understanding what contributes to this success is crucial for its widespread adoption.

4. Decentralized Evolution: “Reimagining Agile” intends to evolve in an Agile way, characterized by a decentralized network, self-organization, and an organic growth approach. It is not a top-down endeavor but progresses horizontally from node to node.

5. Inclusivity and Collaboration: It welcomes participation from all individuals, organizations, and associations, promoting collaboration and acceptance of different viewpoints. Healthy discussions, constructive criticism, and respectful debates are encouraged.

The Launch of the Initiative

The launch of the initiative has been met with enthusiastic support within the Agile community. Activities led by the launch group have already generated significant engagement:

LinkedIn Announcement: The initiative was announced on LinkedIn, garnering impressive traction with 180,000 impressions, 1,400 reactions, 314 comments, and 244 reposts. A majority of the responses have been positive, with 50% expressing a desire to contribute.

Promotion and Connection: The launch group’s role includes promoting the idea behind “Reimagining Agile” and connecting individuals and organizations that support the initiative.

Agile Alliance Endorsement: The Agile Alliance strongly supports the “Reimagining Agile” initiative and plans to feature it at Agile2024 in Dallas. Other Agile conferences are also encouraged to include this initiative in their plans.

Establishment of RA Group: A “Reimagining Agile” (RA) group and hashtag have been created on LinkedIn, providing a platform for like-minded individuals to connect and collaborate.

How can you support the initiative?

The “Reimagining Agile” initiative is not just about rhetoric; it encourages practical action. While a future website is in development for early 2024, individuals and organizations are urged to take the following steps in the meantime:

Engage in Discussions: Post discussions about thoughts on “Reimagining Agile” to facilitate meaningful conversations.

Curate Content: Build and share lists of posts from others that resonate with the initiative’s goals.

Collaborate through Podcasts: Create podcasts centered around “Reimagining Agile” as a subject to foster broader awareness.

Share Agile Journeys: Share experiences and insights about Agile journeys at conferences and events.

Initiate Agile Ventures: Consider launching Agile initiatives within your association or enterprise.

Design a Logo: Contribute to the branding of the initiative by designing a logo.

About the Initiative Launch Group

The “Reimagining Agile” initiative is driven by a launch group composed of notable figures in the Agile community, including Jon Kern and Jim Highsmith, Agile Manifesto Co-authors, as well as Heidi Musser, Board Chair of Agile Alliance, and Sanjiv Augustine, CEO of LitheSpeed. While they acknowledge differences in perspective, they emphasize the importance of focusing on common goals.

Sanjiv Augustine highlights that agility is paramount in today’s business landscape, emphasizing the need to strengthen Agile fundamentals and extend Agile principles to address 2024’s challenges.

Jim Highsmith urges the community to look beyond internal squabbles and embrace an Agile mindset to address global challenges like climate change. He advocates for a focus on balancing performance and creating healthy workplaces.

Jon Kern envisions a collaborative workspace where Agile practices and knowledge can be shared and experimented with, with good ideas rising to the top.

As the Chairperson of Agile Alliance, Heidi Musser emphasizes the importance of agility for market adaptability in today’s rapidly changing world.

Conclusion

The “Reimagining Agile” initiative is an attempt to revitalize the Agile movement so that it remains relevant and accessible to everyone in a rapidly changing business environment. It calls upon individuals and organizations to work together and contribute to the continued development of Agile principles and practices. In conclusion, it is a forward-looking initiative that encourages collaboration and action towards evolving Agile.

*For more information on “Reimagining Agile,” you can read the full article here (https://www.agilealliance.org/reimagining-agile-initiative-launch-group-announcement/).