Many companies have already moved away from Agile for the same reasons we’re experiencing. The current implementation of Agile at the bank is far from its intended purpose. Instead of fostering collaboration, efficiency, and innovation, it has become a source of frustration and inefficiency. Here’s why:
- Lack of Engagement: Agile teams often fail to show up to meetings outside of their scrum ceremonies ie daily standup, retrospective, etc. At most, they host one or two meetings a day which takes 1-2hrs at most, only to dictate tasks without actively participating in the work. This top-down approach undermines the collaborative spirit Agile is meant to promote.
- No Ownership: These teams don’t take ownership of the work. Instead, they create overly complicated processes that don’t streamline operations—they create bottlenecks. This inefficiency slows down the entire organization and defeats the purpose of Agile.
- Poor Accountability: When you need them, they’re nowhere to be found. Even simple tasks take days to complete, delaying progress and adding unnecessary friction to workflows.
- Resistance to Change: Rather than acting as change agents and challenging outdated practices, they reinforce the status quo. This is the opposite of what Agile is supposed to achieve—driving continuous improvement and innovation.
- Minimal Presence and Effort: Many team members seem to "coffee badge" by showing up for an hour or two before leaving for the day. This lack of commitment raises questions about their productivity and contribution. Are they truly working, or are they simply going through the motions?
- Cost Inefficiency: The bank could save significant resources by reevaluating the role of these teams. They don’t produce measurable outcomes or take responsibility for any scope of work, making their value questionable.
It’s time to ask the hard questions: Is Agile truly working for us? Are we getting the results we envisioned? If not, it might be time to rethink our approach and explore alternatives that better align with our goals and organizational culture.