Ageling on Agile

Ageling on Agile explores the facets of Agile methodologies, value creation, and leadership within modern organizations. It critiques and offers advice on Agile frameworks like SAFe and Scrum, discusses the roles and growth paths in Agile careers, and emphasizes the importance of organizational culture and team dynamics for successful Agile implementation.

Agile Methodologies Value Creation Organizational Leadership Product Management Team Dynamics Career Development in Agile Organizational Culture

The hottest Substack posts of Ageling on Agile

And their main takeaways

Are you recently promoted to a Product Manager position? - Here are a few pitfalls to avoid

216 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Skills Learning Hierarchy Challenges
  1. The role of a product manager is different from roles like project manager, engineer, or business analyst.
  2. Newly promoted product managers should avoid the Dunning-Kruger effect by continuously learning and challenging themselves.
  3. Recognizing the Peter Principle is essential - not everyone is suited to be a product manager, and self-awareness is key.

Re-release: ‘Scrum is an awful project management methodology’

137 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
💼 Business Management Product Development Team Collaboration Workplace culture Process Improvement
  1. Consider re-evaluating your project management methodology if it is causing stress and hindering productivity. It is important to adapt and make radical changes when necessary.
  2. Embrace an iterative approach in your product delivery process, especially in unpredictable environments. Small steps, clear goals, and team collaboration can lead to valuable results.
  3. Empower your team by giving them ownership of the backlog, focusing on iteration goals, and encouraging discussions and improvements during demos and retrospectives. Allow flexibility and adaptability in your work processes.
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8 Ways Organizational Culture Kills Agility

78 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💼 Business Organizational Culture Agility Management Teamwork
  1. Implementing Agile in an organization goes beyond just claiming to be Agile; it requires a cultural shift.
  2. Having a hierarchical structure, lack of learning culture, and siloed responsibilities can hinder an organization's agility.
  3. Organizations valuing output over outcome, prioritizing individual efficiency, and fostering HIPPO culture undermine Agile principles and hinder effectiveness.

Beware of Scaled Agile

98 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
💼 Business Agile Scaling Startup
  1. You don't need all the complexities of Agile scaling approaches to solve your issues.
  2. Start small and gradually add complexity based on your real needs.
  3. Focus on nailing the solution before trying to scale it.

Ivory towers jeopardize value creation

58 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
💼 Business Management Collaboration Value Creation Organizational Culture
  1. Ivory towers in organizations can create conflict and hinder collaboration between teams with different objectives.
  2. To foster value creation, it's essential for individuals in leadership positions to step down from ivory towers and actively collaborate with all stakeholders.
  3. Blocking the learning loop by maintaining ivory towers can lead to wasted time, effort, and money, hindering the organization's ability to adapt in a fast-changing world.

SAFe Scrum - Is it actually Scrum?

255 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Agile Development Frameworks
  1. SAFe 6.0 has replaced ScrumXP with SAFe Scrum for Agile Teams in the Scaled Agile Framework.
  2. The post questions how closely SAFe Scrum aligns with the principles outlined in the Scrum Guide.
  3. The author suggests that ScrumXP did not meet the qualifications of being recognized as Scrum.

Don't commit to the Sprint Backlog

157 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
💼 Business Project management
  1. Don't view the Sprint Backlog as a commitment with high stakes.
  2. Problems can arise when items in the Sprint Backlog are not completed.
  3. Avoid increased stress levels and overtime by not treating Sprint Backlog as a strict commitment.

12 great ways to fail with Agile

157 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
💼 Business Agile
  1. Focus on value, not just on velocity.
  2. Understand and adhere to the Agile principles for success.
  3. Measure success by the value delivered, not just by the speed of delivery.

10 Product Owner mistakes

137 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
💼 Business Product Management
  1. Product Owners need to take ownership to succeed in their role.
  2. Product Owners should not say 'Yes' to everything to maximize product value.
  3. Product Owners should be able to adapt and update the product backlog to meet goals.