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Lately, I have noticed a surge of posts declaring “Agile is dead” or critiquing it harshly, often accompanied by provocative wording. I understand where some of these frustrations come from—misguided implementations, shallow adoptions, and over-promising results have muddied the waters. But I strongly believe that at its core, Agile is alive, relevant, and transformational.
Agile, as described in the Agile Manifesto, is not a rigid framework or a checklist. It’s a mindset grounded in values and principles that emphasize adaptability, collaboration, and delivering value. For someone encountering Agile for the first time, especially if they’ve been entrenched in traditional, linear ways of working, the concepts of iterative, incremental, and adaptive approaches can be revolutionary. Agile can shift perspectives and unlock the potential for success in projects, teams, and even personal growth.
The criticism often stems from what I call “Agile maturity pains.” Agile is like a young adult trying to navigate the world. Everyone has opinions on what it should be, and it’s caught between purists who want to keep it close to its original essence and practitioners who have adapted (or misinterpreted) it to fit their needs. This is not a flaw of Agile itself; it’s a natural part of its evolution.
Let’s not forget that Agile was never meant to be one-size-fits-all. It’s a framework for thinking, not a silver bullet. When respecting its core principles while being mindful of the unique context of each team or organization — Agile works. It fosters better communication, more resilience to change, and, most importantly, supports value delivery.
If we declare Agile “dead,” we’re missing the point. Instead, we should focus on:
Agile isn’t dying. It’s growing, stretching, and being challenged, as any enduring idea should. Instead of writing its eulogy, let’s refine it, nurture it, and adapt it to the needs of an ever-changing world.
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This article was written by Barb Waters. Barb Waters is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®, Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM)®, and Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®. She has served as a reviewer for several editions of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)® and Standards for Project Management. Barb provides training, guidance, and insight to organizations who are navigating the rapidly changing landscape of project management.
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