Ascendle Unscripted: Agile is Dead—Long Live Agile!

In this episode of Ascendle Unscripted, we explore a question that’s been simmering across the tech community: “Is agile dead?” Ascendle’s Founder and CEO, Dave Todaro, and Lynzi Cashman, Director of Delivery, dive deep into the challenges, misconceptions, and future of agile. While the idea of an “agile transformation” has driven change in countless organizations, many wonder if it’s become outdated—or worse, irrelevant. Let’s dive into key takeaways from this conversation to understand how agile is evolving.

The Origins and Foundations of Agile

For over two decades, agile principles have shaped how software and product development teams operate, focusing on flexibility, customer responsiveness, and people-first approaches. As Lynzi notes, “Agile is about putting people first and being responsive to change,” a concept that many organizations have embraced to accelerate growth and innovation.

But even with agile’s initial promise, the term itself has become muddled over time. Agile transformations often demand substantial investment in time, coaching, and change management, which can lead to fatigue among organizations. Dave adds that many teams “do agile things” without truly becoming agile, leading to frustration as organizations pour resources into agile transformations without seeing clear results.

Rising Fatigue with Agile Transformations

One of the more provocative ideas raised in this episode is that the phrase “agile transformation” might be part of the problem. Many companies focus too much on the “dogma” of agile rather than on agile’s practical value. The pressure to “transform” has left some organizations weary, particularly when the transformation stretches on without clear outcomes. The lengthy, resource-heavy nature of agile transformations can lead organizations to question the value of agile altogether. Dave highlights that when agile is viewed as a “checklist” rather than as a flexible approach, it loses impact.

Realigning with Agile’s Core Principles

Both Dave and Lynzi agree that agile’s core values—responsiveness, adaptability, and a people-first approach—are as valuable today as ever. However, they emphasize the importance of a more tailored approach to agile that works for your organization. Lynzi explains that organizations must adopt only the parts of agile that work for them, a concept she refers to as, “fit for purpose.”

Lynzi warns of the potential drawbacks of rigidly adhering to agile frameworks: “Sometimes you can lose the power of a particular framework by breaking it apart… but in reality, it’s often necessary to ask how agile we really want to be.” This flexible, custom-fit approach can help companies realize the benefits of agile transformation without the fatigue that comes with an all-or-nothing mindset.

Agile as a Revealing Tool Across the Organization

An intriguing point that Lynzi raises is agile’s capacity to reveal inefficiencies, gaps, and even deep-seated resistance within an organization. Agile shines a light on organizational weaknesses, which can be both empowering and unsettling. Agile highlights areas for improvement, pushing teams to confront “ugly truths” and adjust accordingly. However, this revealing process can feel overwhelming for leaders who may not be fully prepared for the intense level of transparency that agile demands.

Creating a safe environment is essential to handling this transparency effectively. Agile transformations work best in cultures where people feel empowered to offer honest feedback without fear of reprisal. Lynzi suggests that for agile to succeed, organizations need psychological safety, where even dissenting opinions are valued. Dave expands on this, saying, “If there isn’t support from the top, there’s no way that organizational change can happen.”

Challenges of Agile in Remote and Hybrid Work Environments

The episode also tackles agile’s role in a rapidly evolving work landscape, particularly in remote and hybrid environments. Remote work has often raised doubts among executives, but agile can be highly effective when teams are remote, as long as they focus on communication and transparency.

Citing a Harvard Business Review study that was done at Trip.com, the team points out that productivity does not suffer in remote environments, and retention actually improves. Dave adds that agile’s emphasis on frequent feedback cycles and deliverables every two weeks makes it easier to spot performance issues, ensuring transparency and accountability across the team. This cadence keeps teams aligned and reinforces agile’s focus on continuous improvement.

Leadership’s Role in Driving Agile Success

Both Dave and Lynzi agree that leaders play a critical role in agile transformation. A successful transformation requires commitment from the top, with leaders fostering a psychologically safe environment where employees feel comfortable raising issues. Leaders should ask themselves tough questions like, “Am I truly listening to understand?” and reflect on whether they create an atmosphere that encourages open, honest communication.

Leaders who encourage transparency and provide unwavering support can bridge the gaps that agile reveals. Some leaders mistakenly think agile is only about the technical team, when, in reality, it impacts the entire organization. Effective agile transformation, then, is more than a process shift—it’s a cultural one.

Looking Forward: The Future of Agile

When asked about agile’s future, Lynzi suggests that agile is shifting towards a customer-first mindset that builds on its original principles of responsiveness and flexibility. Instead of focusing strictly on agile frameworks, many companies are gravitating toward product-led strategies that emphasize customer experience. This approach keeps agile’s spirit alive without strict adherence to its traditional methodologies.

Dave adds that, ultimately, the biggest challenges for agile are not technical but interpersonal. “Technology projects don’t fail because of technology—they fail because of people and communication,” he says. Embracing agile’s core values of clear communication, transparency, and flexibility will remain essential as organizations seek to create high-quality products that genuinely meet customer needs.

Conclusion: Is Agile Really Dead?

So, is agile dead? Both Dave and Lynzi agree that agile is far from obsolete. While the term itself might evolve, the principles behind agile—transparency, adaptability, and people-first values—are still incredibly relevant. Agile transformations may have become more challenging, but they also hold immense potential for organizations willing to adapt.

For leaders and teams alike, it’s essential to embrace agile as a living, flexible philosophy rather than a strict checklist. As Lynzi suggests, don’t be afraid of the “ugly middle”—that challenging period of transformation. Agile is about perseverance, learning, and continuous adaptation. If we stay true to its core values, agile will continue to drive innovation and improvement well into the future.