Agile Pitfalls: How Unclear Strategy Derails Software Projects
Agile Pitfalls: How Unclear Strategy Derails Software Projects
We're sprinting faster than ever, but are we running in the right direction? Sticky notes and stand-ups don't replace a clear vision - they just make the chaos more colourful. In our rush to be Agile,
Hey there, fellow agile enthusiasts!
As Promised in my earlier article here's a deep dive, remember that article I wrote a couple of weeks back, "Creating Value in Agile: First Let's Get the Essentials Right"? No worries if you missed it - we've all been there, scrolling past articles to get to those cute cat videos. But if you're curious, the link's right here for you.
Now, let's chat about something that's been bugging me. You know how sometimes in companies, it feels like everyone's running around like headless chickens, but nobody knows why?
Yeah, that's what happens when the big bosses forget to tell us mere mortals what the heck we're supposed to be doing.
So, I thought, "Why not dig a little deeper into this mess?"
After all, if we're going to be agile, we might as well know where we're sprinting to, right?
Today, we're going to look at what happens when a company's vision is about as clear as mud.
You know, when the "North Star" looks more like a disco ball - shiny, but man, it's giving everyone a headache trying to follow it.
Setting the scene :
I want to tell you a little story about a company I know. Trust me, it will be more entertaining than your last stand-up meeting. So, grab your coffee (or your secret desk snack - I won't tell), and let's dive into this agile adventure together!
Picture this: It's a typical Monday morning at XYZ Tech Firm, where the coffee is strong, and the vision is... well, let's just say it's still rubbing the sleep from its eyes.
Our story begins when the BOSS, let's call him Bob "Big Ideas", bursts into the office, radiating enthusiasm like a supernova of misguided energy.
Bob: "Team, I've had an epiphany! We're going to revolutionise our call center with a new platform!"The team, still caffeinating, nods along, because nodding is easier than thinking at 9 AM.
Bob continues, "It'll be state-of-the-art, cutting-edge, and... um... platform-y!"
Sarah from Product raises her hand timidly. "That sounds great, Bob. But what exactly should this platform do?"
Bob, already halfway out the door: "You know, platform stuff! Make it agile! I trust you all. Now, I'm off to my golf game—I mean, strategic planning session."
And just like that, our intrepid team of engineers and product managers were left to decipher the enigma that was Bob's vision. Everyone tried to brainstorm on the vision statement given by Bob in the most fancy way possible. Bob had given a timeline of 6 months that a magical new platform would be ready from thin air.
Fast forward 2years. Yes, 2 YEARS. That's approximately 730 days of coding, 104 weeks of meetings, and an incalculable number of "but what are we building?" moments.
The team had poured their hearts, souls, brains and an alarming amount of energy drinks into creating the most beautiful, streamlined, efficient platform for handling... one task at a time kind of platform. Over the two years, there was limited showcase or collaboration with end users who were supposed to use this platform.
Finally, the big reveal day arrived.
The call centre staff filed in, looking curious and slightly concerned (they'd heard rumours about the dev team's increasing caffeine dependency and intense efforts put in by entire product and engineering teams).
Dave & Sarah, the Lead Engineer and Product Owner, stood up proudly.
"Behold! The future of call centre efficiency!"
He demonstrated how the platform could handle a customer inquiry from start to finish, in a neat, linear fashion. The room was silent. Crickets could be heard.
Finally, Carol from the call center spoke up. "Um, this is really nice, Dave. But... how do I handle multiple task like call, email, chat all at once? Or check details while logging a claim? Or drink my coffee while doing all of the above?"
Dave's smile froze. “Multi… tasks is it ?"
The realization hit the team like a ton of misplaced semicolons. They'd spent two years building a monorail for a team that needed an octopus.
In the back of the room, Bob "Big Ideas" was heard muttering, "I thought agile meant fast, not, you know, actually talking to the users."
The moral of our story? Even the most agile team can end up running in circles if they don't know where they're going. It's not just about moving fast; it's about moving in the right direction.
The Agile Rescue Plan: 5 Steps to Turn Chaos into Clarity
So, what should our XYZ InsureTech friends have done differently?
Define a Clear Vision: Instead of "revolutionize the call center," how about "Create a multi-tasking platform that increases call center efficiency by 50%"?
Understand the Users: Maybe spend a day in the call center? You might notice those impressive coffee-drinking-while-typing skills, learn to collaborate.
Set Specific Goals: "Reduce average call handling time by 2 minutes" is more useful than "make it platform-y." Learn to get the specific goals.
Regular Check-ins with Stakeholders: And by stakeholders, we mean the actual people who'll be using the system, not just Bob and his golf buddies. Creating RACI Chart helps, or Stakeholder Engagement chart.
Iterate and Adapt: Agile doesn't mean "build for two years and pray." It means constantly checking if you're on the right track. Are you building the right product?
Conclusion
Alright, let's wrap this up with a pithy punch, shall we?
Remember, in the wild world of software development, vision isn't just for eye charts – it's the GPS that keeps your team from driving off a digital cliff. Without it, you're not building the next big thing; you're crafting a very expensive, very confusing paperweight.
And if you think one team without direction is a hoot, imagine a whole circus of product teams, each juggling different pieces of the same puzzling program.
It's like a corporate version of the blind men and the elephant, except the elephant is made of code and everyone's on a sugar rush.
So, the next time your boss swans in with grand plans to "revolutionize" something, maybe suggest
A quick pit stop at Vision Clarification Station before boarding the Agile Express.
Your future self (and your sanity) will thank you. After all, in the agile world, the only thing that should be sprinting is your team, not your common sense.
Keep your vision clear, your goals aligned, and your sense of humor intact. Because sometimes, in the face of blurry objectives and misaligned goals, a good laugh is the most agile move you can make
.