Sloth in Agile isn't just about laziness; it's about not taking the necessary actions or making the essential changes even when we claim to be following Agile principles. One of the most common manifestations of this sin is simply not doing what we say we're going to do. For instance, we might claim to be "doing Agile", yet fail to deliver a working product at the end of a Sprint. Or perhaps, we boast about our Agile methods but have lengthy, convoluted deployment processes that developers can't control.
Another telltale sign of Sloth in Agile is when we don't maintain an ordered backlog. All these instances are clear indicators of a team or organisation merely paying lip service to Agile without genuinely committing to its principles. Sometimes, this slothful approach stems from higher-ups mandating an Agile approach for products that aren't suited for it, perhaps because they were developed traditionally or have complex underlying systems like mainframes.
Enjoy this video? Like and subscribe to our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@nakedAgility
However, the root cause isn't always the main concern. The real issue is the lack of honesty and transparency. It's far more beneficial for teams and individuals to be upfront about what they can and cannot achieve within the Agile framework. Pretending to be Agile when actions don't align with its principles does a disservice to everyone involved.
NKDAgility can help!
If you find it hard to genuinely implement Agile principles or struggle to align your team's actions with Agile values, my team at NKDAgility can assist. Don't let the sin of Sloth hinder your Agile journey. Seek help without delay!
You can request a free consultation with my team right now: https://nkdagility.com/agile-consulting-coaching/. Or perhaps sign up for one of our upcoming professional Scrum classes: https://nkdagility.com/training-courses/course-schedule/?scope=Public. After all, you don't just need agility; you need Naked Agility.