Post-Agilism (Posted to InfoQ)
I have heard about "Post-Agilism" from a number of sources. Just like Agile, each person has a different meaning and understanding. This is MY observation ( I own it in the sense I do not want to project it onto other people ).
Agile started as a niche. Some people have developed their careers around agile, some just liked the ideas, tools, late night chats and beers. Most are a mixture of the two. As agile became more successful and new people joined the community, some aspects of Agile have become more focused and dogmatic.... "Do it this way!", or rather, "this is the best way to do it when you start". Mainly, its because thats what a lot of newbies want. "Don't tell me "there is a way", just tell me which book and software to buy." i.e. The community is addressing the level 1 new entrants. The parts of the community pushing Agile are often doing this because it provides them a revenue stream. As a result, the stream of cool new tools, ideas, chats and beers has slowed a lot as we focus on making hay.
Try explaining XP to a person. Then a second, and a third.... After a few years of this. You might cut a few corners. Be less tolerant. A bit more direct. Sound a bit evangelical. However, if you want to see an Agile bigot on their home turf, go to an Agile conference (Church). When you find a bigot, well done, because there aren't many to be found. Most people in Agile mainly listen. You learn more when you listen than when you talk... And Agile is a learning community. A community that learns and develops/evolves tools.
Lets be clear, most early adoptors of Agile went straight in at level 2 or 3. A number of these guys, those people in the community for the cool new tools, ideas, chats and beers(the early adopters) are harking back to the good old days. They want the fun back rather than spend all their time "working" on bringing newbies up to speed. I know a number of people who have moved on from Agile. Hence Post-Agilism. We (I am one of them as well as an agilist, and a father, and a middle aged fat guy) want to turn up the volume on the new stuff as well as teach to the newbies.
The Post-Agilists are "_T_he People's front of Judea", or is it "the people's front of Judea" or rather "The Judean People's front."
I have my own definition of Agile to add to the other several thousand I'm aware of.
"Having fun whilst learning new tools to do my job better."
Posted by chrismatts at May 18, 2007 2:46 PM