video

The Fallacy of Equating Agility with Speed: What Agile Really Means

Published on
5 minute read

In the world of Agile, there’s a common misconception that agility equals speed. However, this idea is as much of an oxymoron as the concept of an “agile project manager.” The truth is, Agile isn’t about rushing through tasks or speeding up processes; it’s about spending your time wisely on valuable endeavors. Let’s dive deeper into what agility truly means and why it’s not about doing things faster, but doing the right things.

Agility is About Spending Time Wisely

One of the most important aspects of agility is the efficient use of time. The goal isn’t to do everything faster, but to ensure that the time you spend is on the right tasks—the ones that bring the most value. Here’s how:

So, the notion that agility equals speed is a complete fallacy. Agile allows for experimentation, learning, and adaptation, which might seem slower but ensures you’re building the right thing.

The Danger of Building the Wrong Product

One of the biggest risks in any project is building the wrong product—something that doesn’t fit the market or meet customer needs. Here’s why this happens and how Agile helps mitigate this risk:

Example: Zoom.ai and the Shift to CalendarHero

Let’s take a real-world example. I was an avid user of a product called Zoom.ai, which started as a bot-based calendaring tool. It allowed users to interact with a bot to schedule meetings, but most customers, including myself, found it easier to simply send a link for people to book a slot. Over time, Zoom.ai pivoted and rebranded as CalendarHero, focusing more on traditional calendaring functions rather than their initial AI-driven approach.

This shift highlights the importance of market fit. Despite having an innovative product, Zoom.ai had to adapt to the actual needs of its users, which ultimately led them to completely change their business focus.

How Bureaucracy and Rigid Processes Hinder Agility

Bureaucracy and rigid processes can be significant obstacles to agility and innovation. Here’s why:

The Myth of Speed in Agile

Agility isn’t about speed. If you think adopting Agile will make your organization move faster, you’re mistaken. Here’s the reality:

Case Study: The Sentinel Project

A famous example of Agile in action is the Sentinel project, the FBI’s records-keeping system. Here’s a breakdown:

  1. Initial Failure: In 1995, the FBI delivered a new system that was obsolete the moment it shipped. They spent $400 million and four years on a product that didn’t work.

  2. Another Attempt: They then spent another five years and $300 million, only to have another failed product.

  3. Agile Transformation: In 2012, the FBI decided to switch to Agile. They reduced the team from 400 to 40 people, set up Scrum teams, and delivered a working product to production within a year.

Was Agile faster? Not really. What changed was the focus—they stopped trying to build the entire system at once and instead focused on delivering the first piece, the part that would provide immediate value.

Reframing the Concept of Speed in Agile

The best way to understand Agile is not by how fast you can get things done, but by how you prioritize and deliver value within the same time frame. Here’s how:

Final Thoughts: Agile is About Delivering Value, Not Speed

Agile is often misunderstood as a methodology for doing things faster. In reality, Agile is about ensuring that the time you spend is on the most valuable tasks—the ones that will truly benefit your customers and your business. By focusing on market fit, eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, and embracing an iterative process, Agile helps organizations deliver better products, not just faster products. So, the next time you hear someone equating agility with speed, remember: it’s not about rushing to the finish line; it’s about making sure that what you deliver is worth the journey. 🚀

video Agile velocity product development product management project management

Connect with Martin Hinshelwood

If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.

Our Happy Clients​

We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.​

Graham & Brown Logo
Slaughter and May Logo
Sage Logo
Healthgrades Logo
MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd. Logo
ALS Life Sciences Logo
Emerson Process Management Logo
Philips Logo
Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company) Logo
Hubtel Ghana Logo
Big Data for Humans Logo
Qualco Logo
Illumina Logo
Alignment Healthcare Logo
Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd Logo
Boxit Document Solutions Logo
SuperControl Logo

NIT A/S

Nottingham County Council Logo
Washington Department of Transport Logo
New Hampshire Supreme Court Logo
Ghana Police Service Logo
Department of Work and Pensions (UK) Logo
Royal Air Force Logo
New Signature Logo
Epic Games Logo
Trayport Logo
Emerson Process Management Logo
Microsoft Logo
Milliman Logo