In 2023, we still speak about how to introduce Agile? That seems to be pretty slow with today’s standards, everyone is already doing agile 😀 So, what the future of Agile looks like?

The future of Agile development methodologies is likely to involve increased focus on collaboration and communication among team members, as well as continued evolution of Agile practices to better support remote and distributed teams. Additionally, it is possible that we will see a greater emphasis on integrating Agile principles with other methodologies, such as Design Thinking, to create more holistic and effective approaches to software development. Additionally, with more and more companies adopting Agile methodologies, Agile is becoming a part of mainstream. Next to Agile itself, Design Thinking is the big other technology getting to mainstream.

Agile and Design Thinking are both iterative, user-centered approaches that prioritize flexibility and collaboration. Agile focuses on the rapid development and delivery of working software through the use of cross-functional teams and incremental, iterative development cycles. Design Thinking, on the other hand, is a problem-solving approach that emphasizes empathy for the user, rapid prototyping, and iterative testing to arrive at innovative solutions.

While Agile and Design Thinking have different origins and are used in different contexts, they share many common principles and can be used together to create a more holistic approach to software development. For example, a Design Thinking-inspired approach can be used to generate ideas for new features or functionality, which can then be rapidly developed and tested using an Agile methodology.

Combining Agile and Design Thinking can also be beneficial for creating a more seamless and efficient workflow, as well as ensuring that the end product is not only functional but also user-friendly and satisfying. However, Agile and Design Thinking both have their own set of potential drawbacks.

One potential drawback of Agile is that it can be difficult to plan and budget for longer-term projects, as the focus is on delivering working software in short, incremental cycles. This can also make it challenging to accurately predict when a project will be completed, as requirements and priorities may change during the course of development. Additionally, Agile methodologies can be challenging to implement in organizations that are not used to working in a highly collaborative and adaptive way.

Design Thinking can also have its own set of drawbacks. One of the most significant challenges is that it can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, as it requires a lot of user research, prototyping, and testing. Additionally, Design Thinking can be difficult to integrate with more traditional, linear development processes, such as Waterfall, which can create challenges for organizations that are trying to adopt Design Thinking practices.

Furthermore, Design Thinking-inspired approaches can also be criticized for being too focused on the user and neglecting other important stakeholders or factors such as budget, timeline, and feasibility of the solution.

Overall, Agile and Design Thinking are powerful approaches that can help organizations to develop innovative solutions and create better products, however, careful consideration of the potential drawbacks and a good understanding of the context of the project is required to make sure they are implemented effectively.

Speaking about Agile, we cannot walk past the question, how to choose a framework among Scrum, Kanban, etc. Choosing an Agile framework can be a complex process, as there are many different options available, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Here are a few key factors to consider when choosing an Agile framework:

• Team size and composition: Different Agile frameworks are better suited to different team sizes and compositions. For example, Scrum is often used by small, co-located teams, while Kanban is better suited to larger, more distributed teams.
• Project complexity: Some Agile frameworks, such as Scrum, are better suited to handling complex projects with multiple dependencies and rapidly changing requirements. Others, such as Kanban, are better suited to more straightforward projects with well-defined requirements.
• Organizational culture: The Agile framework you choose should be compatible with the culture and values of your organization. For example, if your organization values predictability and stability, Scrum may not be the best choice.
• Prior experience: If your team has prior experience with a particular Agile framework, it may be a good idea to stick with it, as it can take time to fully understand and implement a new framework.
• Goals and priorities: Different Agile frameworks have different strengths and weaknesses, so it’s essential to choose a framework that aligns with your project goals and priorities. For example, if you’re looking to improve team collaboration, Scrum might be a better choice than Kanban.

It’s important to remember that Agile is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and there’s no perfect Agile framework. The best framework for you will depend on your specific situation and context. It’s also important to note that Agile frameworks are meant to be flexible and adaptable to the needs of the team and project, so even if you choose one framework, it’s important to keep an open mind to adjust and adapt as needed. And same goes for choosing Agile and/or Design Thinking – it might be not the best fit for your team.