How agile became a checkbox exercise, and how to get unstuck

Agile methodologies, originally celebrated for enhancing speed, adaptability, and alignment in teams, have become widespread but are perceived as increasingly ineffective due to ritualistic adherence rather than meaningful engagement. While the Agile Manifesto advocated for prioritizing individuals, collaboration, and responsiveness over rigid plans and documentation, many organizations now treat agile practices as a checklist, leading to symptoms like backlog bloat, fake velocity, and low morale among teams. Experts suggest that for agile to regain its efficacy, processes should be co-created with team involvement and continuously refined to focus on outcomes, learning, and clarity rather than mere outputs and consistency. Examples of successful agile implementations, such as ING Netherlands, highlight the importance of empowering teams to adapt and learn, suggesting that agile should be more about iterative improvement and impact rather than strict adherence to rituals.