news.volyx.in

Agile's early evangelists wouldn't mind watching Agile die (builtin.com)

616 points by prepperpotts · 2357 days ago · 466 comments on HN

Article summary

The article discusses how Agile, a software development methodology, has become irrelevant and is being misused by focusing on processes over people and technical skills. Mary Poppendieck, one of the early evangelists of Agile, believes that it has strayed from its original intent and is now being used as a way to manage people rather than focus on technical problem-solving. The article also touches on how Agile has led to women engineers being pushed into non-technical roles. The industry is ready for a new approach that focuses on engineering and technical skills.

Main themes

  • Agile methodology
  • technical skills
  • management vs engineering
  • women in tech
  • industry trends
  • software development
  • methodology critique

What commenters say

  • Agile has become a buzzword that is often misused and has lost its original intent.
  • The focus on processes and management in Agile has led to a lack of emphasis on technical skills and problem-solving.
  • Some argue that Agile is still useful, but its implementation is often flawed and can lead to bureaucracy and inefficiency.
  • Others believe that Agile has been co-opted by management and is used as a way to control engineers rather than empower them.
  • There is a need for a new approach that focuses on engineering and technical skills, rather than processes and management.
  • The industry's focus on metrics and benchmarks can lead to a lack of emphasis on actual user needs and satisfaction.
  • Agile's emphasis on soft skills has led to women engineers being pushed into non-technical roles, rather than being recognized for their technical abilities.
  • The lack of accountability and responsibility in Agile implementation can lead to a disconnect between management and engineers, and ultimately, to poor outcomes.