Based on a wide variety of surveys taken over recent years, many companies are transitioning to something that looks like Agile, whether they use that term or not. However, that transition doesn’t necessarily mean implementations have been done while respecting the Agile Manifesto and the principles behind it.

1. Agile is a Four-Letter Word
Jen Krieger
Chief Agilist, Products and Technologies
1

2. ALLGOODTHINGSSTARTWITHASTORY
2
@mrry550 | #devnexus

3. 3
Intent vs. Reality
@mrry550 | #devnexus

4. 4

5. 5
“I believe in this concept,
but the implementation
described above is risky
and invites failure.”
-Winston W. Royce 1970

6. 6

7. 7
Intent vs. Reality

8. Let’s dig in...
8

9. INTENT
9
@mrry550 | #devnexus
Agile Principle #5
Build projects around motivated
individuals. Give them the
environment and support they
need, and trust them to get the
job done.

10. INTENT
10
@mrry550 | #devnexus
Agile Principle #5
Build projects around motivated
individuals. Give them the
environment and support they
need, and trust them to get the
job done.

11. Most will be
introduced to Agile in
an unpleasant way.
11
REALITY
@mrry550 | #devnexus

12. Agile Principle #5
12
Intent: Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and
trust them to get the job done. Reality: Most are given rigid process without ability to change it.
EDUCATE YO SELF
Know the principles. Google is an
amazing resource of information.
HINT: Avoid content that talks about why
Agile doesn’t work. Focus on content that
focuses on making it a better experience.
@mrry550 | #devnexus
“NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER SURRENDER!” -Galaxy Quest

13. Agile Principle #5
13
Intent: Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and
trust them to get the job done. Reality: Most are given rigid process without ability to change it.
Live, breath, and embody the principles
to the best of your ability.
TEACH BY DEMONSTRATIONEDUCATE YO SELF
Know the principles. Google is an
amazing resource of information.
HINT: Avoid content that talks about why
Agile doesn’t work. Focus on content that
focuses on making it a better experience.
@mrry550 | #devnexus
“NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER SURRENDER!” -Galaxy Quest

14. Agile Principle #5
14
Intent: Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and
trust them to get the job done. Reality: Most are given rigid process without ability to change it.
Live, breath, and embody the principles
to the best of your ability.
ADVOCATE FOR OTHERSTEACH BY DEMONSTRATION
This is a hard one and there is a line that
can be crossed here.
EDUCATE YO SELF
Know the principles. Google is an
amazing resource of information.
HINT: Avoid content that talks about why
Agile doesn’t work. Focus on content that
focuses on making it a better experience.
@mrry550 | #devnexus
“NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER SURRENDER!” -Galaxy Quest

15. INTENT
15
@mrry550 | #devnexus
Agile Principle #8
Agile processes promote
sustainable development. The
sponsors, developers, and users
should be able to maintain a
constant pace indefinitely.

16. INTENT
16
@mrry550 | #devnexus
Agile Principle #8
Agile processes promote
sustainable development. The
sponsors, developers, and users
should be able to maintain a
constant pace indefinitely.

17. Most will have
pressure placed on
them to deliver at an
unsustainable pace.
17
REALITY
@mrry550 | #devnexus

18. “DON’T STOP ME NOW” -Queen
Agile Principle #8
18
Intent: Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users … maintain a
constant pace indefinitely. Reality: The pace and pressure of software dev is rapidly increasing.
OUTCOMES NOT OUTPUT
Do not resist the concept of shared
understanding of the direction your team
is going - what is the value of the work
that you are doing? Who does it value?
@mrry550 | #devnexus

19. “DON’T STOP ME NOW” -Queen
Agile Principle #8
19
Intent: Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users … maintain a
constant pace indefinitely. Reality: The pace and pressure of software dev is rapidly increasing.
Is your product in maintenance, or is it in
feature-factory mode? Understanding
where your product is helps drive
reasonability into conversation.
WHERE IS YOUR PRODUCT?OUTCOMES NOT OUTPUT
Do not resist the concept of shared
understanding of the direction your team
is going - what is the value of the work
that you are doing? Who does it value?
@mrry550 | #devnexus

20. “DON’T STOP ME NOW” -Queen
Agile Principle #8
20
Intent: Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users … maintain a
constant pace indefinitely. Reality: The pace and pressure of software dev is rapidly increasing.
Is your product in maintenance, or is it in
feature-factory mode? Understanding
where your product is helps drive
reasonability into conversation.
ADVOCATE FOR TIMEWHERE IS YOUR PRODUCT?
Should you have a ‘hip sprint’ or should
you be building quality and refactoring
during every part of your day?
OUTCOMES NOT OUTPUT
Do not resist the concept of shared
understanding of the direction your team
is going - what is the value of the work
that you are doing? Who does it value?
@mrry550 | #devnexus

21. INTENT
21
@mrry550 | #devnexus
Agile Principle #3
Deliver working software
frequently, from a couple of
weeks to a couple of months,
with a preference to the shorter
timescale.

22. INTENT
22
@mrry550 | #devnexus
Agile Principle #3
Deliver working software
frequently, from a couple of
weeks to a couple of months,
with a preference to the shorter
timescale.

23. Most will rarely (never)
release in small
increments.
23
REALITY
@mrry550 | #devnexus

24. “DON’T GIVE UP, I BELIEVE IN YOU” -Sidon, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Agile Principle #3
24
Intent: Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference
to the shorter timescale. Reality: Companies don’t always invest to make this technically possible.
TECHNICAL PROCESS IS IMPORTANT
Process seems to be a word we think is
reserved for business people. Your
process to build and deploy code is just
as important.
@mrry550 | #devnexus

25. “DON’T GIVE UP, I BELIEVE IN YOU” -Sidon, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Agile Principle #3
25
Intent: Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference
to the shorter timescale. Reality: Companies don’t always invest to make this technically possible.
Anything that happens more than once
should be automated to to the best of
your ability. CI/CD is your friend.
AUTOMATE EVERYTHINGTECHNICAL PROCESS IS IMPORTANT
Process seems to be a word we think is
reserved for business people. Your
process to build and deploy code is just
as important.
@mrry550 | #devnexus

26. “DON’T GIVE UP, I BELIEVE IN YOU” -Sidon, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Agile Principle #3
26
Intent: Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference
to the shorter timescale. Reality: Companies don’t always invest to make this technically possible.
Anything that happens more than once
should be automated to to the best of
your ability. CI/CD is your friend.
BOTS THAT LEARNAUTOMATE EVERYTHING
The coolest darn thing I’ve seen in recent
past is bots in github projects and fixing
bugs.
TECHNICAL PROCESS IS IMPORTANT
Process seems to be a word we think is
reserved for business people. Your
process to build and deploy code is just
as important.
@mrry550 | #devnexus

27. INTENT
27
@mrry550 | #devnexus
Agile Principle #4
Business people and developers
must work together daily
throughout the project.

28. INTENT
28
@mrry550 | #devnexus
Agile Principle #4
Business people and developers
must work together daily
throughout the project.

29. INTENT
29
@mrry550 | #devnexus
Agile Principle #4
Business people and developers
must work together daily
throughout the project.

30. Most will not
successfully integrate
Agile with Open Source
software development
30
REALITY
@mrry550 | #devnexus

31. Agile Principle #4
31
Intent: Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project. Reality: Modern
software companies don't always know how to successfully integrate Open Source Dev Models.
GOLDEN RULE
Treat others as you want to be treated.
Never respond when you are upset,
angry, frustrated… using a 😸 now again
doesn’t hurt either.
@mrry550 | #devnexus
“DON’T GIVE UP, CHARLIE BROWN” -Charles M. Schultz

32. Agile Principle #4
32
Intent: Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project. Reality: Modern
software companies don't always know how to successfully integrate Open Source Dev Models.
Who is on the team? What is their role?
How will you work together? How will you
resolve conflict? How will you make
decisions together?
WORKING AGREEMENTSGOLDEN RULE
Treat others as you want to be treated.
Never respond when you are upset,
angry, frustrated… using a 😸 now again
doesn’t hurt either.
@mrry550 | #devnexus
“DON’T GIVE UP, CHARLIE BROWN” -Charles M. Schultz

33. Agile Principle #4
33
Intent: Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project. Reality: Modern
software companies don't always know how to successfully integrate Open Source Dev Models.
Who is on the team? What is their role?
How will you work together? How will you
resolve conflict? How will you make
decisions together?
STRATEGIC DECISION MAKINGWORKING AGREEMENTS
How do you involve a community in your
companies’ strategic decision making
process about what they choose to
invest in?
GOLDEN RULE
Treat others as you want to be treated.
Never respond when you are upset,
angry, frustrated… using a 😸 now again
doesn’t hurt either.
@mrry550 | #devnexus
“DON’T GIVE UP, CHARLIE BROWN” -Charles M. Schultz

34. “We are uncovering better ways of
developing software by doing it and
helping others do it.”
34
@mrry550 | #devnexus

35. linkedin.com/company/red-hat
youtube.com/user/RedHatVideos
facebook.com/redhatinc
twitter.com/RedHat
Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise
open source software solutions. Award-winning
support, training, and consulting services make
Red Hat a trusted adviser to the Fortune 500.
Thank you
35
@mrry550 | #devnexus