I've learned by direct and indirect experience, in over 15 years of professional activity in the Agile field, that so called Agile "transformations" which really meet their expectations (or, even better, exceeds them) are quite few. In too many instances the benefits are minimal, totally absent or indeed negative. This presentation intends to acknowledge, constructively, this elephant in the room and to offer insights, personal experiences and suggestions to anyone willing to enhance the Business Agility of their organization. We'll take a look at some common misunderstanding concerning the organizational and cultural transition to Agility (I don't really like the term "transformation" in this context). We'll also observe a few dear, old habits that are apparently hard to change.

1. WHY AGILE TRANSFORMATIONS FAIL
(AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT)
Andrea Provaglio

2. ANDREA PROVAGLIO
Andrea Provaglio is one of the most senior Agile
practitioners in Italy, with over two decades of
experience, clients in three di
ff
erent continents
and experience on a wide range of companies and
organisations, both in the private and in the public
sector, ranging from the United Nations and large
multinationals to small and dynamic companies.
He works in Europe and he is based in Italy.
Executive Business Agility Advisor, Senior Agile Coach, Keynote Speaker, Mentor, Certi
fi
ed Agile Trainer
In addition to his main coaching and consulting activity inside
companies, Andrea is a regular speaker at major international Agile
conferences, where his talks are usually appreciated for their innovative
and ground-breaking perspectives.
Andrea is also a regular faculty member of the Executive MBA Ticinenis
with the University of Pavia, where he lectures on Agile management
and highly adaptive organizations.
ICAgile’s Authorized
Instructor
Professional
Scrum Master
Professional
Product Owner
Certi
fi
ed Agile
Leadership
Agility in HR
Professional
MAIN CERTIFICATIONS
Scrum at Scale
Practitioner
MAIN CLIENTS
During his previous career in IT he also worked for four years in the USA,
on an O-1 work visa for "extraordinary abilities in Sciences.”

3. AN OPEN SECRET
IN THE TRADE
Quite a few Agile “transformations” fail
— sometimes spectacularly

4. HOW DOES A FAILED
TRANSFORMATION LOOK LIKE?

5. LIKE THIS
Australia and New Zealand Bank
Agile “New Way of Working”

6. “It’s been a disaster. Whoever becomes the next
CEO, the
fi
rst thing they’ll do is to get rid of
agile.
-Former ANZ Executive
Read the article, though. There are other voices.

7. DAMAGING THE
BUSINESS
The cost of the attempted
transformation exceeds the bene
fi
ts

8. DAMAGING THE
PEOPLE
Stress, burnout, frustration, anxiety
People leave or silent-quit

9. DAMAGING THE
FUTURE
Falling behind business and social
changes

10. WHAT MAKES A
TRANSFORMATION FAIL
Disclaimer: these are a few personal observations, reality is more complex

11. NO CULPRIT
Multiple interrelated causes

12. IT’S HARD TO
UNDERSTAND
WHAT AGILE
REALLY IS
Born in a highly technical industry that sells
products made 100% of intellectual work
https://flic.kr/p/2mb6vET

13. ORGANIZATIONS ARE
IMPLICITLY OPTIMIZED TO
AVOID CHANGING THE
STATUS QUO MIDDLE- AND
FIRST-LEVEL MANAGER AND
“SPECIALIST” POSITIONS &
POWER STRUCTURES
— Craig Larman
https://flic.kr/p/AEyVHF

14. AGILE AS A
COMMODITY
Frameworks, tools, consultants that
“install” Agile

15. FAKE AGILITY
“10,000 Jira transactions per month”
— ANZ
https://flic.kr/p/e2cXrf

16. SHALLOW AGILE
Just process, missing the real potential

17. INEXPERIENCED
COACHES
You need the scars, not just badges

18. SOME
INDICATORS OF
HEALTHY AGILE
Healthy for the business, people, society – +
People’s well-being
– +
People’s engagement
– +
Business resilience and adaptability
– +
More value-adding activities, less waste
– +
Continuing organizational learning

19. WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
Change Agent Decision-maker

20. AVOID
MANICHAEISM
Simple dichotomies cannot address
complexity

21. AVOID HOLY
CRUSADES
In the name of your own idea of Agile

22. FOCUS ON THE
BUSINESS AS
WELL AS ON
PEOPLE
Tree-hugging Agile is cozy but not
sustainable

23. LEARN, THINK,
DECIDE
Study, discuss, understand Agile
Simple notions are dangerous
Photo by Evan Bench from paris, france, CC BY 2.0

24. LEADERS GO
FIRST
Don’t just make“them” change.
You should be the
fi
rst to lead the way.

25. MAKE YOUR
VALUE STREAM
AGILE
END-TO-END
Using Agile for “production” only is
pointless

26. OWN YOUR
AGILITY
Don’t externalize your evolution

27. REFERENCES
https://bit.ly/provaglio-iad22

28. LET’S CONNECT
ANDREA PROVAGLIO
http://andreaprovaglio.com
https://linkedin.com/in/provaglio