A coach explains how the Agile methodology for product development is changing

Contents:

• How the modern development stack modernizes approaches to Agile
• How remote work led to a focus on asynchronous
• How AI will boost the profession of agile coaches

Agile is a widely used project management methodology that continues to evolve. In the early 2000s, the emphasis was on demonstrating work results at the end of each sprint. However, in the 2010s, the approach changed, and teams began to strive to deliver a finished product at the end of the sprint. Agile allows for flexible adaptation to change, improving the quality and speed of development, making it an indispensable tool for modern companies.

What does the future hold for Agile? At the AgileDays conference, held on March 28 in Moscow, Skillbox Media's "Management" editorial team received insights from Askhat Urazbaev, founder of ScrumTrek and the first professional agile coach in the CIS. He shared his opinion on the factors influencing the development of the Agile methodology and presented a vision of post-Agile. In this material, you will find key findings and predictions about the future of Agile and its adaptation to new conditions.

• how approaches to Agile are changing due to the modern development stack;
• how remote work has led to teams focusing on the asynchronous format;
• how AI will boost the profession of an Agile coach.

How the modern development stack is modernizing approaches to Agile

Agile includes many frameworks and approaches. In the West, this is often perceived as something sacred, where proponents of certain methods are convinced of the only true path, and all other approaches are considered erroneous. In Russia, the situation is different: here, more specialists realize that a variety of tools and approaches can be used to achieve goals. This flexible approach to Agile allows methodologies to be tailored to specific projects and team needs, leading to more effective problem solving and increased productivity.

Modern software development technologies are significantly changing approaches in various fields. In recent years, there has been a shift from a concept-based to a context-based approach, reflecting changes in market requirements and user preferences. This shift allows developers to better adapt to customer needs, creating more personalized and effective solutions.

• Concept-based is an approach when a team believes that there is one correct way to manage a project, and anyone using other methods simply doesn’t understand it.
• Context-based is an approach when a team believes that everything depends on the context and that different project management tools and frameworks can be used depending on the task and situation.

Obviously, a lot depends on context. However, until recently, this was not taken for granted. Understanding context plays a key role in interpreting information and making decisions. We often encounter situations where the meaning of words or actions changes depending on the circumstances. This highlights the importance of analyzing the context to gain a deeper understanding of what is happening.

There is no single universal tool or framework that suits all teams. If your team is already functioning effectively, there is no need to make changes or implement popular methodologies just because of the opinions of others, such as SAFe critics. It is important to focus on the process that best suits the needs of your team and the project. Optimizing work should be based on real needs and results, not on fashionable trends.

How Remote Working Led to a Focus on Asynchronous Work

One of the core values ​​of Agile is “People and interactions over processes and tools.” This idea is reflected in regular team synchronization. Scrum methodology has frequent meetings, which sometimes leads to employees spending significant time in meetings, leaving the main work for the evening. This can negatively impact productivity and requires a careful approach to meeting scheduling. It's important to find a balance between effective collaboration and the time allotted to tasks.

With the shift to remote work during the pandemic, online meetings have become an integral part of the workflow, allowing teams to collaborate effectively without the need for in-person meetings. However, many large companies, such as TikTok and Amazon, are now requiring employees to return to the office. Meanwhile, developers are choosing to remain remote to focus on projects and avoid regular meetings. This situation highlights the growing trend toward flexible work schedules and the importance of maintaining a balance between work responsibilities and personal life.

Atlassian research found that the vast majority of employees find meetings ineffective for brainstorming, communication, and collaborative decision-making. Knowledge workers report that too many meetings hinder their productivity and focus. This highlights the need to optimize the format and number of meetings to improve team effectiveness.

According to other data, teams consider approximately 50% of meetings to be a "waste of time." As a result, employees waste approximately 31 hours each month on ineffective activities. This highlights the need to rethink meeting approaches and optimize working time to increase productivity.

Teams are increasingly shifting to asynchronous communication. Instead of gathering everyone for meetings, they prefer to use chats or email to share information. This does not mean abandoning communication; on the contrary, it simplifies processes. This approach allows teams to focus on completing tasks, avoiding lengthy and frequent calls. Asynchronous communication promotes greater efficiency and improves time management within a team.

The asynchronous approach is particularly appealing to Generation Z. This format allows them to consider their responses and suggestions before expressing them. This method of communication creates a comfortable environment for interaction and facilitates more informed decisions.

How AI Will Boost the Profession of Agile Coaches

Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool that is widely used in Agile approaches. It enables the effective exchange of information both within teams and between different departments of the company. The use of AI improves communication, simplifies access to necessary data, and increases overall productivity. Thanks to this, teams can adapt to changes faster and achieve their goals more effectively.

After meetings, text notes, known as meeting transcripts, are often compiled, which record all the topics discussed. Recipients of these notes typically do not read them in their entirety, as they need specific aspects of the information. For example, an architect might be interested in decision-making, while a Scrum Master might focus on identified problems and obstacles. Such notes help highlight key points and ensure more efficient use of participants' time, allowing everyone to focus on their area of ​​interest.

Artificial intelligence provides users with access to up-to-date information, which helps avoid unnecessary meetings and makes communication more productive. This not only improves the efficiency of team collaboration but also significantly saves time, allowing you to focus on important tasks.

An example of the effective use of artificial intelligence is "live" regulations. AI not only replenishes the knowledge base but also ensures its automatic updates. Artificial intelligence can independently track changes made, for example, by analyzing meeting transcripts or messages in the team's work chat, and make adjustments to the relevant regulations. This significantly increases the relevance of information and simplifies the process of updating it, which is especially important for organizations striving for high efficiency and efficiency in management.

The successful implementation of such approaches requires specialists with skills in working in a corporate context. They must be able to organize the collection, analysis, and use of data on team processes. Artificial intelligence will likely become a catalyst for the development of the profession of agile coaches, who will acquire these skills. This new skill associated with working in context can be described as context engineering, similar to the concept of data engineering. This will allow agile coaches to more effectively implement methodologies and optimize processes in organizations.