In July 2016, this post called out the performative Agile practices spreading across large enterprises. Teams were going through the motions — standups, retros, velocity tracking — but without the psychological safety, autonomy, or trust that true Agile requires. The piece explored how middle management, stuck between executive pressure and team reality, often undermined transformation efforts. It ended with a call to return to authenticity, user connection, and real cultural change.
By early 2018, some organizations began to abandon surface-level Agile for deeper change: outcome-based roadmaps, dual-track discovery, and embedded research. The shift toward real cross-functional teams gained traction, though many still struggled to let go of waterfall metrics.
In 2025, most mature enterprises acknowledge that Agile is about mindset and culture, not rituals. Top-performing teams prioritize user outcomes and adaptability over velocity charts. But in many organizations, a shadow Agile still lingers — all sprint, no soul.
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