Note from the author: While I often write about organizations and technologies, this Advisor is a bit of a (related and important) tangent, as it focuses on career advancement. Invariably, in working with executives and rising leaders, particularly technology professionals and consultants, conversations turn to career challenges. I have long wanted to author a piece that captures an effective approach that, over many years, has resonated well with business professionals aiming for a promotion and meaningful career advancement.

Many of Agile’s practices and base assumptions were and are unrealistic, and some have become obsolete in our present digital world. We need new solutions — software developers would call it a major refactoring. It’s likely you will recognize some of these suggestions as changes you’ve already made to address the flaws of the original Agile method­ologies. For those who have just become Agile believers, this may come as more of a surprise. This Advisor goes through four common problems with Agile versus reality and discusses possible solutions.