Beyond Agile: Embrace the Toolbox, Not Just One Tool!

Someone saying, “Don’t touch it. It’s not Agile.” isn’t really helpful or convincing advice. It’s like they’re saying Agile is the only way to do things, such as software development, or running a business, and that’s just not true. Agile is only one among many way to get stuff done, like one tool in a big toolbox.

Just like you wouldn’t use a hammer to fix everything, you wouldn’t use Agile for everything. There are lots of other tools (or approaches) you can use, and sometimes they will be even better for the job at hand.

So, when someone says, “Don’t touch it. It’s not Agile.” they’re kind of limiting your options. It’s like refusing to recommend anything but a hammer, even when a screwdriver would work better. They’re missing out on other ways to attend to folks’ needs or get things done.

What’s really important is not whether something is Agile or not, but whether it’s the best tool, or even a good-enough tool, for the job. Just like picking the right tool from your toolbox, you need to pick the right method for your task. That’s the kind of advice that’s really helpful!