14 different Agile frameworks. How to pick the right framework for your team, product and environment?
A complete guide to selecting the right Agile framework
👋 Hello,
I’m Vibhor, and welcome to the 🔒 subscriber-only edition 🔒 of my weekly newsletter.
Every week, I answer one reader question about agile, product, roles, processes, frameworks, working with humans, and anything else that you need answered about your career growth.
You can send me your questions here.
On to this week’s question!
Q: With so many Agile Frameworks in the market, how would you advise an organization to proceed in adopting a Framework? I work in the public service; some ministries are opting for scrum, others want SAFe, and others use different versions of the Agile framework.
Thanks for the question!
Agile frameworks have been the subject of controversy for as long as I can remember. Every day, I read posts full of ridicule for SAFe and Scrum. We often hear statements like:
“SAFe is waterfall in nature.”
“Scrum is not Agile.”
But why do people say that? What’s the reason?
The reason, in my opinion, is pretty simple. And it’s this:
Most people have no idea about what’s the right framework for their purpose.
Effort + (Wrong Tool) = No Result
An Agile framework is nothing but a tool. Just like a “hammer.”
A hammer is not Agile. It can’t be!
Whether the hammer hits the nail or your thumb depends upon:
“How Agile YOU are with the hammer”
When people use the wrong framework (the tool), for e.g. SAFe, they start blaming the framework without questioning the usefulness of SAFe for their purpose.
Let’s change this.
Let’s use a system that can guide us in selecting the right framework. A framework which is optimum not only for our teams and products but also for the environment and the culture we operate in.
14 different Agile frameworks to choose from
Over the years, I have worked with and guided my teams to successfully adopt 14 different Agile frameworks. These frameworks are listed below. I have also listed the best resources to gain a quick but meaningful understanding of each of these frameworks.
Note: You “do not” need to have detailed knowledge about the frameworks to use the Agile Framework Selection Guide detailed below in this post.