Last updated on Aug 5, 2024

Team members are at odds over agile methodologies. How will you steer the project towards success?

When your team is divided over the use of agile methodologies, it's not just a minor hiccup; it's a significant roadblock that can derail your project. Agile methodologies, which emphasize iterative development, collaboration, and adaptability, can be a powerful tool for project success. However, when team members disagree on their implementation, it can lead to confusion, frustration, and inefficiency. As someone in engineering management, your role is pivotal in navigating these choppy waters and steering your project toward success.

1 Understand Issues

To resolve conflicts over agile methodologies, start by understanding the root causes of the disagreements. Listen to each team member's concerns and perspectives. Some may feel the agile approach is too unstructured or unpredictable, while others might struggle with the frequent changes inherent to iterative development. By acknowledging these concerns, you can begin to address them through education about agile principles, such as the Agile Manifesto, and by demonstrating how these methods can benefit the project and the team.

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Farhan S.

Certified Productivity Specialist | Expert in Operational Excellence | Empowering Business Leaders and Professional Services Organizations to Optimize Efficiency, Foster a Strong Culture, and Boost Profitability
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By actively listening to team members' concerns, educating them on agile principles, and demonstrating the tangible benefits of agile practices, you can foster a more collaborative and cohesive team environment. This approach not only addresses immediate conflicts but also builds a stronger foundation for agile adoption and continuous improvement within the team.

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Muhammad Ahsan

Software Engineer | Ruby On Rails | Full Stack | SaaS | JavaScript | 10k Followers | CareCloud | MTBC | Ex. Healthwire | PUCIT
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I will make some data analysis and share with the team so that they get to know about the pros and cons of agile methodology.

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2 Align Objectives

Ensuring that all team members are aligned with the project's objectives is crucial. Discuss how agile methodologies can help meet these goals by allowing for flexibility and rapid response to change. Emphasize the importance of delivering value to the customer early and often, which is a core principle of agile. By linking agile practices to the success metrics of the project, you can create a shared understanding and commitment among the team.

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Renée Fishel, CSM, PMP, MBA

Business and Technology Leader at IBM | Building high-performing teams with the power of empathy | Agile Thought Leader
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If the team disagrees on a project management methodology, give them a forum to properly discuss it. Let's say you have a meeting where you explain the different agile methodologies and then let them determine the pros and cons. At the end, have the team anonymously vote on the methodology of choice and then experiment with it. The advantage of agile is that teams are meant to iterate. Test it out, see how it goes, and then during your next retrospective determine as a team if changes need to be made. At the end of the day, the goal is to deliver value to the customer early and often, and each customer has different needs. Implement, experiment and iterate.

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3 Training Sessions

Offering training sessions can be an effective way to bring everyone onto the same page. These sessions should cover agile practices such as Scrum or Kanban, explaining their workflows, roles, and ceremonies. Highlight the benefits of short sprints and regular retrospectives for continuous improvement. When team members understand how these practices fit into the bigger picture, they are more likely to embrace them.

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4 Pilot Program

Implement a pilot program where a small, cross-functional team adopts agile methodologies on a smaller scale before a full rollout. This allows skeptics to see the benefits first-hand without committing the entire project. The pilot team can work on a module or feature using agile practices and then showcase the results to the rest of the team, creating internal case studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of agile methodologies.

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5 Encourage Feedback

Encourage open feedback and continuous dialogue among team members about the agile process. Create a safe space where everyone can express their opinions and concerns without fear of retribution. Use retrospectives not only to evaluate project progress but also to assess how the team is adapting to agile practices. This feedback loop is essential for making necessary adjustments and ensuring that the methodologies are working for everyone.

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Alfred Timothy Lotho

Engineering Manager
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Agile is only a collection of tools and processes. It is a means and a methodology that was tested over a long time by many experts but may not necessarily work for everyone. So, involve the team in identifying which practices would work best. Encourage them to give alternative ideas and let them know that you would also like to be given a chance to test whether the agile methodology works. By comparing different ideas through data and the results that you achieve, you can decide together objectively. If agile is really the one that will work better, the results will show it.

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6 Monitor Progress

Finally, closely monitor the progress of the project as agile methodologies are adopted. Use key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to agile projects, such as velocity or sprint burndown charts, to track productivity and identify areas for improvement. Regularly review these metrics with the team to ensure that the methodologies are enhancing performance and helping to achieve project goals.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Team members are at odds over agile methodologies. How will you steer the project towards success?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Understand Issues

2 Align Objectives

3 Training Sessions

4 Pilot Program

5 Encourage Feedback

6 Monitor Progress

7 Here’s what else to consider

Engineering Management

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Team members are at odds over agile methodologies. How will you steer the project towards success?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Understand Issues

2 Align Objectives

3 Training Sessions

4 Pilot Program

5 Encourage Feedback

6 Monitor Progress

7 Here’s what else to consider

Engineering Management

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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