The Agile Fluency Model – Rethinking What Agile Success Looks Like

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The Agile Fluency Model – Rethinking What Agile Success Looks Like

When organizations embark on an agile journey, it's easy to assume that "more agile" is always better. But what if the goal isn't maximum agility? What if the goal is achieving the right level of agility for your team's needs?

That's the thinking behind the Agile Fluency Model, a practical framework developed by Diana Larsen and James Shore that helps teams identify where they are today, where they want to go, and what investments are needed to get there. The model is designed to help teams chart a course, align with management, and secure organizational support for improvement.

🔺 What Makes It Different?

Unlike traditional maturity models that suggest every team should progress toward a single "highest" level, the Agile Fluency Model recognizes that different organizations have different goals.

Some teams may benefit from simply improving collaboration and transparency. Others may need to optimize value delivery or continuously improve their systems and organizational effectiveness. The model helps leaders determine what level of fluency creates the most value for their context.

🔺 Why It's Worth Exploring

  • Power Skills: Encourages meaningful conversations about team culture, collaboration, and leadership.
  • Ways of Working: Helps teams align agile practices with desired business outcomes rather than simply adopting frameworks.
  • Business Acumen: Supports informed decisions about where to invest time, training, coaching, and organizational change.

💡 Heather's Take:

This PD Pick is a great example of Embrace Curiosity. The Agile Fluency Model challenges the notion that every team should follow the same path. Instead, it encourages us to think strategically about what success looks like and invest where it matters most.

For project managers working in agile, hybrid, or transforming organizations, this framework offers a refreshing perspective: success isn't about checking every agile box. It's about finding the level of fluency that helps your team create the greatest value.

👉 Explore the Agile Fluency Project: Agile Fluency Project: Chart Your Agile Pathway
https://www.agilefluency.org/

References: 1. [agilefluency.org] 2. [scrum.org]

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