When – When is Agile NOT like Zen

Much of Zen is about meditation, contemplation, and mindfulness.

But Agile is mostly focused on immediate action.

For new Agile activities we say “fail-fast, then learn”, “try it before you decide”, “inspect and adopt”, etc.

The Agile approach is to avoid procrastination at all costs by jumping into immediate action, then based on the results of the action (feedback), learning and adjusting the next iteration.

While in Zen, it is paramount to understand the current situation, environment, impacts, and future state, results, outcomes ... all to avoid any possibility of harm.

From this perspective, Agile and Zen are at the opposite ends of the spectrum.

DONE.

Who – Who Needs to Understand the Zen of Agile

If you are reading this blog, you need to understand the Zen of Agile 
- the Agile Manifesto (http://agilemanifesto.org/). 

Please read it.  Please understand it and its history. 

Please add yourself to the list of signatories. 

And please share it with everyone who works with you.

DONE.

How – How are Zen and Agile Related

Both Zen and Agile promote balance, harmony, good will, and service, while pursuing self-development and self-actualization.

A minor difference could be that while Zen works mostly at the individual level, Agile is more focused at the group level, i.e. Teams, departments, and organizations of all sizes.

Yet, you do not need to know one to practice the other.  It is just nice to notice the alignment.

DONE.