The real problem with Agile

The real problem with Agile is when frequent references to the Manifesto and fanaticism surrounding it isn't too different from religious fanaticism -- a generation venerating maniacally on written scriptures that are considered immutable.

Disruptive Innovation Explained

Agile is not the solution for lack of innovation...

Some very interesting thoughts (in the context of innovation)...

1. agility is required, but "Agile is not a miracle solution to lack of innovation."  
2. Individual awareness of disruption doesn't readily translate to organizational awareness at a sr. mgt.
3. Adaptation takes time.
4. There is an inherent dichotomy in economies of scale and agility.
5. "agility works in risk situation where possibilities are small and known beforehand; but not in uncertainty where no. of possibilities are infinite.
6. "agility is a form of passivity with respect to its environment".
7. Innovation is not adaptation to the environment, but to transform it.
8. The advantage of Startups is not agility, rather it is that they don't have a legacy to protect (Innovator's Dilemma)

https://philippesilberzahneng.wordpress.com/2017/09/13/innovation-agility-is-not-what-your-organization-needs/

Agile Disruption

Courtesy: Russ Fletcher, Slideshare

Excerpts from Innovator's Dilemma

Sears Roebuck

• Sears Roebuck -- retailer in the US and rest of the world
• 1880s thru early 1990s
• Started off as Catalog of Watches and Jewelry
• IPO in 1906. By 19060s it was the largest retailer in the world.
• Started off selling single product category
• The retail sector was overpriced. Sears started selling anything and everything. You could order from comfort of your home (like we do from Amazon).
• Pioneered several innovations critical to retailing -- supply chain management, store brands, catalog retailing, and credit card sales.
• As of 2016 its main competitors were: Walmart, Target, Kohl's, J.C. Penny, Macy's, Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, and Amazon.
• 1984 together with IBM created Prodigy - a pre-Web online web portal. Built on a private network; was distinct from Internet.
• Simplified structure in 1992; discontinued catalog in 1993, sold Prodigy in 1996; 1999 back to retailing roots.
• Filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on 15th Oct 2018.
• 46 Unprofitable stores were to be closed by Nov 2018.
• It will begin closing additional 142 stores end of year
• It missed the advent of discount retailing / mass merchandiser (e.g. Aldi, Lidl, BigW, KMart, Target, Costco, Daiso, Matalan (Bradley stoke), Home Bargains (Bradley stoke),  -- offer wide assortments of goods with focus on price rather than on service) and home centers (Large hardware store selling tools, building materials, and other household items )
• Sears allowed arrogance to blind itself to the changes taking place in American marketplace
• Couldn't compete with Catalog Stores ( e.g. Argos UK)

Other Leadership failures

• IBM dominated the Mainframe market but missed by many years the emergence of mini computers.
• Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC)
• Xerox long dominated the Plan-paper Photocopiers business and yet missed the huge growth and profit opportunity for small talbletop photocopiers
• 
  
• 
  

In both DEC and Sears' case, the decisions that led to their decline were made at the time they were widely regarded as being astutely managed firms; and being among the best companies in the world.