In early 2001, a group of frustrated software developers met at a ski lodge in Snowbird, Utah. Tired of bloated processes, sluggish delivery timelines, and the “just follow the plan” mentality that ignored reality, they drafted the Agile Manifesto; a document that did more than introduce new values. It sparked a revolution in how we think about work, collaboration, and innovation.
But Agile isn’t just for coders or tech startups anymore.
Today, Agile has infiltrated everything from HR teams to film production, urban design to product innovation labs. So what is Agile, really? And more importantly, how can thinking Agile make your work better, even if you’re not in software development?
Let’s dig in.
Agile Was Born From Frustration, But It Thrives on Adaptability
Before Agile, the dominant project management approach resembled military precision: gather requirements up front, create massive documentation, develop behind closed doors for months (or years), then deliver. Spoiler: it rarely worked.
Agile flipped that model on its head.
Rather than waiting for perfection, Agile teams prioritize:
- Small wins over giant, risky launches
- Conversations over paperwork
- Flexibility over rigidity
- Customer value over contractual checklists
That’s the essence of the Agile Manifesto.
And it’s this adaptability—not a specific set of rituals—that gives Agile its staying power.
Agile In Action: Beyond Software
1. University of Toronto Libraries: Iterative Catalogue Redesign
The University of Toronto Library undertook a multi-phase redesign of its online catalogue to improve usability across devices. Instead of launching a full system redo, they took an Agile approach:
- Responsive design deployed incrementally, guided by UX feedback.
- They first observed that 93% of users still accessed via desktop—refining the desktop-to-mobile experience accordingly.
This allowed the team to adapt their development based on real usage, not assumptions—a hallmark of Agile thinking in action.
2. Riccardo’s Restaurant (London): Scrum in Hospitality
Riccardo Mariti, owner of Riccardo’s in London, one of the first to trial Scrum in a restaurant:
- In 2016, he and Scrum co-creator Jeff Sutherland applied Scrum rituals to kitchen and operations.
- They cut the time spent on scheduling from 24 hours to just one, discovered hidden cost savings, and increased operational flexibility.
- Staff also became T‑shaped, with roles overlapping (e.g., waiters learning prep skills), boosting adaptability.
By embracing daily stand-ups, short sprints, and cross-trained teams, Riccardo’s became a functioning Agile ecosystem—outside of software.
3. Zomato (India): Feature-by-Feature Evolution
Zomato, a leading food‑tech platform, exemplifies Agile across its development cycles. One publicly shared case:
- They launched rating & review, search filters, and online ordering one increment at a time using sprints.
- For example, a simple like/dislike prototype was deployed first, then refined into 1–5 star ratings with comments and image uploads in later sprints.
- Search evolved from basic cuisine filters to personalized suggestions and trending options, each added iteratively.
- Their online ordering module was rolled out in stages: from cart and COD payment to credit‑card support, promo codes, and delivery tracking.
Through this iterative delivery, Zomato continuously learns from users and adjusts—classic Agile in a real-world product.
What These Examples Teach Us
| Principle | Real‑World Impact |
|---|---|
| Iterative delivery | Splitting re‑designs (U Toronto) or new features (Zomato) into small, usable increments |
| Feedback loops | Using UX metrics (U Toronto), staff input (Riccardo’s), and customer usage data (Zomato) |
| Cross-functional learning | Encouraging T‑shaped staff roles beyond silos |
| Continuous adaptation | Shifting direction quickly—scrapping tomato for beetroot, or upgrading catalog elements |
The Agile Mindset Is a Shift in Thinking
Too often, organizations “do Agile” by forcing teams into Scrum meetings or buying Jira licenses without changing how people think.
That’s like buying dance shoes without learning to hear the beat.
Agile is about a mindset shift:
- From certainty to curiosity
- From command-and-control to empowered teams
- From a perfect plan to continuous learning
Let’s say your team is launching a new internal tool. The old way? Build it for six months, deploy it, and hope it works. Agile thinking? Release a small version in two weeks, gather feedback, and improve from there.
This shift isn’t easy—but it is powerful. Agile invites us to value feedback over pride, and progress over perfection.
Frameworks Are Tools—Not Religion
Agile comes with a variety of frameworks, each suited to different contexts. Think of them as tools, not rules:
- Scrum: Great for building products with clear iterations.
- Kanban: Ideal for visualizing ongoing work, limiting overload, and improving flow.
- XP (Extreme Programming): Emphasizes technical discipline—especially helpful in environments that require fast iteration and high-quality code.
- Lean: Strips away the waste. Originating in manufacturing, it now shapes everything from nonprofit operations to Lean Startups.
- SAFe: Helps large organizations scale Agile across many teams.
Don’t get caught up in jargon. Choose the tools that match your needs, and evolve them over time.
Getting Started: Agile in the Real World
You don’t need a big budget or a new job title to try Agile. Here’s how to begin today:
- Visualize Your Workflow
Create a simple Kanban board: “To Do,” “In Progress,” “Done.” Tools like Trello or physical whiteboards work just fine. - Limit Work in Progress (WIP)
Only allow 2-3 active tasks per person at any time. Multitasking kills flow and creates bottlenecks. - Review Weekly
Hold short weekly retrospectives. What worked? What didn’t? What should we try next? - Deliver Value Early
Ask: “What’s the smallest useful thing we could launch next week?” Then do it.
You’ll be surprised how quickly momentum builds when you remove the pressure of perfection.
Why Agile Still Matters—More Than Ever
In a world that changes faster than any Gantt chart can keep up with, Agile gives us something powerful: resilience.
Whether you’re leading a creative team, launching a new product, or just trying to juggle competing priorities, Agile offers a path forward grounded in transparency, collaboration, and iteration.
So no—you don’t have to be a tech company to benefit from Agile. You just have to be willing to embrace change and believe that better is possible, even if it’s not perfect.
Bringing It Back to You
Whatever your field—marketing, operations, nonprofit—here’s how to get started:
- Break projects into vertical slices: Focus on fully functional pieces, not partial builds.
- Launch prototypes early: Minimum viable versions get real feedback and build momentum.
- Short feedback loops: Weekly stand-ups and retrospectives surface problems fast.
- Encourage cross-skilling: Broaden roles to improve flexibility and team cohesion.
- Measure and adapt: Use simple metrics (usage rates, user comments, time savings) to steer priorities.
Agile isn’t about ceremonies or tools—it’s a flexible way to think, work, and learn. These concrete examples—from libraries to restaurants to food-tech—show how far that mindset can stretch.
Find the accompanying YouTube Video here: https://youtu.be/sRmn1M2ScIs?si=7pvABok-ff2imMBE
Photo by GABRIEL CARVALHO on Unsplash