When Should You Implement Scrum or Agile?

Are there circumstances that are more favorable for implementation of Agile and Scrum and ones that are not very favorable for its implementation. Generally, the ideal conditions for implementation and spread of Agile/ Scrum in an organization depend on the market and customer scenario, rather than the development team scenario. Some such factors or conditions include:

1. Unclear product direction or a research oriented product – the fact that the direction is unclear, makes you plan only for a small time in the future, when you reassess and reorient
2. Too many changes/ feedback too often in the product – again this means that you take the minimum [agreed, clear or consensus] work – complete it – get feedback and move from there
3. Competitive industry/ market scenario – this generally would mean you have to get the features out to the market sooner rather than later as well as have more customer connect in the product [some will argue this should be the case anyways]

There are some factors at organizational end as well, which can impede/ aid the Agile Implementation. For instance, if there is no management buy in, or team buy in or worse if there is no customer buy in [in service industry scenarios]- it will be hard if not downright impossible to implement Scrum, Agile or any other framework. In addition, where a deliberate slow and assured pace is mandatory [think software for nuclear reactors or space ships] – there might be significant overhead. Hence, small increments or sprints might not be possible in such a scenario. Turning, this around, you should go all out to implement Scrum or Agile, if:

1. There is a relative buy in at all ends – customer>>management>>team [not necessarily in this order in all organizations].
2. The cost of a single bug is very high.
3. Everyone understands or make attempts to understand what is Scrum or what is Agile.

When you combine the outside [market/ customer] conditions with inside [organization] factors – you get a ripe condition for implementation of Scrum or Agile.

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