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1 Million Agile Methods/Practices, Everything Agile...

Writer's picture: Todd KromannTodd Kromann
Jan 12, 20238 min read

Ok, you have to read that title with a Dr. Evil voice. There isn't that many, yet...

but there are a lot. In this blog let's outline what these are, and how they are often used, and how you should use them. If I'm missing something please add in the comments. I'm using this for research.


First, Craig Smith outlined this by leveraging cleaver visual by Lynn Crazaly , her visual work is awesome and you should check it out at - https://www.lynnecazaly.com.au/ .


The original talk was at Scrum Australia in 2014 and the landscape has only grown in complexity. Hopefully, I Lynn or someone will update this; but the next picture might just prove how insane we've gotten. Let's spell that out in this blog. I'll iterate on this, so, consider this more of a dialogue for the next few weeks until we get a handle on the agile methods, techniques, practices, methodologies, frameworks, way of working (WOW!) and whatever new buzzword might be invented between now and when we finish.


Everything Agile

Agile methodology is a set of principles and practices for managing and completing complex projects, typically in software development. Agile methodologies prioritize flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement over rigid, traditional project management approaches.

One of the most widely used agile methodologies is Scrum, which emphasizes the use of small, cross-functional teams that work together to deliver small, incremental pieces of a project called "sprints" in regular intervals. Another popular methodology is Kanban, which focuses on visualizing and managing the flow of work.

Other popular agile methodologies include:

  • Extreme Programming (XP)

  • Feature-Driven Development (FDD)

  • Lean Software Development (LSD)

  • Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)

  • Crystal

  • Scrum at Scale

  • Adaptive Software Development (ASD)

  • Disciplined Agile (DA)

  • Rapid Application Development (RAD)

According to the 2021 Business Agility Institute report, the use of Agile methodologies continues to rise in popularity, with nearly 90% of organizations reporting that they use Agile in some form. This trend is expected to continue, as Agile methodologies continue to prove themselves as effective in managing complex projects and driving business success.

In terms of training trends, there has been a significant increase in the demand for Agile training, with many organizations looking to build the skills and knowledge of their teams to support the adoption of Agile methodologies. This trend is expected to continue as more organizations turn to Agile to drive innovation and improve their ability to adapt to changing business environments.


One of the most popular agile frameworks, Scrum, is used by over 70% of organizations globally. Other Agile methodologies such as Kanban and Lean are also becoming increasingly popular.


As for statistics on the use of agile methods and their trends for 2023, it is expected that more organizations will adopt agile practices, with a focus on scaling agile to the enterprise level, using frameworks such as Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS). Additionally, there is expected to be an increased focus on agile practices in non-technology industries, such as healthcare and government, as well as a rise in the use of agile methodologies in remote and distributed teams.

It is also predicted that organizations will continue to integrate agile practices with other methodologies, such as Design Thinking and Lean, to achieve a more holistic approach to problem-solving and innovation.

Overall, it is clear that agile methodologies and frameworks will continue to be a key approach for organizations looking to remain competitive and adapt to the changing business environment in 2023 and beyond.


Agile Frameworks

Agile framework refers to a set of practices and principles that guide the development of software using the Agile methodology. Agile frameworks provide a structured approach to implementing Agile, and they often include specific roles, events, and artifacts that are intended to help teams work together more effectively. The most popular Agile frameworks include Scrum, Kanban, and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). Each Agile framework is designed to address specific needs and can be used in different contexts. Scrum, for example, is well-suited for projects with high uncertainty and rapid changes in requirements, while Kanban is more appropriate for teams working on maintenance and support tasks. SAFe is designed for large-scale enterprise projects that require coordination and collaboration across multiple teams.

It's worth noting that Agile frameworks are not prescriptive and they are not meant to be followed rigidly. Agile frameworks are meant to be adapted to the specific needs of the team, organization, and project. The goal is to provide a flexible and responsive approach to software development that can help organizations to be more adaptive and responsive to changing market conditions.




Agile Methodologies

Agile methodology is a set of principles and practices for managing and completing complex projects, typically in software development. Agile methodologies prioritize flexibility, collaboration, and continuous improvement over rigid, traditional project management approaches.

One of the most widely used agile methodologies is Scrum, which emphasizes the use of small, cross-functional teams that work together to deliver small, incremental pieces of a project called "sprints" in regular intervals. Another popular methodology is Kanban, which focuses on visualizing and managing the flow of work.

Other popular agile methodologies include:

  • Extreme Programming (XP)

  • Feature-Driven Development (FDD)

  • Lean Software Development (LSD)

  • Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)

  • Crystal

According to the 2021 Business Agility Institute report, the use of Agile methodologies continues to rise in popularity, with nearly 90% of organizations reporting that they use Agile in some form. This trend is expected to continue, as Agile methodologies continue to prove themselves as effective in managing complex projects and driving business success.

In terms of training trends, there has been a significant increase in the demand for Agile training, with many organizations looking to build the skills and knowledge of their teams to support the adoption of Agile methodologies. This trend is expected to continue as more organizations turn to Agile to drive innovation and improve their ability to adapt to changing business environments.

It is difficult to provide a specific number for how many agile methodologies there are as new ones are constantly being developed and existing ones are being adapted and evolved. However, it is likely that there are at least several dozen widely used agile methodologies, and potentially many more that have been created for specific use cases or by individual organizations. Some sources estimate the number of agile methodologies to be in the hundreds.


Agile Practices

Agile practices refer to a set of principles and techniques that are used to implement the Agile methodology in software development and project management. It is difficult to give an exact range for the number of agile practices, as new practices and variations of existing practices are continually being developed. However, it is likely that there are several hundred different agile practices in use currently. Some estimates suggest that there are around 100-200 commonly used agile practices, but the number is likely to be higher as new practices are developed and adopted.


Some common Agile practices include:

  • Scrum, which is a framework for managing and completing complex projects through iterative and incremental delivery

  • Kanban, which is a visual method for managing and optimizing workflows

  • Pair programming, which is a technique where two developers work together at one computer

  • Test-driven development, where tests are written before the code is written to ensure that the code meets the requirements

  • Continuous integration, where code is regularly integrated and tested to ensure that it can be easily integrated with other code

  • Stand-up meetings, which are short daily meetings where team members discuss progress and any obstacles they are facing

  • Sprint planning, where the team sets goals and plans for the upcoming sprint

  • Sprint review, where the team demonstrates the work completed in the sprint and solicits feedback

  • Sprint retrospective, where the team reflects on the sprint and discusses what worked well and what can be improved

These are some of the practices that are commonly used in Agile methodology, there are more practices that can be adopted as well. it's important to note that Agile practices are not a one-size-fits-all solution, and teams may need to tailor them to fit their specific needs and context.




Agile Techniques


Agile Measurements/Metrics




Agile Concepts


Agile ?


Agile Certifications

An agile certification is a formal recognition that an individual has demonstrated a certain level of knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of agile methodologies. Agile certifications are typically earned by passing a written or practical exam, or by completing a course of study. Some examples of popular agile certifications include ScrumMaster, Product Owner, and SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) certifications. Agile certifications are often offered by organizations such as the Scrum Alliance, the International Consortium for Agile, and the Project Management Institute (PMI). These certifications can be useful for individuals looking to advance their careers in agile project management or software development, and for organizations looking to improve their agile practices.


It's difficult to provide a specific number for how many agile certifications exist, as new certifications are continuously being developed and introduced. However, there are several well-known and widely recognized agile certifications, such as Scrum Alliance's Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), and the International Consortium for Agile's Certified Agile Leadership (CAL) and Certified Agile Process Owner (CAPO). Additionally, there are certifications specific to certain agile frameworks, such as SAFe's SAFe Agilist and SAFe DevOps Practitioner. Overall, the number of agile certifications is likely in the dozens, with many organizations and institutions offering their own versions.


Here's the list of Certs that I have just to make the acronyms insane in any tagline or email. I can't define when this industry crossed the line from helpful to insane:

ORS@Work-Organization and Relationship Systems @WorkORS@Work-Organization and Relationship Systems @Work CRR Global USA | CanadaCRR Global USA | CanadaIssued Jul 2021 · No Expiration DateIssued Jul 2021 · No Expiration Date



Agile Buzz and Glossary


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