Agile. Everyone talks about it. Most claim they use it. But here’s the uncomfortable truth—most companies using ‘Agile’ today aren’t Agile at all. They’re stuck in a bloated, bastardised version of what Agile was meant to be.
I’m Heath Gascoigne—author of the 6x international bestseller The Business Transformation Playbook, and creator of the HOBA Agile Business Transformation Framework used by government departments, FTSE100 companies, and startups alike.
In this post, we’re going to break down why Agile is absolutely essential in modern business transformation—but also why most so-called ‘Agile’ implementations are a fraud.
We’ll expose the dangers of “Wagile” (a Frankenstein mashup of waterfall + agile), the cult-like obsession with SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), and why rigidly following the Agile Manifesto is killing agility—not creating it.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Table of Contents
What Agile Was Meant to Be
Agile was created by developers who wanted to work better—faster iterations, quicker feedback, empowered teams. It was born out of necessity, not ceremony. But somewhere along the way, the message got lost in translation.
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What Agile Has Become: Wagile and the Rise of Bureaucracy
Today’s corporate ‘Agile’ is a Frankenstein. Half Agile. Half Waterfall. 100% ineffective.
We call it Wagile—where teams attend stand-ups and sprints but still wait for a six-month plan to get sign-off. You might wear the t-shirt, but if your process looks like PRINCE2 dressed in Scrum’s clothing, you’re not Agile.
👏 “Just because you use Jira and stand-ups doesn’t mean you’re Agile. If your process still needs six months of sign-off, you’re Wagile..” 🚀🧳 #AgileTransformation #BusinessTransformators #HOBA
SAFe: Agile in Name Only?
Let’s address the elephant in the boardroom—SAFe.
Sold as a silver bullet for scaling agility, SAFe is Agile’s bloated cousin. Even the original Agile Manifesto signatories have blasted SAFe for introducing bureaucracy that kills the very agility it promises.
As Ron Jeffries, one of the Agile Manifesto co-authors, famously said:
"SAFe is not safe at any speed." - Ron Jeffries
Why is it so popular? Marketing. Certifications. Corporate checkboxes. Like vendor-locked software, clients stay because they fear the cost of change—not because it works.
But in today’s tech climate, staying on the wrong track isn’t just costly—it’s fatal.
Why Most Organisations Are Doing It Wrong
Agile isn’t a framework. It’s a mindset. But too many organisations treat it like a template to copy-paste.
You get two extremes:
- The Wagile Pretenders, who add Agile lingo to a waterfall model.
- The Agile Fundamentalists, who follow the manifesto word-for-word but forget the context.
Both miss the point. Real agility is about delivering value faster, with flexibility and feedback.
🚀 "SAFe is Agile in name only. Even the Agile Manifesto founders say it’s ‘not safe at any speed’. Why do people still use it? Marketing." 🌱 #AgileTransformation #Innovation #ThoughtLeadership
The HOBA Approach Proportional and Context Aware Agility
At HOBA Tech, we teach and preach a different path.
Agility is about application—not dogma. You must apply your framework proportionally and appropriately to the situation.
That’s what we teach in our Intro to Agile Business Transformation Course. It’s Agile for real-world transformation. No fluff. No jargon. Just results.
Why Agile is Still the Answer—If You Do It Right
Despite the misuse and overmarketing, Agile still holds the key to surviving and thriving in the modern business landscape.
The pace of change is too fast for outdated frameworks and rigid governance. True agility allows you to:
- Iterate quickly
- Respond to feedback
- Pivot strategically
- Empower teams
- Deliver actual outcomes
But only if you do it right.
Conclusion & Call to Action
Agile isn’t dead—it’s just been hijacked.
If your transformation effort feels slow, bureaucratic, or disconnected—it’s not Agile. It’s Wagile. Or worse, a cult of certifications keeping your business stuck.
It’s time to get back to what works: business agility that fits your business.
Want to learn how to implement Agile the right way—without the fluff, jargon, or vendor lock-in?
Start with our free Intro to Agile Business Transformation Course.
Or contact us for personalised advice on your transformation journey.
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👏 “Agility isn’t about following a framework religiously—it’s about applying it proportionally and appropriately. That’s what real transformation looks like." 💡 #HOBAFramework #AgileTransformation #BusinessSuccess
About HOBA Tech
If this resonated with you, discover how to make Business Transformation a reality—with less stress, fewer resources, and faster results. Explore our award-winning agile Business Transformation Framework, trusted by organizations worldwide, from the UK Government and FTSE-100 companies to innovative start-ups. Ready to begin your transformation journey? Start here.
Curious why The Business Transformation Playbook is hailed as the “Business Transformation Bible”? See what readers are saying in the Amazon reviews.
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Let us know in the comments what stood out to you or what topics you’d like us to cover next. If you found this valuable, share it with others who could benefit!
Thank you for reading, and here’s to your transformation success!
Sincerely,
Heath Gascoigne
P.S. If you want to join our Business Transformator community of 2,000+ like-minded Business Transformators, join the community on the Business Transformator Facebook Group here.
P.P.S. If you want to learn more about business transformation, check out The Business Transformation Playbook.
