Tag Archives: Business Management

Are Organizations Really Less Agile Today?

 By Brian Lucas The one is for Brad – conversationalist, satirist, humorist, historian, logician, craftsman, military strategist, but most important of all – my friend! “Once you have something so deeply infused in your culture and your brand, it would be very … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise, Agile Thinking, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Your not agile if you are just parroting!

By Brian Lucas The one is for my friend RC, who has gone through life helping more people than anyone can count! “Platitude: an idea (a) that is admitted to be true by everyone, and (b) that is not true.” – H. … Continue reading

Posted in Agile in the Enterprise, Agile Thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Promote Ideas Not People!

This one is for all the entrepreneurs who have the sense and the courage to reinvent the enterprise and build a better future for everyone without exploiting the workforce in amassing undeserved wealth. “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile for Software Development, Agile in the Enterprise, Agile Thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Agile CEOs Cannot Ignore Toxic Managers

By Brian Lucas Dedicated to someone lost long ago, taken by the angels all too soon, because she was one of them! “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise, Agile Thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

An Agilist’s Manifesto of Friendship!

By Brian Lucas This one is for Jack! Agile runs on confidence, confidence is built on trust, trust is built on friendship.  Agile enterprises built on any other foundation are houses of cards ready to collapse at the slightest pressure. … Continue reading

Posted in Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise, Agile Thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

We Could All Learn a Lesson in Agility from Extremophiles

By Brian Lucas This one’s for Wendi, who I believe is “Going Agile!” “The facts of variability, of the struggle for existence, of adaptation to conditions, were notorious enough; but none of us had suspected that the road to the … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise, Agile Thinking | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

WhatWentWrong@healthcare.gov

By Brian Lucas This one is dedicated to Sally, “Di politica nunquam nos!” “Truth never damages a cause that is just.” ― Mahatma Gandhi By now most of America knows that the healthcare.gov website – one of the main delivery portals of … Continue reading

Posted in Agile in the Enterprise, Agile Thinking, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Being Agile on a Shoestring

By Brian Lucas Dedicated to Marcie; director, actress, artist, singer, photographer, model and writer.  The Muses and the Graces have gifted thee in abundance with beauty and talent. “Managers today have to do more with less, and get better results … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Rules, Rules Everywhere and Never an Agilist in Sight!

By Brian Lucas This one is dedicated to my dear friend Pat – always a friend in deed!” “There are no rules here — we’re trying to accomplish something.” – Thomas Edison This is one of my favorite quotes of … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Software Development, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Lack of Agility by CEOs to Blame for Slow Recovery

By Brian Lucas This one is for my good friend Anthony to give his active mind a new opportunity for investing. “When you get the majority of the economy predictable, you’re gonna get faster job growth, and companies investing more. … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

Excerpts from: BUILDING A CULTURE OF ENGAGEMENT: THE IMPORTANCE OF SENIOR LEADERSHIP

By Brian Lucas This is the fifth in a series of excerpts from white papers I am posting due to the gracious generosity of Katie Iorio-Martin in response to the enthusiastic requests for more information by many of her interview readers. … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Excerpts from: ENHANCING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT: THE ROLE OF THE IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR

By Brian Lucas This is the fourth in a series of excerpts from white papers I am posting due to the gracious generosity of Katie Iorio-Martin in response to the enthusiastic requests for more information by many of her interview readers. … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Excerpts from: EMOTIONAL DRIVERS OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

By Brian Lucas This is the third in a series of excerpts from white papers I am posting due to the gracious generosity of Katie Iorio-Martin in response to the enthusiastic requests for more information by many of her interview readers. … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Excerpts from: THE DYNAMICS OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

By Brian Lucas This is the second in a series of excerpts from white papers I am posting due to the gracious generosity of Katie Iorio-Martin in response to the enthusiastic requests for more information by many of her interview readers. … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

A Natural Agilist Practices What She Preaches

By Brian Lucas Katie Iorio-Martin is the Franchise President and CEO; Partner of Dale Carnegie Training for Southeastern Pennsylvania located at 2000 Valley Forge Circle, Suites 119 & 120 King of Prussia, PA 19406.  She has been involved with Dale … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise, Interview with a Natural Agilist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 62 Comments

True Agile Managers make one feel good

By Brian Lucas This one is for JPD! “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  – Maya Angelou Those of us in business … Continue reading

Posted in Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

A Certification does not an Agilist Make

By Brian Lucas This one is for Elaine of the golden hair.  Angels above blush at thy beauty. “Socrates gave no diplomas or degrees, and would have subjected any disciple who demanded one to a disconcerting catechism on the nature … Continue reading

Posted in Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile for Software Development, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 49 Comments

Sailing in an Agile Ship with Vision and Knowledge to Guide You

By Brian Lucas Dedicated to Joseph P. Wisdo (1951-2013) Colleague, Friend and Humanitarian “Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 74 Comments

13 Keeping Agile Predictions for 2013

By Brian Lucas “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” – Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra Don’t look for sources[1] here!  My predictions, after all, are my predictions.  Follow them and either praise or vilify me at the year’s … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

The Era of Agile Management Has Finally Arrived

By Brian Lucas “Good management consists in showing average people how to do the work of superior people.” -John D. Rockefeller[1] “Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 120 Comments

Being Agile in the Face of Hurricane Sandy

By Brian Lucas This one is for Jessica! – Brian “The value of compassion cannot be over-emphasized.  Anyone can criticize.  It takes a true believer to be compassionate.  No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 95 Comments

Mission Impossible Really was Agile

By Brian Lucas This one is for you Fran! “Good morning Mr. Briggs/Phelps[1], the situation in…Your mission should you decide to accept it is to…” This is a second perspective on Mission Impossible (MI), one of my all-time favorite TV … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 61 Comments

The Night of the Deadly Micromanager

By Brian Lucas “Artie, I think we managed to get ourselves in a little trouble!” –James West speaking tongue-in-cheek to Artemus Gordon when confronted by arch-villain Miguelito Loveless, a brilliant, but megalomaniacal little person. In our rushed working environment today, … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 163 Comments

A Natural Agilist Makes Mangia a Marvelous Experience!

By Brian Lucas John Vernotica is a natural agilist who makes setting up a 900 person event as simple as the word “mangia”.  In a little over a year, he has grown the mangia events that he hosts from a … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Interview with a Natural Agilist | Tagged , , , , , , , | 68 Comments

Is Agile Really Mission Impossible?

By Brian Lucas “Your mission should you decide to accept it…” voice of Robert Cleveland “Bob” Johnson. Acted to the theme music of Lalo Schifrin, is Agile really mission impossible?  You are in a tense situation.  Profits are down or non-existent. … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile for Software Development, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

My Agile Bookshelf

By Brian Lucas To all my loyal readers and hopefully many more new ones; you have asked many times for agile book recommendations.  Well here they are!  I usually purchase ecopies of books like this since they are easier to … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile for Software Development, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Life in the C – Lane will surely make you lose your mind

By Brian Lucas “Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind.  Life in the fast lane, everything all the time.” – the Eagles Just like the title of the Eagles classic tune, “Life in the fast lane”, life … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 98 Comments

The Imperative of having an Agile Organization Structure

By Brian Lucas This one is dedicated to Bill Gore and all those who came after him like Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner. “Change before you have to”. –Jack Welch The stress that all organizations are under today is unprecedented.  … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise, Agile Thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 109 Comments

A Natural Agilist finds a cure for the Pareto Principle at a hospital

By Brian Lucas Wayne Bruch is a hyper productive, natural agilist who has found a way to improve both process and productivity by 10% a year for the last 5 years by focusing on the key 20% of the Pareto Principle.  … Continue reading

Posted in Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile in the Enterprise, Interview with a Natural Agilist, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

A Natural Agilist Finds a Home with Main Line Health’s “Healthy” Agile Organization

By Brian Lucas Main Line Health is a shining star of agility in Southeastern Pennsylvania’s health care industry.  In fact, it is one of the most progressive health care organizations in the country.  Main Line Health is not a small enterprise; … Continue reading

Posted in Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise, Interview with a Natural Agilist, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 61 Comments

Interviews with a Natural Agilist

By Brian Lucas “Natural ability without education has more often raised a man to glory and virtue than education without natural ability.” – Marcus Aurelius “When we see a natural style, we are astonished and charmed; for we expected to … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise, Interview with a Natural Agilist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 47 Comments

Is Agile a Return to Common Sense?

By Brian Lucas “Common sense is seeing things as they are; and doing things as they ought to be.” –Harriet Beecher Stowe A  post of mine, “HCM, HIM and Agile are Perfect Together“, had the following reply from Dave Francavilla: Brian, Very … Continue reading

Posted in Agile Arguments, Agile for Beginners, Agile for Software Development, Agile in the Enterprise, Interview with a Natural Agilist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 78 Comments

HCM, HIM and Agile are Perfect Together

By Brian Lucas In the recent past, I was asked to address the subject of human capital management, the emergence of human interaction management and their effect on agile.  The fact is that the people element in the system is … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Middle of the Road CIOs are Getting Hit by the Innovation Truck

By Brian Lucas “It is better to err on the side of daring than the side of caution.” –Alvin Toffler The other day I heard a manager state that he was “a middle of the road kind of guy.” At … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile Arguments, Agile in the Enterprise, Agile Thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Why CEOs Fail in Today’s Agile Business Environment

By Brian Lucas “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” – Charles Darwin CEOs have always come in all flavors … Continue reading

Posted in Agile and Strategic Planning, Agile in the Enterprise | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Employee Suggestions

By Brian Lucas “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” -John Steinbeck A glimpse of life in an agile business versus a non-agile enterprise. At the … Continue reading

Posted in Employee Suggestions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments