The present is Agile, the future Cybernetic

The world of software development has evolved rapidly over the years, and so have the methodologies and practices that drive it. Agile has become the go-to approach for many development teams, with its emphasis on flexibility and collaboration. However, as technology continues to advance, it’s time to look towards the future and consider new strategies for managing complex projects. Cybernetics, the study of systems and control, presents a promising alternative (or rather compliment) that could revolutionize project management.

But first a clarification. Cybernetics that I’m talking about now is not the cool kind we find in science fiction and in grimdark Cyberpunk novels. This is the boring kind, the scientific one, and even if it’s cool in itself it can not hold a candle to the fictional versions.

And now back to our original subject.

Agile has been around for more than two decades and has gained widespread adoption. It emphasizes the importance of flexibility, iterative development, and continuous feedback. These are all essential components of successful software development, but there are limitations to this approach.

Agile relies on human intuition and experience to make decisions about what to build and how to build it. This can lead to subjective opinions and a lack of transparency, which can cause problems further down the road.

Agile projects are great but tend to end up as small agile islands run by one or several clan chiefs. Within this ‘ecosystem’ this may actually be a great solution. The team works together towards a common goal set by the group or its leaders and that goal is then in line (hopefully) with the will of the divine and fabled product owner that sometimes graces the tribe with its presents.

Cybernetics, on the other hand, provides a more scientific approach to managing complex systems. It involves the study of feedback loops and control systems and provides a framework for understanding and optimizing complex systems. This approach can be applied to software development and project management to create more efficient and effective processes.

One of the key benefits of cybernetic project management is its focus on continuous improvement. This may on a superficial level resemble the agile iterative loop but the process goes much deeper. By using feedback loops and control systems, cybernetic project management can identify inefficiencies and opportunities for optimization.

By constantly tapping the loop for insights the entire process may evolve and the teams, the product and all other parts of the machinery that makes up a modern software (or hardware) project today may be optimized at ‘runtime’.

Cybernetic project management allows for a more data-driven approach to decision-making, which can lead to better outcomes and a happier team and better working environment.

Another advantage of cybernetic project management is its ability to handle complexity. As software systems become more complex, traditional project management approaches may struggle to keep up. Cybernetics provides a way to manage complexity by breaking down systems into smaller components and analyzing feedback loops at each level. This can help identify bottlenecks and optimize the system as a whole.

Furthermore, cybernetic project management emphasizes the importance of collaboration and communication. By providing a framework for analyzing and understanding feedback loops, cybernetics can help teams identify areas where communication and collaboration can be improved. This can lead to more efficient processes and better outcomes.

Communication is the key and often what we find lacking in most projects. It’s also harder than one can think so we all need tools to help us facilitate the simplest (on paper) task there is. To talk to each other.

In addition to these benefits, cybernetic project management can help address some of the challenges facing software development today. For example, cybernetics can help manage the growing complexity of software systems, improve the accuracy of project planning and estimation, and provide a more objective way to measure progress.

Of course, adopting a cybernetic approach to project management will require a significant shift in mindset and a willingness to experiment with new approaches. However, as software systems continue to grow in complexity and importance, it’s clear that we need to explore new approaches to project management.

And since the science of cybernetics has in large parts been forgotten since the golden years of the early 1980s the teachers and resources to learn about its mysteries have sadly become less and less readily available. The dated but still accurate works of Stafford Beer (the grand master of the field back in the day) are hard to get one’s hands on. But if you have the chance, read ‘Brain of the Firm’, a book as old as me but it still holds up. Just like me… only better.

Don’t get me wrong. Over the last couple of years agile has been a valuable approach to software development, but as we look to the future, it’s important to consider new strategies for managing complex projects.

Cybernetics offers a promising alternative, with its focus on feedback loops, control systems, and continuous improvement. By adopting a cybernetic approach to project management, software development teams can improve efficiency, manage complexity, and achieve better outcomes. It’s time to start exploring the possibilities of cybernetic project management and usher in a new era of software development.