Martin Fowler • 1/13/2026

Stop Picking Sides: Manage the Tension Between Adaptation and Optimization

This article, by Agile Manifesto co-author Jim Highsmith, argues against teams becoming rigidly aligned with either adaptation or optimization. It proposes managing the tension between these two modes—'explore' for learning under uncertainty and 'exploit' for reliability under constraints. The piece provides a framework for tailoring a team's operating model using factors like uncertainty and cost of change, with examples from software and biotech industries.

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#software development #agile #team management