Putt's Law

"Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage and those who manage what they do not understand." 1

Archibald Putt

This law, coined by the pseudonym, Archibald Putt, first appearing in a series of articles in Research/Development Magazine in 1976, highlights a common organizational paradox where technical experts lack decision-making authority, while managers with authority often lack deep technical expertise. In the context of Agile, this can create significant challenges, as Agile thrives on collaboration, empowered teams, and decentralized decision-making.

Impact on Agile Teams & Organizations

Putt's Law can negatively impact Agile environments in several ways:

  1. Decision-Making Bottlenecks:
    • When non-technical managers make decisions without consulting Agile teams, it can lead to impractical deadlines, unrealistic expectations, and misaligned priorities.
  2. Loss of Autonomy:
    • Agile promotes self-organizing teams. If leadership fails to understand Agile principles, they may impose traditional command-and-control structures that stifle team autonomy.
  3. Misaligned Metrics & Goals:
    • A leadership team that doesn't understand Agile might prioritize outputs (e.g., number of features delivered) over outcomes (e.g., customer value and product quality).
  4. Resistance to Agile Adoption:
    • If managers don't grasp Agile methodologies, they may resist Agile transformations, revert to outdated practices, or misinterpret Agile frameworks.
  5. Dysfunctional Communication:
    • Poorly informed managers may provide vague, contradictory, or unrealistic directives, leading to confusion, frustration, and inefficiency within teams.

Scenario

A software development company is transitioning to Agile using Scrum. The executive leadership, unfamiliar with Agile, imposes a rigid deadline for a complex project without consulting Scrum teams.

  • The Scrum teams argue that the backlog is not well-defined and that iterative development is needed.
  • The Product Owners advocate for a customer-focused roadmap, but leadership pushes for a feature-driven approach.
  • The managers, who lack technical understanding, insist on a fixed scope and deadline, contradicting Agile principles.

As a result, the Agile teams experience burnout, decreased morale, and ultimately deliver a subpar product due to unrealistic constraints.

Mitigate the Impact of Putt's Law:

To prevent Putt's Law from undermining Agile effectiveness, organizations can adopt the following strategies:

  1. Agile Education for Leadership:
    • Train managers on Agile principles, frameworks (Scrum, SAFe, LeSS, etc.), and Lean thinking.
    • Encourage participation in Agile workshops or certification programs.
  2. Promote Technical Fluency Among Leaders:
    • Managers should work closely with Agile teams to understand technical challenges and constraints.
    • Encourage "Gemba Walks" (going to where work happens) to foster real-world understanding.
  3. Empower Agile Teams:
    • Shift decision-making authority to the teams closest to the work.
    • Encourage bottom-up innovation instead of top-down mandates.
  4. Align Metrics with Agile Goals:
    • Focus on customer value, throughput, and cycle time rather than arbitrary deadlines or feature counts.
    • Use Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to align teams with business goals.
  5. Encourage Open Communication:
    • Foster a culture of transparency where teams feel comfortable challenging unrealistic expectations.
    • Implement feedback loops through Retrospectives and leadership check-ins.

Conclusion:

Putt's Law serves as a cautionary principle for Agile organizations. When decision-makers lack technical understanding, Agile teams may struggle with ineffective leadership, misaligned priorities, and unnecessary constraints. However, by investing in Agile education, fostering collaboration, and empowering teams, organizations can mitigate these risks and create an environment where Agile thrives.

Key Takeaways

  • Putt's Law highlights the gap between technical expertise and decision-making authority.
  • In Agile environments, misalignment between leadership and teams can cause inefficiencies and frustration.
  • Agile education, empowerment, and transparent communication help mitigate these challenges.
  • Organizations must align leadership strategies with Agile principles to maximize success.

Summary

Putt's Law warns of the pitfalls of leadership without technical expertise. In Agile organizations, this can manifest as unrealistic expectations, poor decision-making, and resistance to Agile principles. By ensuring leaders understand Agile methodologies, empowering teams, and fostering collaboration, companies can prevent Putt's Law from undermining Agile success.