Agile vs. Waterfall is a False Flag: The “Need for Speed” Should Be the Main Concern

The debate over “Agile vs. Waterfall” is a tired distraction—yet it still fuels endless discussions.

Let’s keep it short and direct this time.

“Agile” has evolved into an institution like CMMI and Automotive SPICE. It has become an industry. That doesn’t mean Agile is inherently wrong—it just misses the point.
Agile is not a process or a methodology. It’s a mindset, and a mindset alone will never be the ultimate solution.

Similarly, Automotive SPICE, CMMI, and other frameworks are not “the” solutions either. At best, they serve as checklists—helpful in ensuring that no critical activities are overlooked in systems engineering and product development.

The Agile vs. Waterfall debate often turns emotional when viewed through this lens. Why? Here are some key reasons, based on experience (though I’m sure there are many more):

• Agile coaches often prioritize Scrum.org ideology over the company’s actual strategy, leading to confusion and leadership struggles due to too many stakeholders.
• Automotive SPICE consultants often align with OEM Quality Assurance (QA) rather than focusing on the company’s business goals. Some OEMs even force their suppliers to hire overpriced “QA coaches,” which only adds to the problem.

In this business environment, everyone has something to lose:

• Agile practitioners are paid to push Agile ideology.
• ASPICE consultants are paid for ASPICE compliance.

Yes, I’m exaggerating—but that’s precisely why the problem stands out.

The Real Issue: The Need for Speed

The automotive industry is missing the point.

• “Best cost” is often confused with value instead of focusing on the best outcome.
• More standards don’t automatically improve quality.
• More methodologies rarely solve anything.

Managers and engineers often fall for standards. They either want to play it safe or sell a methodology as the “next big thing” to bewildered engineers. But in automotive systems development, the goal is not to look like the fastest runner—it’s to run faster.

No Easy Way Out

European automakers must face a harsh reality. There is no easy way out. If it were that simple, anyone could do it. Forget fluffy Agile ideology and so-called “best-practice” standards. They won’t save the industry.

Take a hard look at Chinese automakers:

• They developed a new vehicle platform in 2–3 years.
• They didn’t need an army of Agile coaches or ASPICE consultants.
• Instead, they used their brains and focused on the best, fastest engineering solutions.

Chinese engineers are just as human as the rest of us. But they are driven by a purpose: innovation—not compliance. Compliance means playing it safe, and too often, it unintentionally leads to complacency. And no methodology—not Agile, Rational, or anything—can replace the need for speed.

The Hard Truth: Speed Wins

The automotive industry must deliver results faster. In the old Western movies, the motto was:

“Be quick or be dead.”

That metaphor fits perfectly for today’s car industry:

Move fast—or disappear.