In September, Agile Oxford hosted another dynamic and insightful workshop, once again bringing together Agile enthusiasts, software engineers, and product owners from Oxford and beyond. This time, the session was led by Agile expert Mike Harris, who guided the group through the topic of Agile antipatterns—those recurring behaviours and practices that can secretly sabotage even the best Agile intentions.
As always, the event began with a relaxed networking session, complete with drinks and snacks, sponsored by Humand Talent, a leading provider of talent solutions and recruitment services for software engineers and Agile professionals. The perfect way to ease into the evening, this provided a fantastic opportunity for attendees to connect with others in the software engineering and Agile community.
Understanding Agile Antipatterns with Mike Harris
With over 25 years of experience in software engineering and Agile coaching, Mike Harris brought a wealth of knowledge to the event. He opened the session with a thought-provoking question: “Are we truly practicing Agile, or are we merely going through the motions?” This set the tone for an evening focused on identifying the hidden traps many Agile teams fall into—known as antipatterns.
Mike explored common Agile antipatterns such as rushing estimates to meet sprint deadlines, skipping testing due to time pressures, and becoming overly focused on velocity rather than delivering real value. These patterns, if left unchecked, can erode the effectiveness of Agile practices and lead teams away from their original goals of collaboration, flexibility, and delivering customer value.
One attendee remarked, “Mike was brilliant at creating a space where everyone felt comfortable sharing their own experiences with Agile antipatterns. He facilitated smaller group discussions, which made it easier for everyone to contribute and reflect on the challenges they face in their teams.”
Another participant added, “It wasn’t just about talking through the problems—we worked together to explore solutions. The session was interactive, practical, and gave us some valuable tools to take back to our own Agile teams.”
A Collaborative Learning Experience
The workshop fostered a highly interactive environment, where participants worked in small groups to share their own experiences and identify the Agile antipatterns they had encountered in their day-to-day work. These group discussions provided an opportunity for everyone to contribute, with attendees offering support, solutions, and best practices from their own backgrounds.
Mike’s emphasis on recognising and addressing these antipatterns was eye-opening for many, prompting participants to reflect on their current Agile practices. Are we simply following rituals, or are we aligning our actions with the core principles of Agile? By addressing these common pitfalls, teams can drive more value-focused results and improve collaboration and productivity across the board.
The evening concluded with informal conversations over drinks, where many attendees continued to discuss the day’s learnings. Some even headed to a local pub for more in-depth discussions about their experiences with Agile and software development.
Join the Agile Oxford Community – More Events Coming Soon!
Missed this event? Don’t worry, Agile Oxford meet every other month! Our next workshop takes place on 12th November, led by Allan Kelly, a renowned Agile expert. Allan will be introducing the innovative Value Poker Game, a practical tool designed to help teams prioritise work based on business value. This is a fantastic opportunity to further enhance your understanding of Agile frameworks and collaborate with fellow software engineers, developers, and Agile practitioners.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your Agile journey, Agile Oxford is the perfect place to share experiences, learn from industry leaders, and tackle the challenges faced by Agile teams. For details on upcoming events, make sure to visit the Agile Oxford Meetup page.
Humand Talent, sponsors of Agile Oxford, continues to play a crucial role in supporting Agile professionals and software engineers in Oxford and beyond. Specialising in recruitment business solutions for the tech sector, Humand Talent can help connect you with the right talent for your business or the ideal opportunity for your career. To find out more about their talent solutions, visit Humand Talent today.
Get Involved: We’re Looking for Sponsors and Speakers
Agile Oxford thrives on community involvement. We are always on the lookout for sponsors and speakers to help us continue delivering high-quality events. If your company is interested in sponsoring an event, or if you have expertise in Agile or software engineering and would like to share your knowledge, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us to discuss how you can get involved.
Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of Oxford’s thriving Agile community. We hope to see you at our November event—save the date and join us for another evening of learning, networking, and collaboration.
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Feel free to reach out if you’d like more details about the November workshop or if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor or speaker at a future event.
