Why Do Agile Projects Still Fail? Are We Really Doing Better?

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Agile Software Engineering Deep Dive, Alessandro Guida explores a fundamental question:Are we actually getting better at delivering software?Despite widespread adoption of Agile practices, many projects still miss deadlines, exceed budgets, or deliver reduced scope. The visible failure of the past has not disappeared — it has evolved into a more subtle and persistent form.This episode examines how modern Agile environments can mask misalignment instead of exposing it, how structured approaches such as Scaled Agile Framework can reintroduce delivery pressure at scale, and why continuous delivery does not necessarily mean controlled delivery.It also introduces practical ways to detect and address these issues early, including identifying leading indicators of misalignment and using mechanisms such as a risk mitigation buffer to create space for corrective action.Because Agile improves outcomes — but it does not remove the fundamental challenges of software delivery.If you are leading teams, working in complex delivery environments, or trying to make sense of why projects still struggle despite better processes, this episode offers a grounded and practical perspective.Please subscribe to the podcast if you find it useful.And if you want to go deeper, you can also read the full article in the Agile Software Engineering newsletter.Support the showThis Podcast is an audio version of the written Agile Software Engineering newsletter.  If you want to go deeper, don't forget to subscribe the newsletter too.