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The failure mode of Agile is when the company says "we're going agile" but refuses to adapt or let the team manage itself, as well as having a fixed deadline, scope and budget which have been decided outside the team. In other words, you still have the clueless project managers, but you have to cosplay "agile" within that.

But that's the failure mode of anything. Why is Agile uniquely (and very consistently) blamed for management failures?

Because, consistently, management doubling down on failure is preceded/foreshadowed/accompanied by a full on theatrical performance of "we're going Agile".

I have no explanation for why /that/ is, mind; except - well, look at the result: the blame and hatred is aimed at Agile and its priests, not at management. Cui bono?

Agile is great. The problem is “agile methodologies” like Scrum which create lots of overhead and ceremony. I have seen Scrum work well but it is the exception.

There is no such a thing as a painfree meal when a big cooperation is devouring you..

If that was what actually happened when corpos say "agile"...