The Hedgehog Concept in Agile: Balancing Focus and Adaptability for Project Excellence

This story is based on an ancient Greek proverb that says: “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.”

This distinction can also be applied to project management styles, especially in the context of agile projects. Agile project management is an iterative and adaptive approach that values collaboration, feedback, and customer satisfaction over rigid plans, documentation, and contracts. Agile projects are often complex, uncertain, and dynamic, requiring project managers to be flexible, creative, and responsive to change.

But how do hedgehogs and foxes approach agile project management? And which one is more effective?

The story goes like this: A fox was roaming around the forest, looking for something to eat. He saw a hedgehog curled up in a ball, resting under a tree. The fox thought that the hedgehog would make a tasty meal, so he decided to attack him. He tried to approach the hedgehog from different angles, hoping to find a weak spot. But every time he got close, the hedgehog would raise his sharp spines and prick the fox. The fox was frustrated and angry, but he did not give up. He kept trying new tricks and strategies, hoping to outsmart the hedgehog. But the hedgehog had only one strategy: to defend himself with his spines. He did not care about the fox’s cunning or cleverness. He just focused on his one big thing. After many failed attempts, the fox finally realized that he could not win. He gave up and left the hedgehog alone.

In General, the moral of the story is that sometimes it is better to be a hedgehog than a fox. A hedgehog knows his core strength and sticks to it. He does not get distracted by many things that are irrelevant or unimportant. A fox, on the other hand, tries to do many things, but does not excel at any of them. He wastes his time and energy on things that do not matter.

The Hedgehog Concept in Agile

The story of the hedgehog and the fox can help us understand the concept of the hedgehog in agile. The hedgehog concept is a term coined by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great¹, where he describes how great companies achieve lasting success by focusing on their core purpose, passion, and skill. Collins writes:

The essence of a Hedgehog Concept is to attain piercing clarity about how to produce the best long-term results, and then exercising the relentless discipline to say, “No thank you” to opportunities that fail the hedgehog test. When we examined the Hedgehog Concepts of the good-to-great companies, we found they reflected deep understanding of three intersecting circles: 1) what you are deeply passionate about, 2) what you can be the best in the world at, and 3) what drives your economic engine.

The hedgehog concept can be applied to agile teams as well. As an agile coach, you can help your team find their hedgehog by asking them these three questions:

• What are you deeply passionate about?
• What can you be the best in the world at?
• What drives your value to the customer?

By answering these questions, your team can identify their one big thing that makes them unique and successful. They can also align their work with their core values and principles, and avoid unnecessary complexity and distractions that might hinder their progress.

Integrating Fox and Hedgehog Thinking for Agile Project Excellence

One way to understand the proverb is to see it as a contrast between two types of thinkers or problem-solvers: the foxes and the hedgehogs. The foxes are adaptable, curious, and versatile. They have a broad range of knowledge and skills, and they can approach challenges from different angles. The hedgehogs, on the other hand, are focused, consistent, and persistent. They have a deep understanding of one core idea or principle, and they apply it to everything they do.

Both types of thinkers have their strengths and weaknesses. The foxes may be more creative, flexible, and open-minded, but they may also be more scattered, distracted, and superficial. The hedgehogs may be more reliable, disciplined, and confident, but they may also be more rigid, dogmatic, and blind to other perspectives.

How does this relate to agile project management? Agile methodologies are flexible approaches to software development and project management that prioritize collaboration, iterative development, and customer satisfaction. In contrast to the traditional waterfall model, which follows a linear and sequential process, agile methods allow for frequent feedback, changes, and improvements.

Agile project management can benefit from both the fox and the hedgehog mindsets, depending on the context and the goal. For example, when planning a project, it may be helpful to adopt a hedgehog perspective and define a clear and compelling vision, mission, or purpose for the project. This can help align the team, the stakeholders, and the customers around a common goal and a shared understanding of the value and the scope of the project.

However, when executing a project, it may be more effective to embrace a fox mentality and experiment with different methods, tools, and techniques. This can help the team discover the best solutions, adapt to changing requirements, and deliver high-quality products that meet the customers’ needs and expectations.

Therefore, agile project managers and teams should not limit themselves to one type of thinking, but rather balance and integrate both the fox and the hedgehog approaches. By doing so, they can leverage the advantages of both mindsets and avoid the pitfalls of either extreme. They can also learn from each other and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

So, which one is better: the hedgehog or the fox? The answer is: it depends. Both types of project managers have their strengths and weaknesses, and both can be successful or unsuccessful in agile project management. The key is to find the right balance between the two, and to adapt to the specific context and needs of each project.

A good agile project manager should be able to:

• Have a clear and singular vision of the project’s goal, but also be open to different options and perspectives on how to achieve it.
• Stick to a plan and prioritize the most important tasks, but also be flexible and responsive to change and feedback.
• Communicate their vision convincingly and inspire the project team and stakeholders, but also listen to their opinions and suggestions and collaborate with them.

In other words, a good agile project manager should be both a hedgehog and a fox, depending on the situation. As the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A wise man is one who knows what he does not know.”

And let me make this more complete: “Know what you know and know what you don’t know, and surround yourself with people who know what you don’t know.”

The fox and the hedgehog proverb may be ancient, but it is still relevant and useful for agile project management. By applying the lessons from this proverb, agile project managers and teams can achieve better results and higher satisfaction for themselves and their customers.