FAST Process

What is FAST Agile?

FAST Agile combines Open Space and Open Allocation to create a lightweight, simple to understand, and simple to master agile method - that scales!

FAST is an acronym for Fluid Scaling Technology.

Fluid Scaling Technology for Agile (and agile at scale) is FAST Agile.

High-level Overview of the FAST Process

Bring everyone together to work as one Collective.

Visually represent business goals on a wall.

Let the Collective self-organise into teams to break down and do the work.

On a short cadence, synch and repeat the above step.

FAST does not build on static teams. Instead, it creates a fluid lattice where teams dynamically form, change, dismantle, and reform. To transition from static teams to a fluid lattice structure, merge teams into a FAST Collective.

The Collective participates in cadence at the FAST Meeting, an event inspired by Open Space. The FAST Meeting is a planning and synchronisation event where priorities are highlighted and teams dynamically form around work. Once teams have assembled, they break away, plan, and deliver what value they can with the remaining time in the cycle.

At the end of the cycle, the Collective comes back together. Each team shares their progress to ensure that everyone in the Collective is in sync with the current state of development and discovery. Making use of the Collective being already gathered, these steps are repeated, and teams again form around work for the next Value Cycle.

Note - Value Cycle period is not prescriptive. A two-day cadence is a recommended starting experiment. FAST is a flow system, not an iterative method, so Value Cycles are not time boxes to fit work into. There is no reason that a Collective could not have a two-day cycle followed by a three-day cycle in a week should that be of appeal. A Collective needs to discover the shortest synchronisation period that feels right.

Build products with motivated, self-directed individuals.

Give them the autonomy, environment and support they need,

and trust them to get the job done.

FAST is a system for organic collaboration on creative endeavours, from the small scale to the large.

The best resource to find out more about the FAST process is the FAST Guide.