𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

In both life and Agile development, making decisions at the last responsible moment doesn’t mean acting recklessly or leaving things to chance. It means understanding the balance between action and preparation, and knowing how to adapt when the unexpected happens.

Take my recent solo motorbike trip from the Netherlands to Portugal as an example. Riding along small roads with only a small backpack of essentials, I carried an extra liter of fuel, even though it was unlikely I’d need it. 

Why? Because I wasn’t thinking about probabilities—I was thinking about possibilities. Running out of fuel was an unlikely event, but the potential impact could have been severe. When you’re in steep mountainous terrain, and your bike has no fuel meter 🤔 , you’re faced with a real problem if you’re not prepared.

And guess what? That possibility materialized. Instead of running out of fuel after an average of 190 miles as I expected, I was out at 80 miles. The mountains increased my fuel consumption… But I had that extra fuel to that got me to the next fuel station because I had planned for the possibility, not the probability.

In Agile teams, this same idea applies. Many orgs focus on forecasts, trying to predict what might happen. But agility comes from preparing for various possibilities, having options ready, and being able to adapt when things change.

The concept of “The Last Responsible Moment,” emphasizes making decisions with as much info and clarity to act—but not waiting too long. It requires upfront thought and preparation, aligning your resources and strategies so that when an unexpected event happens, you already have tentative steps in mind.

Agile teams can learn to value assumptions over forecasts. Instead of trying to create predictions, they can ask, “What if?” What if a major feature request changes? What if a core team member leaves? What if our customer estimates are wrong? By preparing for certain possibilities, Agile teams are better positioned to respond and change direction when the future unfolds in unexpected ways.

So, just like my motorcycle journey, Agile is not only about eliminating uncertainty but more about being ready for it. It’s about staying flexible, being prepared, and executing decisions—at the last responsible moment.