The hit series Andor wrapped up a few weeks ago and I’ve been processing it’s the end of perhaps the greatest iteration of the Star Wars universe/galaxy on screen. Over the last few weeks, I’ve consumed dozens of hours of podcasts (so, like, two episodes of The Ringer’s “House of R”), read thousands of words unpacking Andor, and I rewatched Rogue One and A New Hope to appreciate the series in the context of these awesome movies – Andor’s storytelling arc underscores important Agile planning tips from the Rebel Alliance that we can apply in our worklife.
Here’s the thing. After learning about the Death Star’s existence, it took the Rebel Alliance between 14 to 17 days to destroy it. Incredible.
Shout out to Van Lathen and the Midnight Boys (pew pew!) for pointing out that, when we take the full context of two seasons and five years of Cassian Andor’s role in uncovering the Empire’s genocidal plot, Luke Skywalker “ran the ball in from the three yard line” in A New Hope. It was the Agile planning of rebels like Andor, Luthen, and Mon Mothma who ground out incremental progress over the years and across multiple star systems that enabled Luke’s Force-supported, one-in-a-trillion shot that destroyed the Death Star.
Agile planning tips from the Rebel Alliance
What is Agile Planning?
Agile Planning is a way to organize work by breaking big tasks into smaller steps called sprints. It’s important because it helps teams adapt quickly to changes. Unlike regular planning, Agile focuses on testing, fixing, and improving throughout the process.
Plan to adapt
The Rebel Alliance changed their governance, strategy, and tactics to reimagine itself amidst the tyrannical momentum of the Galactic Empire. For example, the Mon Calamari Exodus Fleet, commanded by Admiral Raddus and Admiral Ackbar, joined the Rebel Alliance after being formed from civilian spacecraft during the Imperial occupation of Mon Cala. As more systems joined the Rebellion, its leadership adapted to be inclusive, structured, and cooperative.
Whether Cassian Andor found himself amidst low-level, buffoonish rebel factions on Yavin or next to Mon Mothma as he escorted her off Coruscant, adaptation was always part of this particular rebel’s plan. Here is an example of Andor’s mentor, Luthen’s, ability to adapt:
Scenario planning helps Agile teams stay flexible by preparing for different possible futures. It allows them to make quick decisions, adjust plans, and solve problems as they arise. The Rebel Alliance, for instance, meticulously considered various scenarios to anticipate the Empire’s strategies and adjust their own tactics accordingly. By combining creative and practical approaches, teams can test, adapt, and improve their strategies, making them better equipped to handle uncertainty and change so that when the Rebellion was presented with the Death Star plans, they were able to act quickly.
Ground-up decision-making
Cassian Andor rescues Kleya from Coruscant against the direction of Rebel Alliance leadership – General Draven even calls Andor a “privateer” to underscore how his behaviour is undermining the emerging professionalism of the Alliance. In Rogue One, Jyn Orso, after her request to attack Scariff is dismissed by Rebel Alliance leadership, works with Andor to convene a small and mighty rebel force to break into the Imperial Archives, steal the Death Star plans, and share them with the Alliance.
Beginning with the needs of members/customers/colleagues, Agile planning takes a bottom-up approach to problem solving and product development. Agile planning enables self-governing teams to create value for stakeholders. And teams often form as a grassroots effort to design and build a product or service. While experience and expertise influence how decisions are made, teams arrive at outcomes democratically in service of the work – more or less, there is one member, one vote.
Or one rebel who creates a tipping point…
Be respected rebels
A respected rebel thrives as a benevolent disruptor and innovator while honouring the chain of command. To be one means pioneering bold, yet simple, solutions that other people aren’t thinking of or are too timid to try. And it means telling the boss that she’s wrong. I learned about respected rebels from a mentor, Brian, in 2008 and the concept has stuck with me.
One of the reasons that Cassian Andor and Jyn Erso enable and inspire action from the Rebel Alliance is because of their long-tenured (Cassian) and short term (Jyn) contributions to the cause. Counteracting the critical feedback to the Alliance’s governors, their rebellious behaviour pushed others to act despite the Rogue One crew’s attack on Scariff going against the orders of the Alliance. Saw Gerrera, on the contrary, could not rally the broader Alliance to his cause because his fuel-sniffing, provocatively violent behaviours eroded his credibility as a leader of the entire movement.
Agile planning benefits from respected rebels because they’ll speak up with different points of view and challenge authority in order to get the best solution possible.
Like blowing up Death Stars.
