Nicolas Brown

Praise for real world agility

The first writing on the importance of a data feedback loop in order to improve outcomes in organisations was by Daniel McCallum in 1855. Many teams today, in the Age of Digital and AI are flying blind and need to re-learn this lesson from the past. Nicolas shows what truly drives impactful change — measurable results.

Packed with real-world experiments, successes, and failures, this book is an indispensable guide for those who want to move beyond cargo cult behaviours and create tangible value at the same time as continuously improving. A must-read for modern ways of working practitioners.
Jon Smart, author of Sooner, Safer, Happier: Antipatterns and Patterns for Business Agility

Nicolas has written the book I wish I had years ago—one that prioritizes data, experimentation, and impact. His pragmatic take on agility aligns with how modern teams should measure and improve their effectiveness.Real World Agility challenges conventional wisdom with a refreshingly honest and empirical approach. Brown’s insights on forecasting and metrics make this an essential read for anyone guiding teams toward better outcomes.
Troy Magennis, President at Focused Objective, LLC and CTO at Predictability At Scale

Nick has navigated the real world of agility and is handing the reader the compass. This book makes very little mention of frameworks and instead focuses on practical lessons from real experience, with evidence included for good measure.
Prateek Singh, author of Scaling Simplified

When I first received Nick’s book and skimmed through it, my first thought was: “At last!” - At last someone who not only understands how to use data and metrics properly, but can also explain it in the most accessible way! And after I had read it, my only conclusion was: “Mandatory reading!” - anyone in the industry should invest the time to learn about how Nick promotes evidence-based approaches to drive real improvements in flow, value, culture and delivery.
Steve Tendon, inventor of the TameFlow® Approach and Flow@Scale™

Real World Agility is the book I wish more agile practitioners had in their hands. Nick moves beyond theory and frameworks to focus on what actually drives results - testing ideas with real experiments and hard data. Through his compelling stories and clear visuals, he distills his hard-earned lessons into evidence-backed, actionable steps. This book is a must-read for anyone serious about improving predictability, reducing risk, and proving impact without getting lost in process theater.
Colleen Johnson, CEO at ProKanban.org

As a VP of Engineering, I’m always looking for ways to enhance my team’s agility and performance. Real World Agility is already proving to be an invaluable resource in this pursuit. His book cuts through the theoretical fluff and provides a practical, data-driven approach that resonates with the challenges and realities of today’s engineering organizations.

Nick’s emphasis on the four pillars of Flow, Value, Culture, and Delivery provides a clear roadmap for optimising engineering practices. The book’s insights on leveraging data for decision-making, fostering a culture of collaboration and trust, and streamlining delivery processes have been particularly impactful. They’ll prove invaluable to anyone who is seeking to implement actionable strategies to improve a team’s efficiency, productivity, and overall effectiveness.

I wholeheartedly recommend Real World Agility to any engineering leader who is committed to driving real-world results through agile methodologies. This book is a must-read for those seeking to create a high-performing engineering organization that consistently delivers value to customers and achieves business goals.
Stephen Janaway, VP of Engineering at Bloom & Wild

When I first saw the table of contents for this book I immediately wanted to share it with some colleagues. Having read the book cover to cover over a weekend, I definitely want to recommend it. In fact, it may well become my first choice recommendation to anyone wanting an introduction to agility. Nick emphasises two key aspects that are often missing in agile transformations; a focus on business outcomes, and using data to inform how to achieve those outcomes. In doing so, he describes an approach where people can figure out their own solutions in their own context, rather than blindly following someone else’s context free process. Backed up by examples of his personal experiences, this is a book any agile practitioner should read.
Karl Scotland, Agile Coach, Trainer & Consultant and Co-Founder of Lean Agile Brighton

Nick delivers a refreshingly honest, results-driven approach to agility in Real World Agility. Ditching theory and rigid frameworks, he dives into real-world experiments, showing what works, and what doesn’t, through data-backed insights. Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or just starting out, this book will challenge your thinking and equip you with the tools to drive meaningful change. A must-read for anyone serious about achieving true agility.
Helen Meek, Agile Coach, Trainer & Consultant and Co-Founder of the Agile Coaching Exchange

Real World Agility cuts through the noise with a refreshingly evidence-based approach. Unlike books filled with buzzwords and prescriptive methodologies, this book offers practical tools to measure and improve what actually matters. Through candid reflections and real-world examples, he demonstrates that true agility isn’t about following frameworks blindly, but about proving what works in your specific context. Essential reading for leaders and practitioners ready to move beyond guesswork to data-informed outcomes.
Jonny Williams, author of Delivery Management and Chief Digital Advisor at Redhat

This is not a theory book! If you want to know how to truly implement flow metrics and demonstrate that agility is alive and kicking, then this is the book to read. Nick has taken theoretical flow concepts and wrapped them in practical, demonstrative applications that will show you how to do this for yourself. Full of critical reflection, this book will help you avoid the pitfalls and traps of applying real-world agility.
Andy Hiles, author of Applying Scrum with Kanban: A Pointless Book!

Wow, I loved this! Nick has captured his many years of first-hand experience into a book that is packed with practical, clear examples. He presents a modern approach to using data to help teams improve and achieve their goals, debunking many annoying myths that pervade our industry, and articulating a balanced set of metrics to observe all key aspects of a healthy team - flow, value, culture, and delivery. Each chapter has a mix of theory, examples of what good looks like, and candid stories about traps and mistakes to avoid. I will be recommending Nick’s book to all my teams.
Mattia Battiston, co-author of Team Guide to Metrics for Business Decisions and Head of Software Engineering at giffgaff

I’ve been sharing Nick’s articles for years, and I know I’ll be sharing this book for even more years to come. Everyone in the Agile space should read this book. The content, the way it’s written, and the person behind the words are simply fantastic. 
Jac Hughes, Director at Everyday Agile

Very few books are able to be represent real world example which one can relate to and that too in such a quantified way. The evidence-based approach of this book will set some tough benchmarks to other authors. What I loved is the honesty of this book and that strengthens the credibility of the advice offered through real world experience. Real world, pragmatic and applicable straight out of the jacket. Read it and put to work to make agility visible.
Dinkar Gupta, CIO/CTO at KPMG Switzerland