Agile was invented by consultants to make money?

Was Agile invented by consultants to make money?

This question has two parts:

1. Was Agile invented by consultants?
2. Was it invented to make money?

If you look at the authors of the Agile Manifesto... it sure does look like a lot of consultants.

Let's think about this.

Was there a problem that Agile was solving?  If no, then it's more likely it was invented just to make money.  If yes, then it's more that problem-solving is a way to make money.

The predecessors of the aggregate "Agile" brand were known as "lightweight methodologies".  The name gives you a hint that they were being compared to "heavyweight methodologies", typically at that time, associated with excessive UML and the Capability Maturity Model.  I would argue that this indicates the "lightweight methodologies" were invented to solve the problem of "heavyweight methodologies" and therefore "Agile" being an aggregate brand of "lightweight methodologies" was invented to solve problems, not as a blatant ploy to make money.

So why would anyone believe that Agile was invented by consultants to make money?  I don't believe that it's simply due to cynicism.

One of the problems of the mainstreaming of Agile, and specifically the growth of certifications, is the corruption of easy money.

The needle was closer to "solve problems" in the early days of Agile or really before the brand "Agile" was invented.  I will grant that this needle has moved toward the "make easy money" side of things.

However, I don't grant the idea that "Agile was invented by consultants to make money" is factual.

"Lightweight methodologies" were an honest expression of what people thought was better.  That core is still real.  Apologies for the rest of the crap.