Why Agile and Scrum Are Essential for Corporate Survival in a High-Churn Market

Adapting Fast in an Era Where Legacy Companies Struggle to Keep Up

The average lifespan of a company on the S&P 500 has plummeted from 35+ years in 1960 to just 15-20 years today.

This isn’t just a statistic… it’s a wake-up call.

Technological disruption, digital transformation, private equity activity, and macroeconomic forces (inflation, AI, tariffs) have created a volatile business landscape.

Companies that fail to adapt don’t just struggle, they disappear.

In this high-churn environment, Agile and Scrum have emerged as survival strategies. These methodologies, originally designed for software development, now help companies across industries iterate faster, pivot efficiently, and stay ahead of market shifts.

While Agile isn’t the reason companies are dropping off the S&P 500, it is the reason some firms thrive while others fail.

In this article, we’ll explore why Agile and Scrum are no longer optional but essential for survival.

Let’s dive in…

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Corporate Longevity is in Freefall