Using Dungeons & Dragons Moral Alignment to Unlock Lean-Agile Transformation

What if the key to understanding resistance to Agile transformation wasn’t hidden in spreadsheets or methodologies, but in a roleplaying game from the 1970s?

This idea first struck me while watching the final season of the Netflix series You. In episode 4 (spoiler alert!), the character Joe-played by Penn Badgley, a.k.a. the eternal Dan Humphrey for Gossip Girl fans-receives an unexpected lesson on Dungeons & Dragons from Bronte. She explains the concept of the moral alignment chart, and although I can’t say I was a long-time RPG enthusiast, her explanation lit a spark. I couldn’t stop thinking about how this simple 3x3 matrix could offer powerful insights into organizational behavior, especially during the complex journey of a Lean-Agile transformation.

In Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), players use a 3x3 matrix called the Moral Alignment Chart to define their character's behavior. This alignment system, ranging from Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil, isn’t just about fantasy-it mirrors real-life organizational behaviors and the complex dynamics that emerge during Lean-Agile transformations.

The Alignment Matrix Explained

The D&D moral alignment matrix is built on two axes:

• Law vs. Chaos: how much someone values order, structure, and rules

• Good vs. Evil:  how much someone values the well-being of others

This creates 9 possible character types:

If you make a parallel with superheroes, the characters would range from Superman (Lawful Good) to the Joker (Chaotic Evil).

What does it mean for each one of our beloved characters? How do they align to this table?

• Superman (Lawful Good): Always follows laws and fights for the greater good.

• Spider-Man (Neutral Good): Wants to do what is right, but doesn't always follow the rules blindly.

• Robin Hood (Chaotic Good): Breaks unjust laws to help those in need.

• Obi-Wan Kenobi (Lawful Neutral): Follows the Jedi Code, but reflects beyond strict morality when needed.

• Han Solo (True Neutral): Primarily self-interested, but capable of heroic actions.

• Jack Sparrow (Chaotic Neutral): Driven by personal motives and values freedom, not necessarily malicious.

• Darth Vader (Lawful Evil): Enforces imperial order, but toward evil ends.

• Boba Fett (Neutral Evil): Bounty hunter driven by profit, indifferent to good or evil.

• The Joker (Chaotic Evil): Destructive and anarchic, driven by chaos and malevolence.

Here’s the twist: your team, your leaders, and your organization as a whole also have alignments.

Organizations Have Alignments Too

Think about it:

• Is your Finance department extremely process-driven and risk-averse? Sounds Lawful Neutral.

• Is your Design team constantly pushing boundaries and bypassing rules for creativity? Likely Chaotic Good.

• Is there a leadership figure who enforces bureaucracy at the expense of value? Possibly Lawful Evil.

These alignments explain why some teams adopt Agile quickly, while others resist, even sabotaging it. It’s not about ignorance or bad intent- it’s about internal compass and culture.

Transformation Meets Alignment: Why It Matters

Lean-Agile transformation isn’t just a process change; it’s a behavioral and cultural shift. If you want to drive real change, you need to understand the alignment of the people and systems you’re working with.

Here’s how it plays out:

• Lawful Good actors will adapt as long as they see structure and purpose in the transformation.

• Neutral Good actors will support transformation when it aligns with values and purpose, especially when they feel included and empowered.

• Chaotic Good actors will support change, but may ignore governance unless guided properly.

• Lawful Neutral actors will adopt change if it is formally approved and clearly documented in process and policy.

• True Neutral actors will go along with transformation if it proves practical or beneficial, but won't champion it.

• Chaotic Neutral actors will enthusiastically experiment and improvise, but require boundaries to avoid chaos.

• Lawful Evil actors may weaponize processes to block change while appearing compliant.

• Neutral Evil actors will act in self-interest, cooperating only when there is personal benefit.

• Chaotic Evil actors are rare but can derail transformations through active disruption.

Adapting Your Strategy Based on Alignment

Rather than applying the same Agile transformation blueprint across the board, use the alignment model to adjust your tactics:

This approach humanizes transformation. It recognizes that culture eats strategy for breakfast, but culture itself can be mapped, understood, and influenced.

From Fantasy to Framework

D&D might be a fantasy game, but its alignment system offers a serious insight: transformation is a campaign, not a sprint. And every player-leader, coach, stakeholder-has a role to play. Understanding their alignment can be the difference between victory and stagnation.

So next time you're wondering why your Agile initiative is stuck, ask yourself:

Is my organization acting like Superman, Robin Hood, or Darth Vader?

Once you know the answer, you can write a better strategy- and a better ending.