What Is the ACE Manifesto?

ACE stands for Agile Culture and Engagement. The Manifesto is five commitments that replace the old way of doing things:

• We develop trust and connection, not just policies and programs.
• We diagnose and solve issues, rather than ask questions without action.
• We adapt and transform locally, instead of defaulting to one-size-fits-all solutions.
• We drive fast, lasting change, without waiting for top-down directives.
• We succeed through shared ownership, never by shifting or avoiding responsibility.

Stated values alone change little, so the ACE Framework puts them into action. Teams take short, team-level Snapshots of what actually matters to them. They choose their own priorities. Then they act using Micro-Practices, goal setting, better meetings and communication, team activities, recognition, and other innovative ideas, and review in weeks, not next year.

It's not a one-size-fits-all program. It's a living, adaptable system your organization makes its own.

The ACE Manifesto: The Book

Most business books tell you what to think. The ACE Manifesto shows you what it looks like in practice.

Every instructional chapter is paired with a chapter of fiction following Dawgavron, a mid-sized company stalled on every metric that matters, as its leadership team discovers and implements the ACE framework in real time. You get the framework, then immediately watch it play out in a workplace that probably feels familiar. The result is a book that reads like a workplace drama but functions like a playbook.

Inside you'll find a complete operational toolkit: 26 Micro-Practices, survey question banks, goal-setting worksheets, and team-based workshop activities, with extended versions of many available right here on this site.