12 Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto

Agile is an iterative and incremental approach to software development and project management that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer satisfaction. The core principles of Agile are outlined in the Agile Manifesto, which was created by a group of software developers in 2001. The Agile Manifesto consists of four key values and 12 principles:

Agile Manifesto Values:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools: Agile prioritizes the importance of people working together and communicating effectively over relying solely on tools and processes.

2. Working software over comprehensive documentation: While documentation is important, the primary focus should be on delivering a functional product.

3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation: Agile encourages active involvement and collaboration with customers throughout the development process, rather than relying on strict contracts.

4. Responding to change over following a plan: Agile embraces change and flexibility, recognizing that requirements and priorities can evolve over the course of a project.

Agile Principles:

1. Satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.

2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage.

3. Deliver working software frequently, with a preference for shorter timescales.

4. Collaborate with customers and stakeholders throughout the project.

5. Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.

6. Use face-to-face communication as much as possible.

7. Working software is the primary measure of progress.

8. Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.

9. Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.

10. Simplicity—the art of maximizing the amount of work not done—is essential.

11. The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.

12. At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behaviour accordingly.

These principles and values provide a foundation for Agile methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, and Extreme Programming (XP), among others. Agile methodologies are widely used in software development but have also been applied in various other industries for project management and product development.

Reference Materials

1. Agile Alliance:- Principle behind agile manifesto

2. Agile Alliance:- What is Agile Manifesto