Silicon Beach Training Blog | Posts Category Project Management

user Andy Trainer

date 20 May 2011

What are the Basic Agile Principles?

Agile principles are now being applied to software development, software testing and project management, but what are the basic principles that Agile is based on?

All Agile methods were designed around a simple premise; the smaller the project, the greater the success rate. For agile to be successful it must be both quick and simple.

In 2001 the Agile Manifesto was born. Representatives from several Agile methodologies (including SCRUM, eXtreme Programming & DSDM) came together and devised a set of values and principles that any Agile methodology should adhere to. These values and principles would increase the success rate as projects would be constantly revised to meet customer requirements.

We now offer the Certified Agile Project Management Training, please see our Agile Project Management Foundation Training and Agile Project Management Practitioner Training courses.

The Four Agile Manifesto Values are:

Individuals & Interactions over processes and tools
Working Software over Comprehensive Documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to Change over following a plan

The Twelve Agile Manifesto Principles are:

Satisfy the customer through early & continuous delivery of valuable software
Welcome changing requirements, even late in development
Deliver working software frequently (a few weeks, not a few months)
Business and developers must work together
Build projects around motivated individuals
Face-to-face meetings are the most effective way to convey information
Working software is the primary measure of progress
Agile processes promote sustainable development (i.e. maintain a constant pace)
Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility
Simplicity is essential
The best architectures, requirements and designs emerge from self-organizing teams
Let the team reflect on how to do better at regular intervals and adjust behaviour accordingly