Agile Principles

As part of the Agile Manifesto, agile practitioners follow 12 guiding principles. Further, these principles are important to gain the correct understanding of agile project management.

The 12 agile principles are as follows:

1. Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software or project.

First things first, the goal is to satisfy the customer by the ongoing delivery of valuable software. Valuable software refers to software that is valued by the customer. Therefore, the understanding from this guiding principle is that the agile framework has a value and customer- based focus.

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

Secondly, this guiding principle describes the agile framework’s flexibility and adaptability while dealing with change. In other words, there is no such thing as scope creep in the agile kingdom as it always embraces the changes. However, if the change does not bring any value, then there is the possibility that the product doesn’t include that change.

3. Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference for the shorter timescale.

Thirdly, early feedback is undoubtedly much better than getting a late feedback. That is to say, going down the wrong path is not only quite costly, but it is also a waste of time. An iteration on agile projects should be between two weeks to one month, again with the preference always being the shorter time frame.

4. Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.

Fourthly, face- to- face interactions is the fastest way to deliver a project quickly. E- mails, phone calls, and documentation are less efficient and slower methods of communication. On the other hand, daily face- to- face interactions between customers and developers results in  faster rate of transferring knowledge. Therefore, this results in all project stakeholders being on the same page with no surprises.

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

Fifthly, People with great motivation and talent make a big impact on agile project. Further, this is the base of successful delivery of the product. There is no micromanagement on agile projects. Therefore, the lack is based on team collaboration. Further, this mind-set results in the project getting completed faster and effectively.

6. The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face- to- face conversation. 

Sixth, such conversations are the fastest way to communicate on agile projects. Moreover, the flow of communication is more effective and efficient for face to face in comparison with other methods. Consequently, there is a faster delivery of products. This face to face can be challenging in larger project teams. However, there is a room for change in order to meet the needs of the project.

7. Working software is the primary measure of progress. Progress on the agile project is determined by how well the software works.

Seventh, dispute is not an easy feat in this software. In other words, working software shows the customer results which gets approval and acceptance. Most importantly, approval by the customer is only possible when the software works.

8. Agile processes promote sustainable development.

Eighth, the sponsors and users should be able to maintain a uniform pace indefinitely. The sustainable pace is a win– win situation for everyone taking part in the project. Reason being, they expect the team to maintain a sustainable pace on a typical 40-hour workweek instead of long work-days on agile project

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

Ninth, is is important for the development team to make necessary changes in order to deliver high value to the end client. Technical excellence often makes it easy in understanding and making relevant changes to the design. Therefore, the value of this principle is to have a design that is easily maintainable.

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

Tenth, the gist of this guiding principle is that simplicity is better than complexity. In other words, this principle focuses on the necessary components of the product, so there is less risk. Moreover, the development team does not code work that is pending. This is the reason why agile methods focus on simplicity.

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

Eleventh, this guiding principle focuses on the observation that, when people are given the chance to self- manage themselves, they produce better work. This incorporates the best architectures, requirements, and designs. To sum up, the agile team is responsible for the outcome of the product and they are the best ones to have the freedom to create it.

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

Lastly, this guiding principle is simply about lessons to learn and their appearance on the agile project. In addition, agile methods assists the idea that it is best not to wait until the end of a project so as to address the lessons. After that, the agile project team tunes and adjusts its behavior for subsequent iterations. This gives the project team a benefit to discuss the actions and hoping for a chance of applying the same.

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