Although agile is a term that is often used loosely, what does it actually mean? It is not possible to be agile with a strategy or a team following a simple development plan. Many organizations have evolved and their professionals need to be more familiar with agile. Managers can better understand agile’s core principles and values so they can help their teams develop products.
Agile revolutionized project management in one way or another. Let’s go back to the 90s, when Waterfall was the only method known. Clients and managers were frustrated by the huge gap between client requirements and the delivered products. Many projects ended in dissatisfaction, or were canceled. Team members were more concerned with documentation than clients’ requirements. Software developers struggled to fully utilize the flexibility of software development. Everyone noticed that companies were wasting resources by focusing too much on the wrong things. There was a need to develop innovative technologies that would allow project teams greater freedom and increase their efficiency. This is how core agile values were created. We will discuss them in more detail later.
These values will give you a common foundation for creating the best product possible. Let’s take a look at the pillars and discuss them in greater detail. Individuals and interactions
This is the first value in the Agile Manifesto. It emphasizes people over processes and tools. It is easy to see why people are valued more than processes and tools. They drive change and meet customer demands. Let’s take communication as an example. It values people over processes. Communication is fluid for individuals. It only occurs when there is an opportunity. Communication is not fluid in processes. It requires specific connections and follows a strict schedule. Software over documentation
We used to spend a lot time doing paperwork in the past to prepare the product for development and ensure delivery. Each item required technical stuff, interface design, plans, approvals, and other documentation. This often caused delays in development. Agile doesn’t ignore documentation. It gives developers direction and helps them avoid getting lost in red tape. Developers can create new functions by using agile requirements. Customer collaboration is more important than contract negotiation.
Negotiation is a great time for both the client and product manager to discuss delivery details, while also ensuring that certain details can be renegotiated. Collaboration is a completely different activity. Customers can negotiate product requirements with the Waterfall method before the project begins. The customer is involved at every stage of the development process, not just when it has ended but also after it has begun. This step describes a customer who is present through the development stage, making it much easier to meet their expectations.Responding to changes
Imagine sticking to a plan that doesn’t change. This was the case in the past. Static roadmaps are problematic because we don’t live within a static world. Static roadmaps will soon be obsolete as our world is constantly changing. Our priorities and needs change, and so are our world’s. Agile Manifesto recommends that project teams have the ability to change direction with the help a flexible roadmap.