What are the 4 values of agile?
The 4 values of Agile come from the Agile Manifesto, a foundational document for Agile methodologies and practices. These values provide a guideline for making decisions about how to approach software development in an Agile way. Here they are:
- Individuals and Interactions over processes and tools:
- While processes and tools are essential, Agile places a higher value on the people involved in the process and how they work together. Effective communication, collaboration, and self-organization among team members are emphasized.
- Working Software over comprehensive documentation:
- Traditional software development often required extensive documentation before any coding began. In Agile, the primary measure of progress is a working piece of software. This doesn’t mean that documentation is not important in Agile, but rather that it should not impede progress or be produced at the expense of developing functional software.
- Customer Collaboration over contract negotiation:
- Agile methodologies prioritize close collaboration with customers or stakeholders. This ensures that the development team understands the customer’s needs and can adapt to changes or feedback quickly. It’s about building a partnership with the customer, rather than adhering strictly to initial contract terms.
- Responding to Change over following a plan:
- Agile recognizes that requirements might change over time due to various factors, such as market dynamics, user feedback, or new insights. Instead of resisting these changes, Agile practices embrace them, ensuring that the product remains relevant and valuable. While planning is essential, the ability to adapt to change is seen as more critical in Agile.
The Agile Manifesto clarifies that while there is value in the items on the right (processes, tools, documentation, contract negotiation, and following a plan), the items on the left (individuals, interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change) are valued more.
This shift in values has reshaped the software development industry, emphasizing adaptability, continuous feedback, and a customer-centric approach.
What are the 4 values of agile?