Agile: what it is and what it means

Agile is a project management philosophy formalized in the 2001 Agile Manifesto, based on four values and twelve operating principles. The four values favor individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, responding to change over following a plan. The Agile philosophy guides short iterations with continuous feedback from the client; requirements become clear along the way. Work cycles rapidly between planning, execution and review, so that requirements can evolve during the project, and it rests on team autonomy. The Agile label covers a family of iterative approaches (Scrum, for example).

Distinctive: four values and twelve operating principles
Distinctive: responding to change
Distinctive: cycles rapidly between planning, execution and review
Distinctive: requirements can evolve during the project
Essential: short iterations with continuous feedback
Essential: requirements become clear along the way
Essential: iterative approaches
Essential: team autonomy
Essential: short iterations
Constant: customer collaboration
Constant: family of iterative approaches

Glossary

Agile

A family of iterative approaches to project management that cycles rapidly between planning, execution and review, accepting that requirements evolve.