Agile manifesto values and principles

The Agile Manifesto is a foundational document that outlines the core values and principles of Agile project management. Created in 2001 by a group of software development experts, it emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer-centric approaches. 

The Agile Manifesto is the foundation of Agile methodology, emphasizing flexibility, collaboration, and delivering value. As part of our PMI-ACP training, students explore the Agile Manifesto's four core values and 12 guiding principles in depth. This training helps professionals understand how to apply these principles in real-world projects, fostering adaptability, teamwork, and continuous improvement to drive successful outcomes in dynamic environments.

Agile Manifesto Values:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
   Prioritize people and communication over strict adherence to processes or reliance on tools.
2. Working software over comprehensive documentation
   Focus on delivering functional software rather than spending excessive time on documentation.
3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
   Collaborate closely with customers to meet their needs, rather than strictly following contract terms.
4. Responding to change over following a plan
   Be flexible and adaptive, allowing for changes in the project to improve the product, rather than rigidly following a fixed plan.

It is further supported by 12 principles that promote continuous delivery, simplicity, teamwork, and flexibility in responding to change.

Agile Manifesto Principles:

1. Customer satisfaction through early and continuous delivery
   Deliver working software frequently, with a focus on customer satisfaction.
2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development
   Embrace change to better serve the customer’s needs.
3. Deliver working software frequently
   Deliver small, functional pieces of software regularly (e.g., every few weeks).
4. Business and developers must work together daily
   Foster strong collaboration between business stakeholders and the development team.
5. Build projects around motivated individuals
   Provide the support and environment for individuals to perform at their best.
6. Convey information face-to-face
   Direct communication is more effective than written documentation.
7. Working software is the primary measure of progress
   Focus on the product’s functionality as the true indicator of progress.
8. Maintain a sustainable pace
   Ensure teams work at a pace that can be maintained indefinitely without burnout.
9. Continuous attention to technical excellence
   Improve the technical aspects of the product continuously to enhance agility.
10. Simplicity—the art of maximizing the amount of work not done
    Focus on what is truly necessary, removing any unnecessary work.
11. Self-organizing teams generate the best architectures
    Empower teams to make decisions to build the best possible solutions.
12. Reflect regularly to improve efficiency
    Periodically reflect on processes to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments.

The Agile Manifesto serves as the foundation for various Agile methodologies, such as Scrum, Kanban, and XP, focusing on creating better results through iterative and people-focused approaches. These values and principles guide Agile teams to create adaptable and effective solutions that meet the ever-changing needs of customers.