The four values of the Agile Manifesto

The Agile Manifesto consists of four key values:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.

• Working software over comprehensive documentation.

• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.

• Responding to change by following a plan.

Value 1: Individuals and interactions

In the past, many software teams focused on having the best possible tools or processes for building their software. The Agile Manifesto suggests that while those things are important, the people behind the processes are even more so.

Having the right group of individuals on your software team is vital to success. The best possible tools in the wrong hands are worthless. Perhaps even more important is how these individuals communicate with each other. The interactions between team members help them collaborate and solve any problems that arise.

Read more: 5 Important Types Of Agile Methodology

Value 2: Working software

Previously, software developers would spend ages creating detailed documentation. That was before they even started writing a single line of code. And while documentation isn’t a bad thing, there comes a point when you should focus on providing your customers with working software.

The Agile Manifesto places shipping software to your customers among the highest priorities. You can then gather feedback to help you improve future releases.

You may want to read: Why Agile is a Game-Changer for Outsourced Software Projects

Value 3: Customer collaboration

Once upon a time, contracts were king. You would draw up contracts with your customers, who would then detail the finished product. As a result, there was often a contrast between what the contract said, what the product did, and what the customer actually required.

According to the Agile Manifesto, the focus should be on continuous development. You need to build a feedback loop with your customers so you can consistently ensure your product works for them.

Value 4: Responding to change

Can you imagine a time when you would draw up a roadmap that would never change? Well, in the past, that’s exactly what happened.

The trouble with static roadmaps is that we don’t live in a static world. Needs and requirements are always shifting, and priorities are always changing. That static roadmap will soon grow outdated.

That’s why the Agile Manifesto suggests that a software team should be able to pivot and change direction whenever needed, with a flexible roadmap that reflects this. A dynamic roadmap can change from quarter to quarter, sometimes even month to month, and agile teams can keep up with those changes.

The Agile Manifesto also consists of 12 principles. Read about them here.