Agile Manifesto

The Agile Manifesto, a pivotal document in the field of agile software development, originated from a meeting of 17 software developers in February 2001 at the Snowbird ski resort in Utah, USA. These individuals, who had extensive experience in developing software and helping others do it, gathered to discuss lightweight development methods. The group included notable figures such as Kent Beck, creator of Extreme Programming, and Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland, co-creators of Scrum. 

They were united by a shared dissatisfaction with the heavy, documentation-driven software development processes prevalent at the time, such as the Waterfall model, which they felt were too rigid and slow for modern software development needs. During this meeting, they formulated the Agile Manifesto, formally titled "Manifesto for Agile Software Development." The manifesto outlined a new approach to software development including 4 values pairs and 12 principles:

We open up better ways to develop software by doing it ourselves and helping others do it. Through this activity we have learned to appreciate these values:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.

• Working software over comprehensive documentation.

• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.

• Responding to change over following a plan.

That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more. 

Along with the manifesto and its 4 value pairs, they also established 12 principles to guide agile software development. The Agile Manifesto marked a significant shift in the software development industry, promoting flexibility, customer collaboration, and the delivery of high-quality software in a timely and efficient manner. It has since influenced numerous agile methodologies, including Scrum, Kanban, and Lean software development. Agile ways of working are about dealing with uncertainty in a more useful way, as they enable fast learning and validation of assumptions.

This focus on learning, flexibility, and customer collaboration is very much in line with Agile Academy's philosophy of emphasizing an agile mindset over rigid adherence to specific frameworks. The manifesto's principles resonate with the Scrum Academy's approach to teaching and embodying agility in all aspects of work and learning.

You can read more about the Agile Manifesto with its values and principles in our Agile Foundations.

Source: agilemanifesto.org

You can read more about the Agile Manifesto with it's values and principles in our Agile Foundations.

Ready to elevate your agile skills? Learn more with Henrik – Your Agile AI Sidekick. Register now to start your transformative journey.