Agile methods are an answer to the new challenges in business. We live in the VUCA world. VUCA stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity.
It began in 2001 with the agile manifesto of some software developers looking for solutions to meet the changing goals (moving targets) of customers and changes in the business environment.
The agile manifesto:
Agile values
- Individuals and interactions are more important than processes and tools.
- Functioning software is more important than comprehensive documentation.
- Cooperation with the customer is more important than contract negotiation.
- Responding to change is more important than following a plan.
- „This means that although we find the values on the right important, we rate the values on the left higher.“
Agile Principles
- Our highest priority is customer satisfaction through early and continuous delivery.
- Change requests are welcome, even in late phases, because it is about the competitiveness of the customer.
- We deliver regularly, preferably in short cycles.
- All functional areas work together.
- Organize teams around motivated people.
- Give teams the resources and support they need and trust them.
- The best way to communicate is face to face.
- Functional products are the measure of progress.
- All stakeholders should maintain a continuous flow of work.
- Continuous striving for technical excellence and good design reinforces agility.
- Simplicity, the art of not doing things, is essential.
- The best results come from self-organized teams.
- At regular intervals, the team reflects on opportunities to become even better and implements appropriate measures.
(Source: Agile Manifesto, 2001: http://agilemanifesto.org/)
From these values and principles, various methods and working methods have developed that can be summarized as agile.
