Agile Manifesto
The Agile Manifesto is a foundational document published in 2001 that establishes four core values and twelve principles for agile software development, emphasizing individuals, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change.
Explanation
The Agile Manifesto was created by seventeen software practitioners who gathered in Snowbird, Utah to find common ground among lightweight development methods. The result was a concise declaration of four paired values: individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, and responding to change over following a plan. While the items on the right have value, agile teams value the items on the left more.
The Manifesto does not prescribe specific practices or frameworks. Instead, it provides a philosophical foundation that guides how agile teams approach their work. Every major agile framework, including Scrum, Kanban, and XP, traces its principles back to this document. PMI considers the Agile Manifesto essential knowledge for both PMP and CAPM candidates.
Understanding the Manifesto means recognizing that it is about mindset, not methodology. Teams that adopt agile practices without embracing the underlying values often struggle to realize the benefits. The Manifesto encourages adaptive planning, evolutionary development, early delivery, and continual improvement.
Key Points
- •Four core values that prioritize people, working products, collaboration, and adaptability
- •Twelve supporting principles that guide agile practice
- •Created in 2001 by seventeen software development thought leaders
- •Serves as the philosophical foundation for all agile frameworks
Exam Tip
Memorize all four value pairs and know that the Manifesto does not dismiss the items on the right; it simply values the items on the left more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Agile Principles (12 Principles)
The twelve Agile Principles are guiding statements behind the Agile Manifesto that describe how agile teams should operate, emphasizing early and continuous delivery of value, welcoming change, and sustainable development.
Scrum Framework
Scrum is a lightweight agile framework that uses fixed-length iterations called sprints, defined roles, events, and artifacts to help teams deliver complex products incrementally and iteratively.
Extreme Programming (XP)
Extreme Programming (XP) is an agile software development framework that emphasizes technical excellence and engineering practices such as pair programming, test-driven development, continuous integration, and frequent releases.
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