12 Key Principles of Agile Project Management

Profile picture for user devraj

Whether you work in an agile process or not, these principles give you more tools in your toolbox to handle the varied obstacles that come up in any project, regardless of the methodology used to run it. 12 clarifying principals flowed from the 4 values of the Agile Manifesto are:

  1. Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.
  2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile process harness change for the customer's competitive advantage.
  3. Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale.
  4. Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.
  5. Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.
  6. The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.
  7. Working software is primary measure of progress.
  8. Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.
  9. Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility. 
  10. Simplicity-the art of maximising the amount of work not done-is essential.
  11. The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from organizing teams.
  12. At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.