Nowadays, more and more project managers are looking to do things the agile way. This transformative approach means realigning core team culture, mindsets, methods, and processes to follow the agile way of working. As organizations seek greater flexibility and responsiveness in their projects, understanding the principles that underpin agile methodology has become essential. The shift requires not just new tools, but a fundamental change in how teams collaborate and deliver value.
Understandably, an Agile Manifesto was crafted to capture the essence of the agile frameworks. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the agile manifesto and explore how it differs from traditional project management. We will also discuss the implications of these discrepancies and offer possible solutions for resolving them.
What is the Agile Manifesto?
The Agile Manifesto is a set of four values and twelve principles that guide software development using the agile methodology. It was created in 2001 by a group of leading software developers to provide a more efficient and people-centric alternative to traditional project management approaches. Organizations across various industries have adopted the Agile Manifesto in recent years.
Despite its popularity, certain aspects of the Agile Manifesto do not align with traditional project management practices. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the agile manifesto and explore how it differs from traditional project management. We will also discuss the implications of these discrepancies and offer possible solutions for resolving them.
The Four Values of The Agile Manifesto
The four values that are outlined in the agile manifesto are as follows:
1. Individuals and Interactions Over Processes and Tools
The value of the Agile Manifesto lies in its recognition of the importance of individuals and interactions over processes and tools. It is particularly relevant in the field of project management, where a project’s success often depends on a team’s effective collaboration.
By valuing individuals and interactions over processes and tools, the Agile Manifesto encourages companies to invest in their employees and create an environment that supports teamwork. In addition, this approach helps to foster a culture of innovation, as it allows for more flexible and adaptive methods.
2. Working Software Over Comprehensive Documentation
The value of the Agile Manifesto is that it prioritizes working software over comprehensive agile documentation. In a world where technology is constantly changing, it can be difficult to keep documentation up to date. This is why many organizations found it more efficient to focus on delivering working software instead.
The Agile Manifesto recognizes that technology changes rapidly and that documentation can quickly become outdated. As a result, it encourages organizations to prioritize working software over comprehensive documentation. Organizations have become more responsive to change and adapted to new technologies.
By focusing on working software, organizations can ensure that they are always using the most up-to-date technology. It allows them to be more efficient and more effective in their operations.
3. Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation
In today’s business world, the importance of customer satisfaction cannot be overstated. It is essential to have close collaboration with the customer throughout the entire project. It may mean that some contractual terms need renegotiation along the way, but the result will be a much happier customer.
In contrast, if the focus is solely on negotiating the contract and adhering to its terms, the customer will likely feel frustrated and disappointed. The Agile Manifesto recognizes this fact, and its emphasis on collaboration over contract negotiation is essential in ensuring customer satisfaction.
4. Responding to Change by Following a Plan
The manifesto values “responding to change over following a plan” because it recognizes that plans often need to be adjusted as new information arises. This way of working requires close collaboration between team members and frequent communication with customers or clients to ensure that the product or service being developed is meeting their needs.
While it can be challenging to adjust plans and work flexibly, the Agile Manifesto has been shown to be an effective way to work in today’s constantly changing environment. This adaptability has made Agile particularly valuable in industries where customer needs and market conditions evolve rapidly, such as software development, product design, and digital marketing.
How Does the Agile Manifesto Differ From Traditional Project Management?
The Agile Manifesto represents a fundamental shift in how projects are managed and executed. While traditional project management has been the standard for decades, the Agile approach offers a distinctly different philosophy that prioritizes flexibility, collaboration, and iterative progress. Understanding the key differences between these two methodologies is essential for project managers looking to choose the right approach for their teams and projects.
Agile Project Management
- Customers are actively involved throughout the development process, providing continuous feedback and helping to shape the final product at every stage. This collaborative approach can be a major advantage, as it helps to ensure that the final product meets their needs and expectations.
- Agile projects are typically completed in short sprints, which allows for more frequent delivery of new features and faster adaptation to changing requirements.
- The Agile Manifesto provides a more flexible and customer-centric approach to software development that emphasizes continuous improvement and can help to avoid many of the pitfalls of traditional project management.
Traditional Project Management
- Traditional projects often follow a longer timeline with fixed milestones and deliverables, which can lead to stagnation, delays, and difficulty responding to evolving business needs or market conditions.
- Traditional project management relies on more rigid approaches, such as the waterfall method, which follows a sequential process with distinct phases. This structured methodology can often lead to delays and frustration when changes are needed.
- Customers are often left out of the loop until the very end of the project, receiving limited opportunities for input during development. This lack of ongoing involvement can lead to significant problems and misalignment with customer expectations.
Overall, the Agile Manifesto provides a more flexible and customer-centric approach to software development that can help to avoid many of the pitfalls of traditional project management.
How to Differentiate Agile and Non-agile Methodology?
There are several key ways to tell the difference between agile and non-agile project management methodologies. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for selecting the right approach for your project and team. The two methodologies differ significantly in their approach to documentation, planning, and customer engagement, each offering unique advantages depending on project requirements and organizational culture.
Agile Methodology
- Agile methodology relies much more on collaboration and iteration rather than extensive documentation. There is less emphasis on upfront planning and more focus on adaptability and agility, allowing teams to respond quickly to changes.
- Customers are involved throughout the entire process in agile projects. They provide feedback at each iteration, which helps ensure that the final product is something they will be happy with and meets their evolving needs.
- Agile offers flexibility and agility, making it ideal for projects where requirements may change or evolve over time. This approach prioritizes working software and continuous improvement over rigid adherence to initial plans.
Traditional Non-agile Methodology
- In traditional, non-agile methodology, there is typically a very high level of documentation and structure. This includes things like detailed plans, Gantt charts, comprehensive specifications, and extensive upfront planning that guides the entire project lifecycle.
- In traditional projects, the customer or client usually provides requirements upfront and then steps back until the project is completed. This limited involvement means fewer opportunities for course correction during development.
- Traditional methodology offers predictability and clear milestones, making it suitable for projects with well-defined requirements and a stable scope. Some people prefer this structured approach for its clarity and comprehensive planning.
Ultimately, it comes down to preference and project needs – some people prefer the predictability of traditional projects, while others prefer the flexibility and agility of agile projects.
Examples of Scenarios that Do Not Match the Agile Manifesto
To best understand the examples of mismatch with the agile manifesto, we break down a few common examples.
A Team is Developing a New Software Application
The project manager creates a detailed plan that outlines every step of the process, including what each team member will be responsible for. The team members are then expected to adhere strictly to this plan. If there are any changes, the project manager must be consulted first.
A Company Has Been Contracted to Build a New Website for a Client
The contract stipulates that the website must be completed within six months and include specific features. Throughout the project, the team members find that the client’s needs are changing and that some of the elements specified in the contract are no longer necessary. Despite this, they continue working according to the plan to meet the six-month deadline.
An Organization is Working on a New Product Launch
The marketing team creates a detailed plan that includes a strict timeline and milestones that must be met to ensure the launch’s success. However, as the launch date approaches, the team realizes they will only be able to meet some of the milestones. They decide to cut some corners to get the product out on time.
In each scenario, the team needs to follow the values outlined in the Agile Manifesto. Instead, they emphasize aspects such as planning, documentation, and contracts. It can lead to tension and conflict between team members and managers who are more accustomed to traditional approaches. These scenarios significantly affect the overall agile team mindset.
The 12 Principles of The Agile Manifesto
The 12 principles of the Agile Manifesto emphasize the importance of individuals and interactions, customer collaboration, and working software. They also emphasize the importance of flexibility and agility, and the need to regularly reflect on how to become more effective.
These are the twelve principles:
- Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery
- Welcome changing requirements, even in late development
- Deliver working software frequently (weeks rather than months)
- Close collaboration between business people and developers
- Projects are built around motivated individuals, who should be trusted
- A face-to-face conversation is the best form of communication (co-location)
- Working software is the primary measure of progress
- Sustainable development is able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely
- Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design
- Simplicity—the art of maximizing work not done—is essential
- Best architectures, requirements, and procedures emerge from self-organizing teams
- Regularly reflecting on how to become more effective and adjust accordingly.
Conclusion
The agile project management approach centers on people, collaboration, and delivering working outcomes rather than rigid processes. By empowering motivated teams to make decisions and adapt quickly, agile brings the flexibility needed in today’s fast-paced environments. While it requires close collaboration and cultural change, the benefits—faster feedback, greater customer alignment, and improved responsiveness—typically outweigh the challenges.
Suggested articles:
- Top 10 Cons or Disadvantages of Agile Methodology
- Crystal Agile Methodology: What Is It and Why It Matters?
- 8 x Agile Documentation Examples + Strategies
Shane Drumm, holding certifications in PMP®, PMI-ACP®, CSM, and LPM, is the author behind numerous articles featured here. Hailing from County Cork, Ireland, his expertise lies in implementing Agile methodologies with geographically dispersed teams for software development projects. In his leisure, he dedicates time to web development and Ironman triathlon training. Find out more about Shane on shanedrumm.com and please reach out and connect with Shane on LinkedIn.