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Agile Values & Principles

Agile is a value-based, iterative approach to project management and software development that helps teams deliver value to customers in a faster, simpler way. Visit GSA's Agile Adoption article for a more detailed description of Agile.

Agile Topics & Concepts

Agile Values Icon

Agile Values

The core values of Agile include:
  1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools. Agile is more about transparent interactions than technology.
  2. Working software over comprehensive documentation. Create something usable quickly to enable faster customer feedback.
  3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation. Ensure customer buy-in between Business & IT, with marketable visibility.
  4. Responding to change over following a plan. Leave room for emergent solutions and better respond to change.

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Agile Principles

These principles come from the original Manifesto for Agile Software Development, which was created to drive improvement in software development practices. For more information on the origins of Agile, read the full manifesto here.

  • Satisfy the customer
  • Working software is the primary measure of progress
  • Welcome changing requirements
  • Promote sustainable development
  • Deliver working software frequently/li>
  • Continuous attention to technical excellence
  • Business people and developers must work together daily
  • Maximize amount of work not done
  • Build projects around motivated individuals
  • Self-organizing teams
  • Face-to-face conversation
  • Reflect…and tune
Agile Tips Icon

Tips for Supporting Adoption of Agile Values and Principles

The following tips are helpful for teams interested in adopting these Agile values and principles. These tips and other helpful guidance can also be found in the Agile Adoption guidance on tech.gsa.gov.
  • Stop the Jargon! Be informed & know the proper terminology to better support Agile adoption and reduce confusion.
  • Shift the Mindset Be open, flexible, responsive, & transparent in developing a more Agile mindset, but know that transition takes time and patience.
  • Change Management Be flexible as new processes are implemented, but call pain points and issues so that they can be addressed.
  • Communication Be a reliable source for & encourage open communication.
  • Accountability Be reliable & responsible to the Team and with assigned work.
  • Transparency Be honest & transparent with the Team and assigned work.

And finally, as we learn from each experience, we celebrate and share the success through “storytelling.” In GSA IT, our current successes include the OMB endorsement of Agile, the introduction of standards, and each Agile Investment project-level implementation. Moreover, the collaboration we continue to build between Business and IT leads to faster, more efficient product delivery and is a win towards Agile adoption!

Other Resources

Customer Experience (CX) Needs and Aspirations

Visit the Agile in Action session below where several Agile leaders showed how Agile is capable of supporting the customer experience and the digital experience through aligning with the cyclical timelines for change management and design.

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