The Agile Project Management Declaration of Independence

November 21, 2008

When most of us think of agile, we immediately think of software development. But really, there’s no reason why agile methods can’t be applied to work in other industries, provided there is enough work to fill multiple iterations. Considering that fact, I’m reminded that agile has more to do with project management than it does development: Software is simply the industry where this type of iterative, incremental development has made the biggest impact.

I recently learned when reading up on the Agile Manifesto that, after it was written in 2001, a group including original signatories Mike Cohn, Alistair Cockburn, and Jim Highsmith attempted to expand the Agile Manifesto to include management practices. Four years later, they published the agile project management “Declaration of Independence,” which outlined managerial practices that enable agility. Looking at the list, it’s clear how, even in a few short years, these principles have become part and parcel with agile development.

Here’s the full list of six practices (from Alistair Cockburn’s website):

“We …

  • increase return on investment by — making continuous flow of value our focus.
  • deliver reliable results by — engaging customers in frequent interactions and shared ownership.
  • expect uncertainty and manage for it through — iterations, anticipation and adaptation.
  • unleash creativity and innovation by — recognizing that individuals are the ultimate source of value, and creating an environment where they can make a difference.
  • boost performance through — group accountability for results and shared responsibility for team effectiveness.
  • improve effectiveness and reliability through — situationally specific strategies, processes and practices.”
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Written by admin · Filed Under Agile Project Management 

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