Why we need Agile Practices

The use of the word agile in this context derives from the agile manifesto.  

A small group of people got together in 2001 to discuss their feelings that the traditional approach to managing software development projects was failing far too often, and there had to be a better way.  They came up with the agile manifesto, which describes 4 important values that are as relevant today as they were then.  

It says, “we value:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
•  Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
•  Responding to change over following a plan

These are characteristics that are common to all agile methods, and the things that make agile fundamentally different to a more traditional waterfall approach to software development.  They are:


1. Active user involvement is imperative  
2. The team must be empowered to make decisions  
3. Requirements evolve but the timescale is fixed  
4. Capture requirements at a high level; lightweight and visual  
5. Develop small, incremental releases and iterate 6. Focus on frequent delivery of products  
7. Complete each feature before moving on to the next  
8. Apply the 80/20 rule  
9. Testing is integrated throughout the project lifecycle – test early and often 10. A collaborative & cooperative approach between all stakeholders is essential

See more at: http://www.allaboutagile.com/what-is-agile-10-key-principles/#sthash.QjxxM2Ke.dpuf