What is Agile?
Agile describes a way of working and refers to a collection of frameworks, principles, and practices designed to help teams deliver value more quickly, collaborate more effectively, and adapt to change with confidence.
It includes methodologies like Scrum, Kanban, and AgilePM v3, but the term also encapsulates a broader cultural shift in how we think about work.
It is a style of working where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organising, cross-functional teams. It promotes adaptive planning, iterative development and incremental delivery. A timeboxed, iterative approach encourages rapid and flexible systemic response to change.
Want to learn more? Check out our article: Agile 101: What is Agile?
Agile is a way of working that originated with the Manifesto for Agile Software Development. The vision and insight of its founding thought leaders have since gained traction far beyond IT, as other areas of organisations increasingly recognise the value of:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working solutions over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change over following a plan
While recognising the value and necessity of the items on the right, agile organisations are increasingly valuing the items on the left, focusing the collaborative power of their people on the day-to-day operation of their businesses.
Agile Myths
The term ‘agile’ is often misunderstood and consequently there are many interpretations of what it is. Although agile has its roots in software delivery, it has now grown well beyond this to be much more and in an organisational context is referred to as business agility. It is more than a set of methods, practices and behaviours. Business agility is about delivering value for an organisation, however that value might be defined.
An agile business can respond quickly and effectively to opportunities and threats found in its internal and external environments (be they commercial, legal, technological, social, moral or political).
Framework for Business Agility
The Framework for Business Agility has been created to help organisations survive and thrive in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment. It’s been shaped by the real-world experiences of Consortium members and other agile professionals.
The agility of each element will influence the way the organisation operates and evolves in response to the ever-changing needs of its customers and stakeholders.
Membership
Become a member to access essential tools, expert insights, and a network of support through our communities and
specialised groups, empowering you to work smarter, lead confidently, and transform your project delivery.