Agile principles
✅ 12 Agile Principles (Explained Simply for Business Analysts)
The 12 Agile Principles are part of the Agile Manifesto, guiding how teams should work to develop high-quality products efficiently while focusing on customer value and collaboration. Below is a clear explanation of each principle, especially useful for Business Analysts (BAs) to understand their role in an Agile team.
1. Customer Satisfaction through Early and Continuous Delivery
"Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software."
Meaning: Focus on delivering small pieces of working product frequently rather than waiting until the end.
BA Role: Ensure that requirements are broken down into small, valuable features that can be delivered quickly.
2. Welcome Changing Requirements, Even Late in Development
"Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage."
Meaning: Be flexible and adaptive to changes, even if they come late.
BA Role: Update user stories and requirements as new insights emerge; prioritize changes that add value.
3. Deliver Working Software Frequently
"Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference for the shorter timescale."
Meaning: Release small functional parts of the product regularly.
BA Role: Help define clear, achievable goals for each sprint to ensure delivery of valuable outcomes.
4. Business People and Developers Must Work Together Daily
"Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project."
Meaning: Continuous communication and collaboration between stakeholders and development team.
BA Role: Act as a bridge between business and technical teams, ensuring both sides understand each other.
5. Build Projects Around Motivated Individuals
"Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done."
Meaning: Trust and empower teams to make decisions.
BA Role: Support and clarify business needs, and trust the team to find the best technical solutions.
6. Face-to-Face Conversation is the Best Form of Communication
"The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation."
Meaning: Direct communication reduces misunderstandings and delays.
BA Role: Prefer in-person or video meetings over emails for requirement discussions and clarifications.
7. Working Software is the Primary Measure of Progress
"Working software is the primary measure of progress."
Meaning: Focus on delivering functioning software, not just documentation or plans.
BA Role: Define clear acceptance criteria so that "done" means ready-to-use software.
8. Sustainable Development Pace
"Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely."
Meaning: Avoid burnout; work at a steady, consistent pace.
BA Role: Ensure realistic workloads and avoid overloading teams with too many requirements per sprint.
9. Continuous Attention to Technical Excellence and Good Design
"Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility."
Meaning: High-quality design and code make it easier to adapt to change.
BA Role: Work with developers to ensure requirements are clear, feasible, and aligned with good design principles.
10. Simplicity – Maximize the Work Not Done
"Simplicity—the art of maximizing the amount of work not done—is essential."
Meaning: Focus on what's essential, avoid overcomplicating.
BA Role: Prioritize features that deliver the most value and eliminate unnecessary requirements.
11. Self-Organizing Teams Create the Best Designs
"The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams."
Meaning: Empower teams to decide how to build the product.
BA Role: Provide clear business goals and context, and trust the team to design solutions.
12. Regular Reflection and Adjustment
"At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly."
Meaning: Continuous improvement through retrospectives.
BA Role: Participate actively in retrospectives, suggest improvements in requirement processes, and gather feedback from stakeholders.
✅ Summary Table of Agile Principles for BAs
#
Agile Principle (Simplified)
Business Analyst Focus
1
Deliver value early and often
Define small, valuable deliverables
2
Embrace change
Adapt requirements as needed
3
Deliver frequently
Set achievable sprint goals
4
Collaborate daily
Bridge between business and tech teams
5
Trust motivated people
Support team autonomy
6
Prefer face-to-face communication
Use direct communication for clarity
7
Working software shows progress
Define clear acceptance criteria
8
Maintain a steady work pace
Balance workload
9
Focus on quality and good design
Clarify business needs to ensure quality
10
Keep it simple
Prioritize essential work
11
Trust self-organizing teams
Provide business context, avoid micro-managing
12
Reflect and improve regularly
Participate in retrospectives
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