What Is Agile? An Iterative Approach to Project Management

Agile is a popular approach to project management that emphasizes iteration and short-term development cycles. It has sometimes been called a methodology—and it does serve as the foundation for popular project management methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban—but think of it more as a guiding framework for how best to complete a project. Agile prioritizes quick delivery, nimble responsiveness, and collaboration.

Learn more about Agile, including the methodologies that use it. Afterward, strengthen your abilities in Agile with Google's Agile Project Management course—part of the larger Google Project Management Professional Certificate.

What is Agile?

Agile is an approach that was originally created for software development but is now widely used in other ways. Agile has become the framework for many popular project management methodologies. In and of itself, it can even be applied to a company's overall way of doing work [1]. Agile organizations tend to be responsive rather than rigid, which means they can better respond to change.

Traditional project management generally progresses linearly through the lifecycle. One stage must be completed before moving on to the next one.  The Agile process encourages continuous feedback, allowing team members to adjust to challenges as they arise.

The Agile Manifesto: values and principles of the Agile mindset

In 2001, a group of software development managers created the Agile Manifesto, which emerged from perceived bottlenecks in the software development process at the time. [2] From that initial philosophy, Agile project management grew to encompass four values and twelve principles.

Four values of Agile

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools: While tools and processes are important, the Agile Manifesto prioritizes the people behind them. Having the right people in place and empowering them to interact smoothly with each other can lead to successes that tools by themselves won’t be able to.

• Working software over comprehensive documentation: The creators of Agile believed that it was more important to get stuff done than get bogged down in the planning and documentation stages.

• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation: Instead of siloing stakeholders off from the project, Agile aims to maintain contact with them throughout the creation process.

• Responding to change over following a plan: Following a plan that no longer makes sense can be counterproductive. Adaptation is central to the Agile philosophy.

The twelve principles of Agile define early and frequent delivery, simplicity, constant feedback, the collaboration of interested parties, and individual support, among others [3].

Learn more: 9 Major Project Management Trends

Agile methodologies

Agile isn't considered a methodology because it doesn't specify the tools and processes that should be used. However, it is the umbrella term for many types of management methodologies, each with its own pros and cons. Some are hybrids of multiple methodologies. Scrum is the most commonly used, with Digital.ai finding that 63 percent of Agile adopters use Scrum [4].

Popular Agile methodologies include:

• Scrum

• Kanban

• Lean

• Crystal

• Extreme Programming (XP)

• Feature-Driven Development (FDD)

• Domain-Driven Design (DDD)

• Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)

• ScrumBan

• Agile-Waterfall/Hybrid Agile

• Scrum XP Hybrid

Scaling Agile for large projects 

Agile scaling methods are used to implement Agile practices across multiple teams, or entire organizations. There are several scaling methods, including the following:

• Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)

• Scrum of Scrums

• Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD)

• Large Scale Scrum (LSS or LeSS)

• Enterprise Scrum

• Lean Management

• Agile Portfolio Management (APM)

• Nexus

What type of projects is Agile useful for?

Agile's focus on adaptability, iteration, continuous delivery, and short time frames makes it a better approach for ongoing projects and projects where certain details aren’t known from the outset. That means if a project doesn’t have clear constraints, timelines, or available resources, it’s a good candidate for an Agile approach.

For example, designing and launching new products might push project teams against several unforeseen challenges. Having an Agile approach can mean projects already have the methodology to test products as often as needed, iterate quickly, and communicate changes with project stakeholders.

On the other hand, projects with clearly demarcated constraints (like a strict budget or timeline) or projects where teams are expected to work independently of stakeholders may be better suited for traditional approaches, like Waterfall.

Industries that use Agile methods

Since it originated from the needs of software development, Agile has grown in popularity and expanded to other industries and areas as well. These include finance, IT, business, fashion, biotechnology, and even construction—among many others.

Benefits and challenges of Agile

Although Agile has gained in popularity and has a host of advantages, there are also unique challenges to consider. It may not be ideal for every project. Below are some of the benefits and drawbacks Agile users have faced, according to Digital.ai’s 2024 State of Agile Survey [4].

Choosing the right Agile methodology for your project

Here are some key factors to consider when selecting the most suitable Agile methodology for your project:

Project characteristics

• Project size and complexity:

  • Small to medium-sized projects: Scrum can be a good fit, providing a structured approach to iterative development.

  • Large and complex projects: Consider scaling frameworks like SAFe or LeSS to manage multiple teams and dependencies.

• Level of uncertainty:

  • High uncertainty: Kanban can be effective in handling dynamic environments and prioritizing tasks based on their value.

  • Moderate uncertainty: Scrum can provide a balance between structure and flexibility.

• Regulatory compliance:

  • Strict compliance: A more structured approach like Scrum or a hybrid model can help ensure adherence to regulations.

Team dynamics and culture

• Team experience:

  • Experienced teams: Consider a more flexible approach like Kanban or a hybrid model.

  • Less experienced teams: Scrum can provide a structured framework and clear roles.

• Team culture:

  • Collaborative culture: Scrum can foster teamwork and shared ownership.

  • Individual contributors: Kanban can empower individuals to self-organize and prioritize tasks.

Desired outcomes

• Rapid delivery: Scrum and Kanban can accelerate time-to-market by focusing on iterative development and continuous delivery.

• High quality: Extreme Programming (XP) emphasizes practices like test-driven development and pair programming to ensure quality.

• Customer satisfaction: Agile methodologies prioritize customer involvement and feedback to deliver products that meet user needs.

Agile certifications

There are a number of popular Agile certifications to consider if you're interested in obtaining professional credentials that confirm your distinct abilities and knowledge.

Common Agile certifications include:

• PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)

• ICAgile Certified Professional (ICP)

• AgilePM Foundation - APMG

You can also consider a certification in a specific methodology, such as Scrum. These include:

• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

• Professional Scrum Master (PSM)

• Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

Read more: 7 In-Demand Scrum Master Certifications

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Build or strengthen Agile skills on Coursera

Completing online learning programs can be an excellent way to build your knowledge of Agile and strengthen your ability to work with this popular framework. Consider some of Coursera's top-rated Professional Certificates and Specializations to get started:

To build a strong foundation in project management, consider the Google Project Management Professional Certificate. This program covers project execution, stakeholder management, and strategic communication, as well as including a course on Agile Project Management.

When you're ready to advance your career in Agile, take the University of Virginia's Agile Development Specialization. This course takes about a month to complete and covers how to lead product development teams using the Agile approach.

Strengthen your ability to apply AI to project management processes and learn how to deploy AI tools and techniques to improve overall project management efficiency and performance with the IBM Generative AI for Project Managers Specialization.