What are 12 Agile principles?

The 12 Agile principles are:

  1. Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.
  2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer’s competitive advantage.
  3. Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale.
  4. Businesspeople and developers must work together daily throughout the project.
  5. Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need and trust them to get the job done.
  6. The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.
  7. Working software is the primary measure of progress.
  8. Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.
  9. Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.
  10. Simplicity—the art of maximizing the amount of work not done—is essential.
  11. The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.
  12. At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behaviour accordingly.

Last edited on: 14 Jul 2026
Are Scrum and Agile the same?
How difficult is Agile?
How do I become Agile?
How do Scrum and Agile differ?
How do you differentiate between Agile and Scrum?
How do you explain Agile to someone?
How does Agile work?
How does Scrum differ from Agile?
How is DSDM different from Agile?
How to do estimation in Agile?
How to improve Agile behaviour?
Is Agile better than Scrum?
Is Agile or Scrum better?
Is Agile or traditional better?
Is DSDM still used?
Is Scrum Agile or waterfall?
Is there a PM in Agile?
What are 12 Agile principles?
What are sprints in Agile?
What are the 4 Agile values?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of DSDM?
What are the disadvantages of DSDM?
What are the strengths of DSDM?
What are the three key roles in Agile?
What do we mean by Agile?
What does Agile mean in one word?
What is Agile in one sentence?
What is Agile in simple terms?
What is Agile mentality?
What is Agile vs Scrum?
What is Agile vs waterfall?
What is an Agile way of working?
What is an example of Agile thinking?
What is Dynamic System Development Model?
What is Kanban in Agile?
What is Lean thinking in Agile?
What is Scrum vs Agile Manifesto?
What is Scrum vs Agile?
What is Scrum vs Kanban?
What is the Agile life cycle?
What is the difference between Agile and Scrum?
What is the difference between Agile and waterfall?
What is the difference between DSDM and RAD?
What is the difference between PM and Agile?
What is the DSDM methodology?
What is the Dynamic Systems Development Method?
What is the Kanban method?
What is the main principle of DSDM?
What is the philosophy of DSDM?
What projects is DSDM suitable for?
See all Agile FAQs

Agile related articles

Six Sigma
image
Six Sigma offers tools for improving business processes and quality. Read on to see how it can benefit your projects.
The challenges with Agile
image
Learn about the hurdles of shifting to Agile with insights from a top training provider. Read on for common organizational challenges.
Lean management
image
Delve into Lean management, a philosophy of continuous improvement and learning. Read more on how it transforms businesses.
Scrum development
image
Uncover the roles and activities in Scrum development post-planning. Enhance your understanding of Scrum by reading on.
What is Scrum? An Introduction to the Scrum Framework
image
Scrum is an agile framework that empowers teams to deliver complex projects through collaboration, transparency, and iterative progress. Discover how Scrum supports adaptive software development and effective teamwork.
How do I become Agile certified?
image
Learn what it takes to become Agile certified and the advantages it brings to your professional life. Read on for examination tips.
What is Agile?
image
Explore the evolution of Agile from a niche software development tool to a mainstream strategy. Read on to understand its significance.
The top 15 Agile books you should read
image
Explore our top 15 Agile book recommendations to enhance your understanding and skills. Read on to choose your next read.
Agile vs waterfall project management
image
Compare Agile and waterfall methodologies to see why many industries prefer Agile. Discover the benefits by reading more.
What is Lean Six Sigma? Definition, methodology, & benefits
image
Lean Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology for process improvement that reduces waste and variation. Combining Lean and Six Sigma, it helps organisations maximise efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.
DSDM principles: A visual guide
image
Learn about DSDM principles through our visual guide and see their response to traditional process flaws. Scroll for more insights.
How to become a Scrum Master
image
Becoming a certified Scrum Master is straightforward. Learn about the role and its requirements by reading further.