Commonalities

Can any set of principles really represent agile development? After all, agility is just an umbrella term for a variety of methods, most of which came about long before the term “agile” was coined.

The answer is yes: agile methods do share common values and principles. In researching this part of the book, I collected over a hundred different values and principles from several agile sources.[57] They formed five themes: Improve the Process, Rely on People, Eliminate Waste, Deliver Value, and Seek Technical Excellence. Each is compatible with any of the specific agile methods.

The following chapters explain these themes in terms of principles and practices. Each chapter includes anecdotes about applying the principles to situations beyond standard XP. Where possible, I’ve borrowed existing names for specific principles.

[57] [Beck et al.], [Beck 1999], [Beck 2004], [Cockburn], [Highsmith], [Poppendieck & Poppendieck], [Schwaber & Beedle], [Subramaniam & Hunt], [Shore 2005b], and [Stapleton].

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