Agile

An iterative approach to delivery that ships work in small increments and adapts to feedback instead of following a fixed upfront plan. Codified in the 2001 Agile Manifesto.

When you'd see it: Software teams, product development, and increasingly any team that plans in short cycles. Scrum and Kanban are the two most common ways to actually do Agile.

Why it matters: Agile trades long-term predictability for the ability to change direction cheaply. It works when requirements are uncertain and feedback is available, and struggles when the end state is fixed and feedback is slow.

Common mistakes: Calling stand-ups and sprints 'Agile' while still locking scope and dates upfront. The ceremonies are not the point. Responding to change is.

Related Scrum, Kanban, Sprint, Waterfall