What is the Agile Manifesto? Why Agile?

The Agile Manifesto is a set of guiding values and principles that outline an iterative and collaborative approach to software development. It was created by a group of software development experts in 2001, who were looking for a better way to build software than the traditional, linear Waterfall method.

The Manifesto is comprised of four key values and twelve principles, which we’ll explore in more detail below.

The Four Agile Values:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
2. This value prioritizes people and their interactions, rather than following strict processes or relying too heavily on tools or technology. Agile teams place a greater emphasis on communication and collaboration to solve problems and achieve goals.
3. Working software over comprehensive documentation
4. Rather than focusing on exhaustive documentation, Agile teams prioritize delivering working software that meets the customer’s needs. This value encourages teams to focus on building and testing software quickly, and to use feedback from users to guide the development process.
5. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
6. Agile teams prioritize working closely with the customer throughout the development process, rather than relying on fixed contracts or requirements. This allows the team to adapt and adjust the product as needed, based on customer feedback and changing needs.
7. Responding to change over following a plan
8. Agile teams recognize that change is a natural and necessary part of software development. This value encourages teams to embrace change and be flexible, rather than sticking to a rigid plan that may no longer be relevant.

The Twelve Agile Principles:

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, with a preference for the shorter timescale.
4. Business people 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 behavior accordingly.

The Agile Manifesto has had a profound impact on the way software development is approached today. It has sparked a cultural shift in the industry, encouraging teams to be more collaborative, customer-focused, and adaptable. By prioritizing people over processes and responding to change over following a plan, Agile teams are able to work more efficiently and effectively, delivering better products that meet the needs of their users.

How should the product owner implement the Agile manifest?

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

As the key stakeholder in the Agile development process, the product owner has a critical role in implementing the Agile Manifesto. Here are some ways the product owner can implement each of the Agile Manifesto values:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools: The product owner should prioritize building a collaborative and communicative team culture. This could involve fostering open dialogue, encouraging team members to voice their ideas and concerns, and facilitating cross-functional collaboration.
2. Working software over comprehensive documentation: The product owner should prioritize delivering functioning software over creating exhaustive documentation. This means defining clear requirements and acceptance criteria, providing regular feedback to the development team, and ensuring that working software is being delivered in each iteration.
3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation: The product owner should prioritize engaging with customers to understand their needs and gather feedback on the product. This could involve organizing regular user testing sessions, conducting surveys, and gathering feedback through other channels.
4. Responding to change over following a plan: The product owner should be open to changes in the product scope or requirements, and should work with the development team to adjust plans as needed. This could involve re-prioritizing the product backlog, redefining acceptance criteria, and adapting plans to respond to changing market conditions or customer feedback.

Overall, the product owner should prioritize collaboration, flexibility, and a focus on delivering value to the customer over strict adherence to processes or plans. By doing so, they can help ensure that the Agile development process is successful and that the product meets the needs of the customer.

Purpose of the Product Owner role

The key responsibility, or the purpose of the Product Owner role is to “maximize the value of the Product”. The Product Owner is one person (not a committee) responsible in the Scrum Framework for maximizing the value. The way the Product Owner maximizes value, is by continuously making choices about what to built and what not to built in the Product. In order to do so, the Product Owner is also responsible for the product vision and for managing the Product Backlog and stakeholders.

Authorities / Mandate of the Product Owner role

1. Cancelling a Sprint before the time-box is over, in case the Sprint Goal has become obsolete during the Sprint (due to changed market conditions such as new competitors, new technologies or other internal and external drivers);
2. Accepting the Product Increment before the end of the Sprint (the Product Owner accepts the Product on behalf of the stakeholders);
3. Managing the Product Backlog, including:
   a. Saying “No” to stakeholders and/or new ideas;
   b. Deciding on the ordering of the Product Backlog;
   c. Deciding on the contents of the Product Backlog;
   d. Adding items to and removing them from the Product Backlog;
4. Decide wether or not and when to release the Product Increment

Top-3 Skills of the Product Owner role

1. Communication Skills — Great Product Owners have excellent communication skills. They have to work with all kinds of stakeholders, on different levels throughout the organization. Therefore, they have to be able to communicate and work with lots of different kinds of people;
2. Product & Market Knowledge — The Product Owner has to understand the Product and the Marketplace. The Product Owner should have a clear vision on where the market is going and where the Product should therefore be going towards. Although the Product Owner doesn’t necessarily need to have deep understanding of technology for example, but he or she should understand very clearly what the marketplace needs;
3. Networker — The Product Owner should be a networker. This is because the Product Owner wants to deliver a successful Product to the market. Therefore, he or she should find funding, work with important stakeholders, involve the right people in the development process, etc. etc.