Why was Agile created: unveiling the origins and evolution

In today’s fast-paced world, where customer expectations change overnight and innovation moves at lightning speed, Agile has become a household name in software development and project management. But why was it created and what makes it so powerful? Let’s rewind to the early 2000s, where it all began, and explore how Agile revolutionised the way teams work.

The Origins of Agile

In early 2001, a group of 17 people met in the mountains of Snowbird, Utah, to talk about how to make software development better. They were frustrated because companies spent too much time planning and documenting, which often got in the way of creating software that actually made customers happy.

At the time, businesses used big words like “excellence” and “integrity,” but those didn’t help developers deal with real problems. The group knew things needed to change. Many of them had already been trying new ways to improve how software was made and this meeting was their chance to come together and figure it out.

From that weekend, the Agile Manifesto was born. It is a short document—just 68 words—but it completely changed how software was developed. It focused on being flexible, working together and delivering usable software quickly, instead of getting stuck in long, rigid plans. At its heart are four groundbreaking values:

• People over processes: Because it is teams, not tools, that deliver results.
• Working solutions over exhaustive documentation: Delivering value is more important than getting bogged down in paperwork.
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiations: Happy customers are the ultimate win.
• Flexibility over rigid plans: Let’s face it—plans change. Agile makes room for that.

This fresh approach promised faster timelines, better results and happier customers.

How Agile Evolved

Traditional approaches can sometimes be too “rigid”, exposing organisations to a lack of responsiveness in the context of new strategic projects.
Agile methods, which are less rigid, are more flexible in the light of adaptation needs, making it easier for organisations to remain Agile in the context of market constraints.

Here’s how Agile works: teams break their work into manageable chunks (called sprints) and deliver results in short cycles. This approach creates constant feedback loops, so the product gets better with every iteration.

Despite their origins in the field of software development, Agile frameworks became increasingly popular across a wide variety of industries. Agile principles are now used in many other fields like marketing, product management, event planning and even education. Teams in these areas apply Agile to stay adaptable in a fast-changing world. Agile excels in situations that require flexibility and teamwork.

Agile didn’t just stop at being a great idea—it grew into a movement. From Scrum to Kanban to Extreme Programming (XP), different frameworks were developed to make Agile more practical.

Agile isn’t a single process. Instead, Agile is an umbrella term for different frameworks. It is a collection of frameworks and methodologies that follow these principles. Though these frameworks differ in details, they all share Agile’s core focus: flexibility, collaboration and delivering value to customers quickly and continuously. Some of the most popular Agile frameworks include:

XP

XP (Extreme Programming) is all about software development and focuses on giving developers specific techniques and practices. It doesn’t include a clear project structure and, apart from planning, doesn’t provide much advice for management.

Scrum

Scrum is a simple team-based approach to organising and completing tasks. It uses a Backlog (a list of tasks) that evolves over time to guide the work. Scrum’s simplicity makes it very effective, but it doesn’t include a clear project structure. Instead, it focuses on managing a list of tasks or features to deliver. If you want to use Scrum for larger projects or across a whole company, you’ll often need to add extra layers for managing projects and releases.

Lean

Lean was created by Toyota in the 1970s to improve performance in factories by focusing on productivity, quality, speed and cost. It is all about continuous improvement and cutting out waste to deliver what the customer really needs.

Kanban

Kanban is a method for managing work and inventory that focuses on producing only what is needed and when it’s needed. It uses a visual system to track tasks and ensures production matches demand.

SAFe

SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) is a framework designed to help large companies adopt Agile, Lean and DevOps practices on a big scale. Created by Dean Leffingwell, it provides structured guidance for teams and organisations to work in an Agile way across different levels.

DevOps

DevOps is a way of working that brings software developers and IT professionals together to collaborate. It focuses on automating software delivery and infrastructure changes, so testing and releasing updates can happen quickly and reliably. It is not just a set of practices—it is also a culture that encourages teamwork and continuous improvement.

AgilePM

AgilePM is a project management method that combines the flexibility and speed of Agile with the structure and control needed for effective project management. It is great for helping project and product teams work together, giving project teams enough control while allowing product teams the freedom to adapt to changes.

Why Agile Matters

So why does Agile matter so much? Here’s the short answer: it delivers results. Let’s break it down:

• Flexibility: Agile enables you to adjust when customer needs or market demands change.
  
• Speed: By focusing on small, functional outcomes, Agile gets products to users faster.
  
• Customer satisfaction: Regular updates and collaboration mean customers stay in the loop—and happy.

Agile keeps your team aligned, your customers engaged and your projects on track.

Why Agile Remains Relevant

Agile isn’t just a trend. It is about embracing change, staying focused on what matters and continuously improving. In a world that demands for innovation at every turn, Agile remains a crucial tool for teams that want to stay ahead.

Ready to unlock the power of Agile? Whether you’re building software, planning a campaign, or launching a product, Agile can help you work smarter, move faster and achieve more.

Would you like to learn more about Agile? Also read:

• Waterfall vs Agile
• The 4 fundamental pillars of Agile

QRP International is an ATO (Authorised Training Organisation) for Agile courses. Contact us if you have any questions!