What is Agile?ADKAR model

Definition of AgileCore Steps

AgileMain Focus refers to a set of principles and practices that guide teams in developing software products through incremental delivery, adaptive planning, and continual improvement. Agile emphasises iterative development, close team collaboration, and frequent customer feedback to deliver high-quality solutions quickly and efficiently.Kotter’s 8-Step

Summary of the Agile Manifesto and Its values: The role of leaders in inspiring, directing, and supporting people through transitions.

The Risk managementAgile Manifesto: Identifying, analysing, and mitigating risks that arise during change initiatives., published in 2001 by 17 software development experts, established the foundation for Process improvementAgile methodologies: Reviewing and enhancing business processes to align with new goals.. It promotes four core values and twelve underlying principles to guide teams toward continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.FAQs

Agile Manifesto: Four valuesWhat is change management and why is it important?

• Individuals and interactions over processes and toolsChange management is the process of guiding organisations, individuals, or teams through transitions. It is important because it enables smoother implementation of change, reduces resistance, and ensures that strategic objectives are achieved efficiently.
• Working software over comprehensive documentationWhat are common change management frameworks?
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiationThe most common frameworks are Kotter’s 8-Step Process, Lewin’s Change, and the
• Responding to change over following a planADKAR

Agile principles framework. Each provides a structured approach to planning and implementing change.

Agile is supported by twelve guiding principles, intended to help teams create successful products in an ever-changing environment. These principles inform day-to-day Agile practices.How do you overcome resistance to change?

1. Satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable softwareOvercome resistance by communicating benefits clearly, involving stakeholders, offering support and training, addressing concerns promptly, and recognising employee contributions throughout the transition.
2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in developmentWhat role do leaders play in change management?
3. Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of monthsLeaders set the direction, communicate the vision, build trust, allocate resources, and provide motivation and support to drive successful change.
4. Collaborate daily between business people and developersHow can employees be engaged during change initiatives?
5. Build Engage employees by involving them early, asking for input, addressing worries, providing training, celebrating successes, and continuously seeking feedback to make improvements.projectsSubscribe to our exclusive offers and promotions around motivated individuals and provide support
6. Convey information face-to-face whenever possibleSubscribe now
7. Working software is the primary measure of progress
8. Maintain a sustainable development pace
9. Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design
10. Simplicity – the art of maximising the work not done – is essential
11. Self-organising teams produce the best architectures, requirements, and designs
12. Regularly reflect and adapt to improve effectiveness

Historical origins and evolution of Agile

The Agile approach originated in the late 1990s as software teams sought alternatives to rigid project management models like the {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","name":"Change Management: Models, Steps & Best Practices [2024 Guide]","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/change-management","description":"Learn what change management is, key models, steps, challenges, and best practices. 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In 2001, seventeen thought leaders signed Related articlesthe Agile Manifesto , formalising Agile values and sparking the formation of the Agile Alliance. Since then, Agile has evolved beyond software development into project management , product development, and operations.

Benefits of Agile

• Flexibility: Respond rapidly to changing customer needs and market conditions.
• Continuous improvement: Regular retrospectives help teams adapt and improve their processes.
• Customer satisfaction: Frequent delivery ensures customer requirements are met early and often.
• Transparency: Iterative development and open communication foster stakeholder trust.
• Reduced risk:What qualifications do change managers need? Incremental delivery allows for earlier issue detection and correction.
• Enhanced team collaboration:Simon Buehring Cross-functional teams communicate daily to resolve challenges efficiently.19 Feb 2026

Agile vs waterfall model

Agile frameworks and practices

Scrum framework

Scrum is a widely adopted Agile framework structured around short, timeboxed periods called Thriving in Change – Webinar with Luz Flores Leesprints . Teams maintain a Sevcan Yasaproduct backlog19 Feb 2026 of features and tasks, delivering increments of working software at the end of each sprint. Roles in Scrum include Product Owner, Scrum MasterWatch this insightful webinar with Luz Flores Lee to master Agile strategies for navigating change in your career. Scroll down to enhance your skills and advance your professional journey., and Development Team. Daily stand-ups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives reinforce team collaboration and transparency.

Kanban

Kanban emphasises visualising work, limiting work in progress, and optimising flow. Teams use Kanban boards to track tasks and identify bottlenecks, often integrating continuous improvement practices.

User stories and Product Backlog

Features are typically described as user stories in a product backlog. This backlog is prioritised by the Product Owner and guides the work to be pulled into each sprint or iteration.

Key concepts: Iterative and incremental delivery19 Feb 2026

Agile projects proceed in small iterations, each resulting in an incrementally improved product. This iterative approach enables rapid adaptation, regular feedback, and incremental value to stakeholders.

Team collaboration and cross-functional teamsConsidering a career in change management? Read this article to understand why it's a growing field and how to get started.

Agile emphasises collaboration between customers, stakeholders, and team members from diverse disciplines. Cross-functional teams are empowered to make decisions and deliver complete solutions within each iteration.

Continuous improvement practices

Agile teams conduct regular retrospectives to identify areas for improvement and adjust their processes. This culture of continuous improvement leads to increased quality, productivity, and team morale over time.

Further Resources

• Agile software development (Encyclopaedia)
• Agile Alliance: Agile Manifesto