Definition of Agile
AgileClick or scroll 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.Enrol on this course
Agile methodology at a glancePlease use the
| Aspectregion selector | Description at the top of the website if you are purchasing from outside the UK. |
|---|---|
| Purpose Note: *All prices exclusive of VAT. | Deliver working software frequently, respond to change rapidlyChoose how you want to study |
| Key values | Individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, responding to change |
| ApproachChoose delivery format: | Iterative, adaptive, and incremental |
| Popular frameworks | ScrumInstructor-led, Kanban, Extreme Programming (XP) |
| Stakeholders | Customers, product owners, cross-functional teams, Scrum MastersSelf-paced |
Summary of the Agile Manifesto and Its values
The Agile Manifesto , published in 2001 by 17 software development experts, established the foundation for 06 Jul - 09 JulAgile methodologies . It promotes four core values and twelve underlying principles to guide teams toward continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.PRINCE2 Practitioner (with Foundation) course (Online)
Agile Manifesto: Four values
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools £1,899
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation£2,099
- Responding to change over following a plan
Agile principlesEnrol now
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.
- Satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software
- Welcome changing requirements, even late in development
- Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months
- Collaborate daily between business people and developers{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"EducationEvent","name":"PRINCE2 Practitioner (with Foundation) course","startDate":"2026-07-06","endDate":"2026-07-09","description":"PRINCE2 Practitioner (with Foundation) course","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner","eventStatus":"EventScheduled","eventAttendanceMode":"OnlineEventAttendanceMode","audience":{"@type":"Audience","name":"
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- Working software is the primary measure of progress
- Maintain a sustainable development pace
- Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design
- Simplicity – the art of maximising the work not done – is essential06 Jul - 09 Jul
- Self-organising teams produce the best architectures, requirements, and designs
- Regularly reflect and adapt to improve effectivenessPRINCE2 Practitioner (with Foundation) course (London)
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 £2,299Waterfall model. In 2001, seventeen thought leaders signed Enrol nowthe 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{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"EducationEvent","name":"PRINCE2 Practitioner (with Foundation) course","startDate":"2026-07-06","endDate":"2026-07-09","description":"PRINCE2 Practitioner (with Foundation) course","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner","eventStatus":"EventScheduled","eventAttendanceMode":"OnlineEventAttendanceMode","audience":{"@type":"Audience","name":""},"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":"4.8","reviewCount":"227"},"location":{"@type":"VirtualLocation","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner"},"image":["https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/training-courses/res/logos/axelos-peoplecert-prince2-accredited-training-organisation-logo.svg"],"offers":{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner","price":"2299.00","priceCurrency":"GBP","availability":"http://schema.org/InStock","validFrom":"2026-06-12"},"performer":{"@type":"Person","name":"Susan Tuttle"},"organizer":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Knowledge Train","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner"}}
- Flexibility: Respond rapidly to changing customer needs and market conditions.
- Continuous improvement: Regular retrospectives help teams adapt and improve their processes.08 Jul - 09 Jul
- Customer satisfaction: Frequent delivery ensures customer requirements are met early and often.PRINCE2 Practitioner course (Online)
- Transparency: Iterative development and open communication foster stakeholder trust. £1,599
- Reduced risk: Incremental delivery allows for earlier issue detection and correction.Enrol now
- Enhanced team collaboration: Cross-functional teams communicate daily to resolve challenges efficiently.
Agile vs waterfall model
| Aspect | Agile{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"EducationEvent","name":"PRINCE2 Practitioner course","startDate":"2026-07-08","endDate":"2026-07-09","description":"PRINCE2 Practitioner course","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner","eventStatus":"EventScheduled","eventAttendanceMode":"OnlineEventAttendanceMode","audience":{"@type":"Audience","name":" | |
|---|---|---|
| is for students wanting to learn to apply PRINCE2 on projects. | "},"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":"4.8","reviewCount":"227"},"location":{"@type":"VirtualLocation","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner"},"image":["https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/training-courses/res/logos/axelos-peoplecert-prince2-accredited-training-organisation-logo.svg"],"offers":{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner","price":"1599.00","priceCurrency":"GBP","availability":"http://schema.org/InStock","validFrom":"2026-06-12"},"performer":{"@type":"Person","name":"Susan Tuttle"},"organizer":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Knowledge Train","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner"}} | |
| Flexibility | Adaptive to change | Resistant to change after initial planning |
| Customer involvement03 Aug - 06 Aug | High, continuous feedback | Typically only during requirements and acceptance stagesPRINCE2 Practitioner (with Foundation) course (Online) |
| Delivery | Frequent, partial releases £2,099 | Full product delivered at project end |
| RiskEnrol now | Problems discovered early | Issues often found late |
Agile frameworks and practices
Scrum framework
Scrum{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"EducationEvent","name":"PRINCE2 Practitioner (with Foundation) course","startDate":"2026-08-03","endDate":"2026-08-06","description":"PRINCE2 Practitioner (with Foundation) course","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner","eventStatus":"EventScheduled","eventAttendanceMode":"OnlineEventAttendanceMode","audience":{"@type":"Audience","name":"< is a widely adopted Agile framework structured around short, timeboxed periods called p>
{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"EducationEvent","name":"PRINCE2 Practitioner course","startDate":"2026-08-05","endDate":"2026-08-06","description":"PRINCE2 Practitioner course","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/project-management/prince2/prince2-course/prince2-practitioner","eventStatus":"EventScheduled","eventAttendanceMode":"OnlineEventAttendanceMode","audience":{"@type":"Audience","name":"Team collaboration and cross-functional teams<
p>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.<
strong>PRINCE2 PractitionerContinuous improvement practices
> is for students wanting to learn to apply PRINCE2 on projects.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.
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p>Scrum<strong>PRINCE2 Practitioner is an Agile framework that organises work into fixed-length sprints and uses roles like Product Owner and > is for students wanting to learn to apply PRINCE2 on projects.Scrum Master