ABSTRACT
Agile project management is an approach that is used to design and deliver software. To be exact, the agile approach delivers the software that has the greatest value to the customer. To be agile merely means to be quick. The definition of the word is rather easy to understand; however, quick is a comparative term used to describe the “degree of comparison between similar adjectives” (i.e., good or better). In other words, the word “quick” is appraised by comparing it to other adjectives with similar meaning with an end result that has the potential to be highly subjective. The assessment of the word “quick” is relative and is based on individualized perceptions. The best way to describe “quick” as it pertains to agile project management is “quicker than traditional project management methods.” Agility refers to the capability to think and reach conclusions quickly. Traditional project management methods include those that are defined in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK• Guide), Fifth Edition.* PMI describes traditional project management as “being accomplished through the application and integration of the 47 logically grouped project management processes which are then categorized into five Process Groups (i.e., Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing).” The project management methodology described in the PMBOK• Guide is based on a process-oriented
We now discuss specific high-level reasons why agility has increased in popularity in recent years.
