What distinguishes Agile from traditional project management?

The distinguishing feature of Agile compared to traditional project management is its focus on iterative progress and stakeholder collaboration. Agile methodologies operate on the principle of breaking down projects into smaller, manageable units called iterations or sprints. This approach allows teams to continuously assess progress, implement changes, and adapt based on feedback from stakeholders.

Collaboration is central to Agile practices; it encourages regular communication with stakeholders and fosters a flexible environment where their feedback can directly influence the project’s direction. This adaptive nature of Agile helps teams respond quickly to changes and ensures that the project aligns closely with user needs and expectations.

In contrast, traditional project management tends to emphasize a rigid structure, where strict adherence to predefined plans and extensive documentation is prioritized over flexibility and interactions with stakeholders. This often leads to less adaptability to changes and can result in projects that do not meet the evolving needs of users. Thus, the essence of Agile's iterative and collaborative approach sets it apart from conventional methods in project management.