What is a fundamental principle of Agile development?

In Agile development, a fundamental principle is the prioritization of customer collaboration over contract negotiation. This principle is rooted in the Agile Manifesto, which stresses the importance of working closely with customers and stakeholders throughout the development process. The idea is to foster open communication and adapt to changing requirements, which enhances the final product’s alignment with customer needs.

By emphasizing collaboration, teams can receive feedback early and often, allowing them to make necessary adjustments as the project evolves. This approach contrasts with traditional methods where contracts may predetermine the scope of work, potentially leading to misalignments between customer expectations and the delivered product. Agile development focuses on flexibility and responsiveness, making it easier to accommodate changes that reflect the customer's needs and preferences.