agile
Able to move quickly and easily; in business, relating to a method of project management that is characterized by the division of tasks into short phases of work and frequent reassessment.
Agile is the opposite of 'waterfall' management. It emphasizes flexibility, speed, and responding to change rather than following a rigid plan.
Word relationships
- nimble: Nimble often refers to physical or mental quickness; agile is the standard term for this specific business methodology.
- flexible: Flexible means you can bend; agile means you can move and change direction quickly.
- rigid: Rigid structures cannot change easily and often break under pressure.
- bureaucratic: Bureaucratic processes are slow and involve many layers of approval, the opposite of agile.
Commonly confused with
- waterfall: Waterfall is a linear project management style where one phase must finish before the next begins; Agile is iterative and overlapping.
Word family
- agility (noun): The ability to move quickly and easily.
Collocations
- agile development
- agile methodology
- agile team
- remain agile
Example sentences
- "The development team used agile methodologies to release updates every two weeks." Describing a team's workflow.
- "To survive in this market, large corporations need to become more agile and less bureaucratic." Discussing corporate strategy.
Memory hook
An 'agile' cat can jump and turn in mid-air to land on its feet. Agile = Fast + Flexible.
When not to use
Don't use it just to mean 'fast.' A car is fast, but a gymnast is agile. In business, it means being able to change direction quickly, not just working hard.
Fun facts
- The Agile Manifesto was written by 17 software developers at a ski resort in Utah.
Related words
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