Agile Principle 4

The fourth principle of the Agile Manifesto states, "Business people and creators must work together daily throughout the project."

In other words... collaboration.

This principle emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the business and teams to achieve the best possible outcome for the project. By working together daily, both teams can ensure that the product or service aligns with the customer's needs and priorities.

This speaks of the close cooperation between members of the team building the product or service and the people for whom the product or service is being made. This may seem apparent initially, but the exact opposite is frequently observed in practice.

The relationship is usually adversarial rather than cooperative, so this principle provides explicit instruction - daily cooperation throughout the project. Working closely with the customer is also one of the values of the agile Manifesto.

And, with this principle, "daily" is also an instruction. Close cooperation between the demand and implementing sides must extend throughout the entire time in agile development. This also means that the team should be involved from the outset, even when the initial ideas are being developed.

One of the key benefits of this approach is that it helps to reduce the risk of misunderstandings and miscommunications between the business and teams. By working together daily, both teams can stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments and provide feedback and input to one another in real-time.

Another essential benefit of this approach is that it helps to foster a sense of shared ownership and responsibility for the project. When business people and teams work closely, they can better understand each other's perspectives and priorities and are more likely to feel invested in the project's success.

So what does this look like in practice? It might involve daily stand-up meetings or "scrums," where the business and development teams discuss progress, identify roadblocks, and plan their next steps. It also involves regular check-ins between team members in person or virtually to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Ultimately, this principle aims to create a collaborative and communicative environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their expertise and insights to the project.