fbpx
1-888-310-4540 (main) / 1-888-707-6150 (support) info@spkaa.com
Select Page

The 12 Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto: Principle Number Six – Promote Face To Face Interaction

Published by SPK Blog Post
on January 14, 2019

Welcome back to our series as we continue to examine the 12 principles underlaying the Agile Manifesto! Our topic for this installment is principle six’s guidance on effective communication. This principle states the following:

The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.”

In this principle, Agile is expressing its opinion about the best means of exchanging information. It’s not suggesting this is the only means of effective communication, but rather, all things considered, face-to-face communication should be prioritized whenever feasible.

Face to face communication has multiple dimensions with which it can convey meaning. These include tone of voice, body language, environmental cues, and facial expression. Limiting or constraining any of those channels reduces the overall information density of the exchange. It’s not that we are incapable of expressing our meaning through other forms of communication. The point is that face-to-face requires less time and effort to do so.

Many people have experienced the pain and frustration of a poorly connected conference call. Trying to discuss complex issues when every fourth word cuts out, someone’s dog is barking, and the volume is too high for one of the participants can have a real effect. It can turn what would otherwise be a 10 minute discussion into 30 minutes and it can cause people to avoid reaching out to remote personnel in order to avoid the associated hassle. All of this slows down the development cycle and reduces the overall sprint velocity.

Again, sometimes circumstances compel us to use certain forms of communication over others. When Agile suggests face-to-face is the best form of communication it’s not suggesting we shun all others. Rather, whenever possible, we should prioritize in-person communication and seek to foster that whenever we can.

David Hubbell
Senior Software Engineer
SPK & Associates

Latest White Papers

The Ultimate Jira Data Protection

The Ultimate Jira Data Protection

Remote work is here to stay, and companies are turning to cloud-based solutions to support their teams. Atlassian's suite of products is a top choice for businesses worldwide. But, many businesses are still unsure about its built-in data protection capabilities....

Related Resources

PTC LiveWorx 2023 Highlights

PTC LiveWorx 2023 Highlights

PTC LiveWorx is the premier event bringing together professionals and innovators from various industries. It ignites the exploration of digital transformation, industrial innovation, and emerging technologies. From engaging keynote presentations to hands-on workshops...

How To Reduce Cybersecurity Risks For Remote Workers

How To Reduce Cybersecurity Risks For Remote Workers

Remote working is an effective way to keep your business running 24/7, mitigate downtime and tap into new markets or expertise. Now, the world is flooded with companies utilizing remote work, digital nomads and gig workers to keep their competitive edge. But, the rise...

Solidworks Error: No Database Attached To This View – Part 2

Solidworks Error: No Database Attached To This View – Part 2

Hi everyone, I am Daniela, the SolidWorks PDM SME for SPK and Associates. Today, I’ll be showing you how to fix the SolidWorks error message “no database is connected to this view.”  This video is split in to two parts. Check out part one here. You can watch the video...