I instructed Agile introduction course many times. Every time I explained the 12 Agile Manifesto principles I felt a repetition of ideas between Principle 1 and 3.

Here a copy of the two principles:

Principle1: Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.
Principle 3: Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale.

I was explaining principle 1 as; Customer satisfaction is everyone’s ideal, so the core intent of that practice lies in the sub-statment of “Early and continuous delivery of valuable software”. And when I was explaining Principle3, I just emphasis the exact time frame mentions as, “from a couple of weeks to a couple of months” with  the principle preference to shorter timescale.

Today, it jumped to my mind that, the first principle is not just about delivery of software, but about the principle of satisfying the customer through and only through valuable software. This excludes any corrupted ways of satisfying customers. So the principle is turned to be an ethical principle that eliminate the use of bribe, cheat or corrupted means of satisfying the customer. Another point is that, we should be delivering “valuable software” not just software. Delivery of valuable software that meets customer needs, used by users and enhances customer’s competitive advantage, not a buggy or crappy software.

Thank you writers of the Agile Manifesto.