The School Of Innovation

Searching for the true definitions of Agile and Agility

With so many definitions of Agile and Agility around, I've taken a somewhat scientific approach to see if there's any consensus amongst the leading authorities. The results make for interesting reading.

Definitions of Agile

DefinitionSource
Agile is a software development methodology that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and responsiveness to change, and that enables teams to deliver working software quickly and efficiently through continuous improvement and customer feedback.EY
Agile is a mindset that values individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change.Agile Manifesto
Agile is a way of thinking about work that emphasizes collaboration, responsiveness, and adaptability.Harvard Business Review
Agile is a project management approach that values collaboration, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement, and that enables teams to deliver high-quality products faster and more efficiently.Scaled Agile
Agile is a way of working that emphasizes collaboration, customer satisfaction, and rapid feedback and learning.Deloitte
Agile is a way of working that emphasizes iterative and incremental development, customer satisfaction, and a focus on delivering value to the customer through rapid feedback and learning.McKinsey & Company
Agile is a methodology that enables teams to deliver high-quality software faster and more efficiently, by emphasizing customer satisfaction, teamwork, and continuous improvement based on feedback and learning. Jira
Agile is a methodology that allows teams to respond quickly to changing customer needs and market conditions, by emphasizing flexibility, adaptability, and continuous improvement.Accenture
Agile is a project management approach that emphasizes flexibility, speed, and customer value, and that enables teams to deliver value to the customer faster and more efficiently through continuous improvement and collaboration.Bain
Agile is a mindset and a methodology that emphasizes flexibility, adaptability, and a focus on delivering value to the customer.Scrum.org
Agile is a project management approach that emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, and a focus on delivering value to the customer through frequent releases and continuous improvement.ProjectManager.com
Agile is a project management approach that values customer satisfaction, teamwork, and delivering working software in short iterations, and that enables teams to achieve their goals through adaptability and collaboration.KPMG
Agile is a project management approach that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and responsiveness to change, and that enables teams to deliver value to the customer faster and more efficiently. Trello
Agile is a software development methodology that emphasizes customer collaboration, iterative development, and rapid delivery, and that enables teams to deliver working software that meets customer needs and business goals.Forrester
Agile is a way of working that emphasizes rapid feedback, continuous learning, and a focus on delivering value to the customer.IBM
Agile is a methodology that emphasizes iterative and incremental development, frequent releases, and continuous improvement based on customer feedback.VersionOne
Agile is a mindset and methodology that emphasizes customer collaboration, iterative development, and continuous delivery, and that enables organizations to respond quickly to changing business needs and market conditions.PwC
Agile is a mindset and methodology that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and rapid iteration, and that enables organizations to deliver value to customers faster and more efficiently through continuous improvement.Deloitte
Agile is a methodology that enables teams to deliver high-quality software faster and more efficiently, by emphasizing continuous improvement, customer collaboration, and flexibility.Agile Alliance
Agile is a mindset and a methodology that values customer satisfaction, working software, and adaptability, and that enables teams to deliver high-quality products through continuous feedback and improvement. LeanKit
Agile is a way of working that emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and rapid feedback, and that enables teams to respond quickly and effectively to changing requirements and market conditions. Forbes
Agile is a project management approach that values customer collaboration, iterative development, and continuous delivery, and that enables teams to respond quickly to changing business needs and customer requirements.Gartner
Agile is a methodology that emphasizes flexibility, customer collaboration, and continuous improvement, and that enables teams to respond quickly to changing requirements and market conditions.Atlassian

Definitions of Agility

DefinitionSource
Agility is the ability to respond quickly and effectively to changing circumstances, to adapt to new situations, and to learn from experience.Harvard Business Review
Agility is the ability to balance stability and flexibility, to anticipate change and respond rapidly, and to continuously learn and improve.McKinsey & Company
Agility is the ability to move quickly and easily, to be nimble and flexible, and to respond to changing customer needs and market conditions.Deloitte
Agility is the ability to sense, respond, and adapt quickly and effectively to changing customer needs, market conditions, and technology advancements.Accenture
Agility is the ability to rapidly adapt to change, to be responsive to customer needs, and to deliver value quickly and efficiently.Gartner
Agility is the ability to rapidly adjust to changes in the environment, to seize opportunities as they arise, and to learn and adapt as necessary.Forrester
Agility is the ability to pivot quickly and effectively in response to changing circumstances, to iterate and experiment with new ideas, and to continuously improve.Agile Alliance
Agility is the ability to embrace uncertainty, to experiment with new approaches, and to rapidly respond to changes in the market or the competitive landscape.Bain & Company
Agility is the ability to learn from experience, to adapt to new situations, and to continuously improve through rapid iteration and experimentation.PwC
Agility is the ability to create and deliver value quickly and efficiently, to pivot and adapt as needed, and to continuously learn and improve.KPMG
Agility is the ability to navigate uncertainty, to experiment with new ideas, and to rapidly respond to changes in the market or customer needs.EY
Agility is the ability to move quickly and easily, to be flexible and adaptable, and to respond to changing circumstances with speed and efficiency.CIO
Agility is the ability to anticipate and respond to changes in the market, customer needs, or competitive landscape, and to continuously improve through experimentation and iteration.Harvard Business Review
Agility is the ability to sense and respond to changing customer needs, market conditions, and technology advancements in real-time, while maintaining focus on delivering value.Capgemini
Agility is the ability to rapidly deliver value to customers through continuous improvement, experimentation, and learning.Agile Manifesto
Agility is the ability to quickly and easily adapt to changes in the environment, to respond to customer needs, and to continuously improve.VersionOne
Agility is the ability to quickly and effectively navigate change, to learn from experience, and to continuously improve.IBM
Agility is the ability to deliver value to customers in a highly dynamic environment, while being flexible and responsive to change.SAFe
Agility is the ability to be flexible and adaptable, to experiment with new approaches, and to continuously improve through rapid feedback and learning.Microsoft
Ethann Castell

Ethann Castell