Agile and Lean Systems Engineering

Agile is a common paradigm, in particular, in software development. However, it is also applied outside the software world in other engineering disciplines, or any other kind of organizational unit.

There are many different opinions on what it means to be agile. I will spend no effort arguing who is right or wrong and will just give my understanding of agile.

First, agile is an English word that means to be able to move quickly and easily (Oxford Dictionary Online, www.oxforddictionaries.com, accessed 2017). In the context of software engineering, the Agile Manifesto for Software Development defines what it means to be agile (Agile Manifesto for Software Development. www.agilemanifesto.org).

The Agile Manifesto for Software Development was published by several well-known engineering experts (mainly in software) in 2001. It is not a definition of a term or a process. It postulates 4 values and 12 principles. Organizations or teams that follow those values...