12 Agile Principles — #6 of 12

Face-to-Face Conversation

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

The next principle emphasizes face-to-face conversation. This is another statement that you have to not take as an absolute but think of it as relative. It is not always possible with distributed teams to have face-to-face communications, but it is certainly desirable if it is possible.

This statement also doesn’t mean that the only form of communication is direct, face-to-face communications. It is a reaction to the history of waterfall projects that heavily relied on documented requirements as a way of communication. There are many ways to communicate information in various forms, and you need to choose the optimum mix to fit a given situation. The right mix will depend on a number of factors, including the scope and complexity of the project and the distribution of the team working on the project.

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