It is important to know that Scrum is an implementation of Agile principles. While Scrum is indeed a framework (a structured approach with defined roles, artifacts, and processes) Agile however is not. Agile is more of an ideology to adopt and as such, it’s not something that you “do”, but instead Agile shapes the way that you “do”.

Here’s a link to the official Agile Manifesto. There is not much to it, just 4 values and 12 principles.

The 4 Agile Values:

  • Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
  • Working software over comprehensive documentation
  • Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
  • Responding to change over following a plan

The 12 Agile Principles:

  • Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.
  • Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer’s competitive advantage.
  • Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale.
  • Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.
  • Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.
  • The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.
  • Working software is the primary measure of progress.
  • Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.
  • Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.
  • Simplicity–the art of maximizing the amount of work not done–is essential.
  • The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.
  • At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.

If you look closely at the names of the people who initially came up with the Agile Manifesto you might notice Ken Schwaber & Jeff Sutherland among them. This is the same Ken Schwaber & Jeff Sutherland who are also the creators of the Scrum Guide, highlighting how closely related Scrum and Agile are.