Agile development: It's only natural

A significant number of software development methods have been published over the last 40 years that purport to be properly based on empirical, adaptive and collaborative development. All suggest, some by name, rapid development; bringing systems to production rapidly and at lower cost. The latest manifestation of these methods is Agile Development. This paper pursues the idea that in normal, everyday life people inevitably and invariably behave in this manner; empirical, adaptive and collaborative. Their behaviour is entirely based on empirical observation of the immediate circumstances and conditions, they adapt their behaviour according to these empirical observations, and they usually need to and indeed do, collaborate with others to achieve their ends. This thinking appears to be well supported in management literature, and by influential thinkers, historically. The thesis is also that every activity that people undertake can be reasonably defined as a project. Everyday activities such as going to work, visiting the supermarket, having dinner in a restaurant with friends are examples of the myriad activities undertaken by individuals, groups and families in the natural course of their lives. To achieve success in even these usual and commonplace activities requires planning, and the activities are carried out using empirical experience to adapt their behaviour as necessary, and is almost always done in cooperation and collaboration with others. The question must arise as to why Agile Development of computer software systems is still considered as a secondary, probably second-rate and even damaging and unworkable approach to software development when these development approaches are so embedded with ideas of empirical planning, adaptive project management and collaborative behaviour. They're only natural!