What Agile says about Documentation?
The Agile Manifesto states: "Working software over comprehensive documentation."
This principle is often misunderstood, especially in the field of documentation. Many technical writers interpret this phrase as an invitation to neglect documentation.
But in reality, this is not what it means at all.
The Agile Manifesto is not Against Customer Documentation
Contrary to what one might think, the phrase "Working software over comprehensive documentation does not refer to customer documentation. In fact, it refers to internal technical specifications for projects. In the past, traditional development methodologies would spend months writing detailed specifications before even starting to code. These documents were rigid, often outdated before the end of the development cycle, and limited the product's adaptability.
In Agile, it's not documentation that's cast aside, but the idea of overly heavy and rigid documents that don’t serve the purpose of rapid iteration and product adaptation.
The Importance of Documentation in the Agile Process
This doesn't mean that we should forgo documentation. On the contrary, Agile documentation is meant to be lighter, but more relevant and dynamic. It should evolve alongside the development process to remain aligned with the changing needs of the product.
Documentation must follow the same cycle as software development: it should be regularly updated with adjustments and improvements that align with sprints and feature evolution.
Documentation is a Pillar of "Working Software"
As a technical writer or documentation lead, you must understand that customer documentation is part of "working software." Without proper documentation, the software cannot be fully utilized by your end-users. If your product is functional but users don’t know how to use it, the product isn’t fulfilling its mission.
This is the key: documentation should be viewed as a product in itself, just like code. It should be tested, revised, and integrated into the Agile workflow to ensure that it stays aligned with the product vision and user needs.
A Complete "Done" Definition
In a Scrum team, there is no "done" without documentation. Whether you're working on a complex software product or a website, documentation is the element that allows your users, support teams, QA teams, and other stakeholders to interact effectively with the product.
Agile Documentation = Product Success
In the end, the real question isn’t "Should we document?" but "How do we document in an Agile way?"
Agile documentation shouldn’t be a burden but a living tool that helps the product flow smoothly, staying adaptable and evolving.
It is a fundamental element to ensure that every team involved in the development, support, and use of the product works in a consistent and efficient manner.