Using Agile to Create Economic Value for Society

This paper proposes modifications to the decision criteria that are now technically focused onto value creation and services delivery. It argues that the current emphasis on how, why, when and for whom systems are developed and the Agile Manifesto guidance for improving the human side of IT development using a bottom-up philosophy should be modified to address a wider set of benefits and risks while creating the greatest benefit for consumers and society. This paper proposes process modifications and aligning project selection criteria with economic growth. It links these diverse elements, and argues that IT can assist in resolving the enormous economic problems faced today by addressing the shared value needed and using an understanding of the larger, macro IT contexts extending beyond the user and the users´ customer to include the communities and larger society impacted by IT solutions. By incorporating communal and societal criteria and promoting growth IT may contribute a partial solution to resolve many of the problems faced today.