Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change, Second Edition

Chapter 5. Principles

Values are too abstract to directly guide behavior. Long documents are intended to communicate, so are daily conversations. Which is the most effective? The answer depends partly on context and partly on intellectual principles. In this case, the principle of humanity suggests conversation meets the basic human need for connection and so is the preferred form of communication, all other things being equal. Written communication is inherently more wasteful. While written communication allows you to reach a large audience, it is a one-way communication. Conversation allows for clarification, immediate feedback, brainstorming together, and other things you can’t do with a document. Written communication tends to be taken as ...