What does the agile approach primarily emphasize in terms of product development?

The agile approach primarily emphasizes frequent inspection and adaptation throughout the product lifecycle as a fundamental principle. This iterative process allows teams to respond to changing requirements, user feedback, and evolving market conditions, ensuring that the product remains aligned with customer needs and business objectives.

By incorporating regular feedback loops, such as sprint reviews and retrospectives, agile teams can assess the progress of their work, identify areas for improvement, and make necessary adjustments in real-time. This adaptability is crucial in a fast-paced environment where flexibility leads to better outcomes and customer satisfaction.

While the other choices reflect traditional project management methodologies that prioritize extensive planning and rigid processes, the essence of agile is about embracing change, fostering collaboration, and continuously improving the product based on validated learning rather than strict adherence to pre-defined specifications. This focus on flexibility and responsiveness ultimately drives the success of agile product development.