People develop software. This simple, inescapable fact invalidates most of the available methodological advice. Often, software development doesn’t meet human needs, acknowledge human frailty, and leverage human strength. Acting like software isn’t written by people exacts a high cost on participants, their humanity ground away by an inhumane process that doesn’t acknowledge their needs. This isn’t good for business either, with the costs and disruption of high turnover and missed opportunities for creative action.

Extreme Programming Explained (1999) by Kent Beck