If you need to explain very briefly what is Agile Software Development and its benefits, use the Agile Elevator Speech:

… agile is basically three things:

1. a set of engineering best practices that allow for rapid delivery of high-quality software,
2. a project management process that encourages frequent inspection and adaptation,
3. and a leadership philosophy that encourages team work and accountability.

… success in today’s economy requires us to respond quickly to changing market conditions. Agile processes allow our teams to meet the changing demands of their customers while creating environments where top developers want to work.

There you go, less than 30 seconds! 🙂