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Agile
Methodologies:
A Quick Guide
Agile Methodologies: A Quick Guide
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- January 19, 2024
Agile is not just a specific method, but a collection of different frameworks and methodologies that correspond to the Agile Manifesto document. It was created in 2001 by a group of experienced developers based on their own experience in optimizing development processes. Ultimately, Agile allows maximum flexibility and responsiveness to the changes that are inevitable in the unpredictable world of software development. For agile software development, we at Elite Dev Squad use tools, methodologies, and frameworks specifically selected to maximize productivity. We have developed these solutions through experience and collaboration with our customers. And when new methods and techniques appear, we have the courage to put them into practice. In this article, we’ll take a look at the current agile approach, compare it to more traditional methods, and see if it actually works for all projects.
Core Values
Agile development is more than just adapting to change and technological advances. This is a set of methods that are well documented in the Agile Software Development Manifesto. According to the manifesto, developers value: Practical software with comprehensive documentation. Cooperation with customers in contract negotiations. React to change rather than following a plan.
Agile Trends
According to the State of Agile 2022 survey, 52% of respondents said they adopted agile to improve time market. The ability to be predictable while acting quickly is a key advantage that stands out above many others. This study also showed that when people are satisfied with agile practices in their organizations, certain things work better. 69% of respondents mentioned increased collaboration. 54% reported improved alignment with business needs. 39% mentioned a better working environment and increased visibility in the product development lifecycle.
Kanban vs. Scrum
Scrum and Kanban are two common project management methods for managing software development projects. Scrum and Kanban are both part of agile methodologies. Scrum is an iterative, step-by-step approach in which teams work in sprints to create a potential product each time. It follows a set of fixed roles, rituals, and deliverables, including the Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-Ups, Sprint Reviews, and Sprint Retrospectives. Scrum is ideal for situations where requirements are not clearly defined and teams need to work together in an agile environment to deliver a quality product. Kanban, on the other hand, is a continuous flow methodology that focuses on minimizing work in progress (WIP) and delivering small pieces of work faster. Kanban is ideal for scenarios where your team has a steady flow of work and needs to maintain a consistent pace to avoid overloading the system. If you have a running application, Kanban is a good way to manage your work. You can respond to issues and errors faster, so you can support your current customers more effectively. Visualize the status of your work and prioritize tasks based on the importance of the issue. This allows you to continuously improve processes and optimize operations to deliver better value to your customers. If you are developing a new application, Scrum is a better option as it provides a framework for incremental development. You can define a product backlog, prioritize features, and collaborate in sprints to deliver deliverable increments. The Scrum framework ensures a clear vision, well-defined roles, rituals, and deliverables that help you efficiently deliver a quality product. Within the same team, these approaches can be combined into existing applications. This enables the development of new features and ensures that customer experience issues that impact support services and require a faster response are handled.
Agile vs. Waterfall
Agile and Waterfall are two different approaches to managing and executing web development projects. Although the waterfall model is considered traditional, it has different methodologies and philosophies that can lead to significant differences in how a project is planned, executed, and delivered. Let’s compare both approaches side by side. So is agility better? Agile has its benefits, but it is not inherently “better” than other web development approaches. The choice of methodology depends on the specific project requirements, the team’s preferences and capabilities, the client’s requirements, and a variety of other factors.
However, here are some reasons why Agile may be better in certain situations:
Adaptability to Change: Agile is well-suited for projects with evolving requirements, allowing teams to adjust as new information becomes available and reducing the risk of delivering a product that doesn’t meet customer needs.
Customer-Centric Approach: Agile focuses on delivering value to customers, encouraging frequent feedback to ensure the final product meets users’ needs and expectations.
Frequent Releases: Agile sprints enable more regular releases of functional software, which is advantageous for projects that require rapid development and deployment.
Reduced Project Risk: By breaking projects into smaller iterations, Agile minimizes overall project risk. If an iteration doesn’t go as planned, it affects only the short term, not the entire project.
Continuous Improvement: Agile fosters a culture of ongoing evaluation and adjustment, improving productivity and product quality over time.
Enhanced Collaboration: Emphasizing collaboration among team members, stakeholders, and customers helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps everyone aligned.
Transparency: Agile methodologies ensure transparency in the development process through regular checks and demonstrations of working software, which builds trust with stakeholders.
Prioritization of Business Value: Agile prioritizes delivering features with the highest business value first, ensuring that projects yield meaningful results early on.
However, it is important to note that Agile is not the best solution for all projects. For example, if a project has clearly defined requirements that are unlikely to change, a more plan-driven methodology like waterfall may be appropriate. Additionally, certain industries and regulatory environments may require a more structured approach. Ultimately, the choice of methodology should be based on a careful evaluation of the project characteristics and requirements. As a result, some organizations even use hybrid approaches that combine elements of different methodologies to meet their specific needs.
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