Agile software development methodologies have been growing in popularity among software developers, project managers and developing companies. In simple terms, Agile is a method of producing and delivering high-quality software, web applications and mobile apps within the budget and time constraints for the project.
The agile development methodology was originally designed and developed for software development; however, due to its efficiency and effectiveness, it is adopted by diverse industries. In this article, we will explore the advantages of the agile model for developers and project managers.
A] Agile Methodology in Detail
1. Scrum
Scrum is a project management framework that helps project managers and developers to deliver the project to the client within the deadline. Scrum helps to manage the task and divide it into a team as short-term itineraries called ‘sprint’. Scrum creates defined roles for the team, product owner, scrum master, and development team.
2. Kanban
Kanban is a very simple agile methodology for software development, which focuses on visualisation of the progress. The Kanban tracks the progress of the project on the Kanban board which is segmented into three parts, ‘To Do’, ‘Doing’, and ‘Done’.
3. Extreme Programming (XP)
Extreme Programming (XP) is designed to manage software development projects and follows agile principles. Extreme Programming is used for short-cycle frequent releases of software when the demands are constantly changing. It helps to constantly improve the software by taking in feedback and creating checkpoints.
4. Feature-driven development (FDD)
It is an agile project management methodology for designing and developing software models every couple of weeks. FDD dictates planning for designing and developing various features that need to be accomplished separately for every feature.
5. Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)
Dynamic Systems Development Method or DSDM is a framework which requires regular delivery of the product by taking user suggestions. DSDM requires users to actively participate in the development process and also gives teams to make decisions. It also uses sprints and takes a rapid applications development approach.
6. Lean
Lean is a different methodology than the agile development method; however, is grouped with it due to its many similarities. Leans aims to reduce the time taken to develop software as well as its cost. It encourages incorporating feedback and continuous optimisation of the whole system.
B] Benefits of Agile Methodology in Software Development
1. Improved Quality And Consistency
Agile is an outstanding methodology for creating high-quality software as it allows constant feedback, improvement and changes. Unlike traditional project management techniques, agile breaks down the entire process into small manageable tasks based on different factors such as urgency or category.
The repetitive nature of agile allows the developers to learn and improve over time. The client can ask for changes or additional features which can be implemented after each iteration. These can accumulate to create the best-quality finished product.
2. Client And User Satisfaction
Agile works on the principle that if the customer is not satisfied with the product, the product is not successful. Agile involves the client in every step of the development process and includes their feedback and suggestions.
The agile methodology also states that the finished product must bring value to the user. Agile also reduces the time taken to build the project, which allows clients to capitalise on the trends leading to higher satisfaction.
3. Reduced Cost And Time
Agile divides a project into segments called ‘sprints’ which are more manageable. As sprints have a fixed schedule and create time constraints, the project can be completed within the given time. This not only helps reduce the time taken but also the project’s cost.
The developers can identify the cost of the features before each sprint and understand the overall cost as compared to the budget. Increased development productivity can also save the client money. Better quality final products mean that the client wouldn’t need to spend more money to optimise it in the future.
4. Leaves Room For Modification
The agile methodology offers unparalleled flexibility with its iteration-based development strategy. The development team has to stay focused on the agreed-upon deliverable features, but there is still room for adding new features and refining the product.
The short splints allow changes to be made quickly and without adding too much to the cost. Developers can benefit from this by providing user-centric updates in no time.
5. Minimises Risks
The development team can keep the flaws and errors to a minimum in agile development by improving the functionality and removing bugs with each iteration. With sprints, the project managers can visualise the various risks and create plans to minimise them.
Traditional project management techniques do not have a way to see risks beforehand, hence there is always uncertainty. Methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban can help the project manager to see and predict the risks and performance at an early stage.
6. Enhances The Team’s Morale
Agile teams have greater autonomy in their decisions as they are self-managed and organised. As the team does not have a leader who dictates the course of action, the team can feel more empowered.
Agile software development practices help to boost the morale of the developers who feel their work and decisions are validated. It can also lead to increased creativity, initiative and responsibility on the part of the team.
7. Relevant Metrics
The metrics in traditional methods like waterfall, track the project as compared to the estimated time and cost. On the other hand, the agile methodology focuses on creating high-quality products and optimising the process.
Agile tracks metrics like lead time, cycle time and throughput. These advanced metrics help to identify and measure the team’s performance and bottlenecks. These metrics can help to fix issues in time and avoid risks.
C] Tips For Implementing Agile Methodology
If you are looking for expert guidance on implementations of agile methodology, listed below are some of expert-recommended tips from developers employed by the leading software development company in India:
- Begin with application in a small single project
- Communicate with the team and client about the adoption of agile
- Focus on reducing the tasks in the queue and task sizes (sprints) rather than focusing on the timeline
- Stop micro-managing teams and motivate them to take decisions
- Ensure shorter feedback loops and changes
- Choose a suitable framework and stick to it
Conclusion
Agile methods provide a framework for software development projects which are better and more efficient than traditional methods. It is a methodology to implement iterative and incremental approaches to software development projects. Organisations can benefit from the flexibility, collaboration and frequent feedback and continuous optimisation that agile promotes.
Agile allows developers to be more customer-centric, adaptable and responsive. With agile, companies can offer high-quality software products at lower costs in less time. If you are in need of high-quality software systems, contact us now for custom software development solutions.
FAQs
There is a big difference between doing agile vs being agile. Doing Agile refers to the use of Agile tools, technologies and methodologies that facilitate continuous delivery. On the other hand, being Agile means you should completely grasp the Agile methodologies for all areas of your business. While anyone can use Agile methodologies in development projects, it takes a lot of time and experience to become Agile.
Three of the most popular Agile project management methodologies include Scrum, Kanban, and Lean. However, there are other management methodologies as well which you can use as per your requirements and convenience. These include DSDM, extreme programming, Adaptive Software Development (ASD), Agile Unified Process (AUP), Feature-Driven Development, and Rapid Application Development.
Agile tools are project management tools that help developers who are using Agile methodologies to streamline the development process. Some of the common and popular Agile tools include Jira, Trello, Active Collab, Lean Kit, Pivotal Tracker, and Axosoft.
Agile and Waterfall are two commonly used methodologies for project management in software companies. Waterfall methodology is considered to be the traditional methodology, while Agile is the modern counterpart to it. Under waterfall methodology, the process follows a linear sequence, like a waterfall going from the top to bottom. Agile is a cyclic and continuous process which allows for frequent changes and improvements, resulting in a better final product.
There are several tools in Agile software development methodology which are helpful in the development process. Jenkins and Jira are two of the most popular tools used today by the best developers.