If you are looking for a way to improve the management of multi-variable projects, you should be interested in the Agile methodology. What is it and how does it affect progress at work?
Agile methodology — the history of creation
Agile methodology was created at the beginning of the 21st century, exactly in 2001. It was created by a group of programmers who were vacationing in the mountains of Utah. They wanted to make the most of their time together, so they decided to discuss the software development process.
The specialists agreed that the business section had problems communicating with the coders. The time spent on creating solutions was long, and technological changes occurred quickly. The projects were not finalized or ended in failure — they were outdated, compared to the results of the competition. So they wanted to find a solution to the problem — a way to create software that would assume a number of variables and would allow solutions to be brought to market more quickly.
The problem was already at the beginning of the projects, that is, at the planning stage. Until a certain point, solutions were created on the basis of a top-down schedule. It took into account the established stages of work - the transition to the next step was possible at the moment when the previous one was completed. There was also a predetermined budget and costs.
The situation was also problematic on the client side. He had to present his precise requirements knowing that the introduction of changes would be associated with complications. This approach, called cascade (eng. Waterfall), It didn't work in multi-variable projects.
Changes in the thinking and way of working of developers occurred precisely in 2001, after long and difficult conversations. The developers came to a consensus by creating Manifesto for Agile Software Development — 12 principles of agile project creation methodology. Related to this approach is the concept Scrum, a specific way of doing things — implementation of a plan based on the Agile method.
What is the Agile methodology?
Agile — what does it mean? The word comes from the English language and means “Agility”. This concept refers to the approach to work. It differs from the traditional one in its model of action - it is referred to as distributed. The planning and implementation of the steps is based on the focus on functionalities. The work is carried out by small teams. This is done to speed up the handover of individual parts of the application, testing, patching and expansion. This makes The product is brought to market faster.
How has it affected the work of Agile developers? The importance of the new approach has influenced the work of teams who work around sprints (cycles), assuming the provision of further parts of the application. A big change from the Waterfall approach is the fact that the recipient has the opportunity to decide on the direction of development even in the course of work. Agile is often associated with Scrum — it is a framework of conduct — a set of meetings, roles and tools to help organize work.
How does Agile work?
What are the steps of action used in Agile? The process is divided into 5 basic stages:
Planning
The initial stage of Agile project management — one of the most important. It involves agreeing on assumptions with the service recipient and setting their priorities. The employee responsible for dealing with the client must be able to adequately interpret his business expectations. If the way of implementing activities is Scrum - a big role here is played by the Scrum Master, a kind of leader who helps the team to work efficiently.
Designing
Based on all the information collected, methods of preparation of components are developed and product requirements are determined. A list of functionality and resources that are needed for the implementation of tasks is also established.
Programming
The stage, defined as appropriate, carried out in accordance with previously established priorities.
testing
After completion of work on each component — they are subjected to testing. The process is supervised by the project teams or the client.
Implementation
The step that follows after testing and obtaining customer approval. In subsequent iterations, conclusions are applied, collected after the completion of the work. It is a good practice to give information to other developers.
Agile methods in project management — pros and cons
The Agile method is an invaluable support in the process of project implementation. Its task is to improve the efficiency of operations. What advantages does it have?
- speeding up the execution of orders,
- independence of the work of teams,
- improving the coordination of the project,
- the possibility of implementing changes,
- Putting the customer's needs first,
- improving the flow of information,
- involvement of all specialists working on the implementation of the order,
- Minimize the costs associated with implementing changes.
Of course, like any work methodology, Agile also has some disadvantages:
- Agile approach will not be a good solution in projects where flexible operation is not possible,
- the effects are visible at the moment when the turnover of employees is low,
- mismatch of employees — it can be difficult to find involved specialists.
Agile Manifesto
According to the Agile method — the development of software in collaboration and mutual assistance improves the course of project implementation. These experiences help to present:
- people and collaboration between them on tools and processes,
- correct functioning of the software over the documentation,
- efficient cooperation with the client on the negotiation of contracts,
- Respond seamlessly to changes over the implementation of the plan.
The Agile Manifesto makes 12 points:
- Customer Satisfaction Agile methodology should contribute to an increase in the quality of services and a reduction in lead time. Projects should be tailored to both clients' expectations and business requirements. Customer satisfaction with cooperation is also dependent on positive contact with him.
- Willingness to change — one of the most important characteristics of Agile is the flexibility and constant readiness for changes that the methodology assumes at every stage of the activity,
- Use of short time intervals — In Agile, systematicity is important — so it is not worth delaying the delivery of the next elements of the project. The more often the client receives individual elements of the system, the faster he will be able to make comments. Thus — fewer corrections await employees at the advanced stage,
- Close cooperation — agile methodologies are based on the cooperation of specialists from many fields - this improves the flow of information and progress in action,
- Commitment and motivation — for long-term projects, team members must be constantly involved in the action. Agile assumes motivating employees as a means to achieve success,
- Direct contact The Agile approach focuses on the efficient flow of information. Its creators recommend live meetings to have discussions,
- Operation of the software — the result of joint work is a functional product
- Uniform Speed of work — what makes Agile different? Project management affects the standardization of the pace of work of team members,
- Process improvement — agile methodologies are characterized by encouraging the development of teams, the search for better solutions,
- Simplicity — thanks to it, the product and its operation are intuitive and understandable,
- Independent work of teams — Agile methods assume the independence of the teams that participate in the development of the project. The manager is only tasked with coordinating activities, he should not influence the way employees act,
- Analysis and conclusions It is an essential part of every completed stage. It helps to draw conclusions from the course of the enterprise and improve it.
Agile is a great way to manage projects. However, it is worth remembering that the basis of success is a properly committed team, open to change. If you want to know more about the impact of Agile methodology on your work — check out other posts on our blog. Do you need help? You are interested in services UX design or redesign of websites? Contact us!
