Agile is a project management methodology created as a more adaptable and effective way to launch goods. Agile refers to the capacity for fast and effortless movement. Thus, compared to conventional project techniques, an Agile methodology enables project teams to adjust more quickly and easily.
In this series, we are going to do a quick overview of agile development and its basics. Let’s dig in!
What is agile development?
Projects are organized using four values and 12 principles according to the agile methodology.
The four values:
- Individuals over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change instead of following a plan
The 12 agile principles
There are 12 Agile principles listed in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development that all projects must adhere to. Which are:
- Customer satisfaction is our first focus, and we achieve this through the timely and consistent delivery of high-quality software.
Agile methodology’s first tenet argues that rather than delivering a single product at the conclusion of a project, clients should receive project deliverables or iterations at regular intervals.
- Even late in the development process, accept changing needs. Agile methodologies harness change for the benefit of the customer’s competitiveness.
Accommodating last-minute modification requests was challenging using conventional project management. This principle guarantees that Agile projects can quickly react to any changes, regardless of how last-minute they may be.
- Provide working software frequently, preferably in shorter timeframes of a few weeks to a few months.
Agile projects are frequently divided by teams into sprints or project intervals of one to four weeks, with each one culminating in the delivery of a product.
- Throughout the project, businesspeople and developers must collaborate every day.
The success of the project depends on regular communication with all stakeholders, according to this Agile principle. This often entails holding a brief daily meeting with the project team and any other important stakeholders.
- Create initiatives around motivated people. Trust them to complete the task and provide them with the environment and assistance they require.
It’s crucial to build a project team around skills rather than roles or titles. Instead of micromanaging the project team, the project manager should concentrate on inspiring and assisting them.
- Face-to-face communication is the most effective and efficient way to share information with a development team.
The Agile Manifesto places a strong emphasis on the necessity of colocating teams and stakeholders whenever possible. Video conferencing is an alternative if your team is unable to co-locate in order to fully utilize non-verbal clues.
- Progress is mostly measured by usable software.
Overriding any other criteria, such as project documentation, should always be for this purpose.
- Sustainable development is promoted through agile methodologies. It should be possible for the sponsors, developers, and users to continue at the same pace indefinitely.
Projects ought to have a set speed for each of their sprints. This split should make it unnecessary to work overtime or disrupt schedules while encouraging regular production of usable items.
- Agility is improved through constant focus on technical perfection and smart design.
The end product should always be improved during an Agile project, and advancements should be made steadily over time.
- The ability to maximize the amount of work that is not done through simplicity is crucial.
An agile project seeks to complete the project while adhering to the required criteria.
- The best requirements, designs, and architectures come from self-organizing teams.
Teams should be given the freedom to set up shop however they see fit. People should be allowed to work together and create however they see fit, without being constrained by excessive supervision.
- At regular intervals, the team discusses ways to be more effective, then tunes and modifies its behavior as necessary.
Regular appraisals of the team’s performance and results, as well as talks about how to get better going forward, should be held.
In the next part of this blog, let’s see where agile development is useful and where it is not.