Agile is a term that most individuals have likely heard in the field of project management and software development. To completely grasp its significance, it is essential to not only comprehend its principles and strategies but also understand how it compares to conventional project management methodologies.
What is Agile?
Agile is a philosophy based on iterative and incremental development, where requirements and solutions develop through collaborative effort. It promotes adaptive planning, evolutionary development, early delivery, and continuous improvement, and it encourages flexible responses to change.
The IT industry prominently uses Agile due to its versatility, but it can also be applied to other sectors that require the management of projects such as manufacturing and advertising. In Agile method, the projects are divided into small parts referred to as iterations or sprints. Each sprint is worked upon and reviewed to steer the direction of the next sprint.
Principles of Agile
There are twelve key principles outlined in the Agile Manifesto that direct the Agile methodology:
- Customer satisfaction through early and continuous software deliverable
- Flexibility to adapt changes even late in development
- Delivering functioning software frequently
- Working together with customers throughout the project
- Projects are built around motivated individuals and should provide them the support they need
- Face-to-face communication is the best form of communication
- Working software is the primary measure of progress
- Agile processes promote sustainable development
- Attention to technical excellence and good design
- Simplicity is essential
- Best solutions and architectures emerge from self-organizing teams
- Team should reflect at regular intervals and tune for better effectiveness
Agile Vs Traditional Project Management
The traditional project management, often referred to as Waterfall, is a linear and sequential approach where progress is seen as flowing downwards, like a waterfall, through the phases of conception, initiation, analysis, design, construction, testing, deployment, and maintenance. This methodology is mainly used when requirements are well-defined.
On the other hand, Agile methodologies are non-linear and involve concurrent working on individual parts of a project which can be modified throughout the project’s life. This methodology is used when requirements are unclear, and flexibility is required.
In conclusion, Agile is a significant move away from traditional Project Management philosophies and approaches project management in a new, effective manner. By fostering flexibility, it enables companies and project teams to remain productive in an ever-changing environment. While the Agile methodology is not suitable for every project, it holds significant potential for projects where requirements may change, or a faster product delivery is required.