Agile Methodology and the art of successful software development

Those who work in or close to the software development industry are surely aware that there is a certain “art” unique to software development in the sphere of engineering projects. Software development requires adaptable and flexible team dynamics, allowing for a team that is able to react to challenges quicker. This is what agile methodology is all about. Due to the software development and ITIL market being highly competitive and rapidly changing one, developers need to constantly innovate to stay on top of their game.

What is Agile Methodology ?

Agile, as a mindset informed by the values contained in the Agile Manifesto and the 12 Principles behind the Agile Manifesto, is a quintessential method for software developers in the 21st century. Those values and principles provide guidance on how to create and respond to change and how to deal with uncertainty.

Agile methodology divides itself among various agile strands, one of which is Agile project management. This is a methodology within Agile that is commonly used to deliver complex projects due to its adaptiveness. It emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, continuous improvement, and high-quality results, and therefore is ideal within software development. Agile project management intentions to be simplified and efficient by means of using six main objectives to track progress. These include a Product vision statement, Product roadmap, Product backlog and a Release plan. When do you want to understand Agile project management, ask “How might we perform project management in a way that allows us to create and respond to change and deal with uncertainty?

Among the various frameworks within agile project management that can be used to develop and deliver a product or service, another is called Scrum. Scrum is defined as an agile framework used to contrivance the ideas behind agile software development, of which the goal is to develop, deliver, and sustain products through subprocesses such as collaboration, accountability, and iterative progress. What differs Scrum from other agile methodologies are the roles, events that are assigned uniquely to Scrum, namely Product owner, Development team, and Scrum master.

Another Agile methodology used in software development is Lean. Software development is an inherent l application of Lean methodology since, similar to manufacturing, it usually follows a defined process. The key concepts that guide all practice of Lean methodology include Continuous improvement, Respect for people and Lightweight Leadership. The term “Lean software development” can be described as a culmination of lean manufacturing principles and practices within the software development sphere. Adapted from the Toyota Production System, it has emerged alongside a pro-lean subculture within the Agile community.

And the last, but certainly not the least, is Kanban within Agile software development. Kanban is a popular visual workflow management method that Agile teams use. Similar to Scrum, Kanban is a process designed to empower teams to work together more effectively. When utilized for software development, Kanban uses the different stages in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) to signify the stages in the manufacturing process. The ultimate aim of Kanban is to control and manage the flow of features which are represented by Kanban cards, in order for the number of features entering the process to match those being completed.

Finally, agile development is employed in the software development arena because members of an agile team are more productive, engineers can see results, and product owners can see their vision expressed. Similarly, users appreciate effective and efficient software that performs its task in a way that meets or enhances personal and professional processes. In the 21st century, enterprises need a higher level of software capability to deliver extraordinary digital experiences in a super-competitive world. They need to attract and maintain talent in order to achieve this – and Agile development can help an organization achieve all of this.

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