Agile software development is not just a buzzword. It’s a development cycle that gives real advantages to hasten your project’s completion.
But what is Agile software development? Agile is a methodology that helps you become more flexible while delivering working code swiftly and efficiently. This can be a significant change for some companies, but it’s worth it in the long run. The Agile software development process helps you deliver products faster. And it’s a lot more fun than other older methods.
This article covers everything you need to know, from the Agile Manifesto to possible roles in your team, key stages, and development models. Let’s unlock the secrets of Agile that can take your projects to the next level.
The Agile Manifesto
At the heart of Agile software development lies the Agile Manifesto. Crafted by visionary minds in 2001, it outlines the core principles that form the foundation of this methodology.
It emphasizes the interactions of individuals over processes and tools. The methodology also fosters customer collaboration over contract negotiation. Also, it highlights how to work on software over comprehensive documentation. It also encourages responding to change over following a plan to deliver high-quality software solutions that meet evolving requirements.
You can foster flexibility, adaptability, and customer satisfaction by embracing these principles. The Agile Manifesto also comes with 12 Agile Principles for your team.
Who Is Your Main Lineup in Agile Software Development?
A good team structure is crucial for efficient project management. So if you want to execute Agile software development, your team design should foster collaboration and maximize efficiency. Here are the players who should be on your team.
- Stakeholder, a.k.a The Head Master: Sometimes, when we say stakeholders, we mean the product’s end user, which is your client. But it can also mean the business executives in your company, project investors, production support staff, and external auditors authorized by the end user.
- Product Owner, a.k.a The Champion of Customers: This professional is responsible for setting priorities, defining features, managing the product backlog, and ensuring the team builds the right product.
- Scrum Master, a.k.a The Facilitator: This team lead position ensures that the team follows Agile practices. A Scrum Master removes obstacles, enables a productive work environment, and promotes continuous improvement.
- Development Team, a.k.a The Warriors: A team of experienced and highly qualified software developers and other professionals directly or indirectly associated with product development. Ideally, you will have a product designer, software developer, tester, and UI/UX professional for your project.
Additional roles and responsibilities may be required for Agile teams handling larger and more complex projects. For instance, you may hire technical domain experts to help navigate various technology or client needs and other necessary expertise for your project’s successful delivery.
6 Key Phases in the Agile Software Development Life Cycle
Agile development consists of iterative and incremental cycles known as sprints. Each sprint involves several vital stages and may differ from one project to another. But in this guide, let’s explore the six main phases that form the backbone of agile development.
Phase 1: Conceptualization
The journey begins with the concept and product discovery phase. This is where ideas are born and the vision for the project takes shape.
Here’s where you identify the problem to be solved and envision the desired project outcome. It involves brainstorming, market research, and defining project goals. Prioritizing features through user stories or product backlog is also done at this stage.
Phase 2: Inception
At this point, the project starts taking a tangible form. Stakeholders collaborate to define the project scope, create a roadmap, and establish priorities. This phase lays the foundation for your development process by outlining key objectives, milestones, and resources required.
Phase 3: Iteration
Your team will now tackle multiple iterations or sprints (small, manageable portions of work). Each iteration involves planning, executing, and delivering a working increment of the software.
During this phase, frequent feedback and adjustments are essential to ensure your project meets your customer’s expectations.
Phase 4: Testing
You have reached a critical phase in the Agile software development process. Quality assurance, resolving bugs, and validating the software against predefined criteria take place during this phase.
Keep in mind that testing encompasses the development lifecycle. It helps ensure that each increment meets the required functionality, reliability, and performance standards.
Phase 5: Product Release
The product release phase marks the culmination of your development process. Here, your final product is ready for deployment to end users. Activities at this phase include final testing, documentation, and packaging. Releases may come as a whole or in smaller increments depending on your project.
Phase 6: Review
Are you done deploying the product? Now, it’s time to review it. Stakeholders will evaluate your project’s success. You can also gather feedback from stakeholders and end-users to identify areas of improvement. The insights you gained provide valuable lessons for your future increments and help you refine the development process.
The Agile Methodologies for Software Development
Have you heard of terms like Scrum, Kanban, Sprints, Lean, and Extreme Programming? These are the popular Agile software development models used by teams.
Whether you’re seasoned or new to the game, understanding these models help you choose the right approach.
- Scrum—The most popular Agile framework that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and iterative development. This framework divides work into time-boxed iterations called sprints, usually lasting two to four weeks. The team collaborates closely through daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress and address obstacles. Scrum’s focus on continuous improvement and adaptive planning makes it perfect for complex, evolving projects.
- Kanban—It’s all about visualizing work on a board, limiting work in progress, and optimizing flow. Kanban allows teams to determine work in progress and maximize delivery. So it is ideal for projects with predictable workflows and continuous delivery.
- Lean—Do you work on limited resources? Then this one is right for you. Borrowed from lean manufacturing principles, it focuses on eliminating waste, improving efficiency, and delivering value. It involves identifying value from the customer’s perspective, streamlining processes, and reducing non-essential activities.
- Extreme Programming (XP)—This model strongly emphasizes collaboration, customer involvement, and frequent releases. It promotes close interaction among team members, constant feedback, and continuous improvement. XP’s focus on quality and adaptability makes it suitable for rapidly changing projects.
Are You Ready to Jump Into Agile Software Development?
Remember, Agile is all about cost-saving efficiency and productivity through collaboration and iteration. In addition to that, Agile is also about easily adapting to your customer’s feedback without diverging from your project timeline. So don’t forget to embrace open communication, maintain a sustainable pace, and foster continuous improvement.
No wonder more companies are taking advantage of this methodology in their teams. And it’s never too late to start utilizing the Agile software development process now.
Build A Team With the Agile Knowledge
Great news! Full Scale can help you build an Agile-utilizing software development team quickly and affordably.
We have highly experienced and qualified developers, testers, and leaders. And they are ready to work for you—even for a long-term project. Aside from that, we only use advanced tech in developing your software. More importantly, our processes, including Agile methodologies, are easy to integrate into your existing system.
Choose Full Scale as your offshore software development partner now.
