Agile Process In Software Engineering: Key Components, Benefits And Scope

As the world of software engineering is rapidly evolving, traditional development methodologies and models are often brought to the discussion table. In this fast world, they are criticised for being slow and ineffective, which usually leads to low productivity and missing the desired goals. However, in recent years, the Agile process in software engineering has emerged in response to these criticisms and is quite loved because of its flexibility, collaborative, and customer-centric approach to building software.

I’ve provided my findings and thoughts about the use of the Agile process in software engineering and also explained its roles and benefits. But before we move on to the roles, benefits, and challenges, let us know a bit about Agile software development.

What is Agile Software Development?

Agile software development can be understood as a method of developing software that focuses more on flexibility, collaboration, and customer satisfaction. This is purely based on the agile manifesto core principles of software development that aim to prioritise an individual's interactions, working of the software, customer engagement, and response to changes after feedback.

The use of the Agile process in software engineering is an approach that is designed to match the fast-paced digitalised world and deliver a working product within the deadline without any flaws. Delivering a seamless working product requires a two-end collaboration between the development team and the customer to make sure that the resulting product meets the expectations.

Using Agile methodologies in software engineering allows the developer or team leader to break down the developmental process into smaller and manageable chunks. When small parts of software development are finished every day, it becomes easier and more enjoyable for the developing team to test the prototypes, make changes or improvements, and complete them on time. This is an effective and productive way to deliver working software in a short cycle that completely satisfies the users.

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Types Of Agile Model

Although the Scrum Agile model is one of the most popular methods implemented by businesses across the world in different industries, there are some other types, too. All of these Agile models differ from each other; however, they have the same end result. Here are the types of Agile models that you must know.

• Feature-Driven Development

• Scrum

• Lean software development

• Crystal

• Dynamic Software Development Method

• Extreme programming

Key Components Of Agile Process In Software Engineering

1. Iterative Development

The Agile principles and methodologies are based on dividing complex tasks into smaller chunks and making them easier to execute. All these agile sprints are independent of each other and are developed and tested separately. The implementation of an Agile process in software engineering allows the development teams to easily adopt the changing requirements and priorities after feedback.

Every time a sprint is completed, it is presented to stakeholders and customers for feedback. Meanwhile, the next sprint is being processed, and after receiving feedback on the previous one, actions are taken accordingly.

2. Incremental Development

One of the core components of the agile process in software engineering is continuously delivering working software in short cycles. As the teams continue to work on the software one after another that is independent of each other, it gets easier for them to make any changes, reduce risk, and deliver value to the customers.

This short cycle time duration can vary from 2-4 weeks depending upon the project’s requirements and the performance of the development team. The Scrum Master guides the team to work according to the Scrum framework, which results in quicker and more efficient deliveries of software. Delivering in cycles enables the Scrum teams to focus on developing high-quality software rather than getting stuck between a large amount of software and missing deadlines.

3. Continuous Improvement

In the agile process in software engineering, encouraging continuous learning, adaptations, and improvement is necessary to deliver high-quality working software. These can be achieved by providing team members with training on the Scrum framework and ensuring that they follow it throughout the project. Regular retrospectives after a sprint is finished are conducted to find bugs and other issues in the software and combat them accordingly.

When you go with this agile process in software engineering, it helps you to stay ahead of the market curve, innovate, and improve continuously. When the Scrum Master encourages collaboration and communication, it automatically fosters a strong bond between the teams, which leads to better teamwork, increased trust, and improved overall performance.

4. Client Collaboration

The key to delivering value to clients with the help of the agile process in software engineering is to understand the needs of the customers and collaborate with them to deliver high-quality software. Some real-world examples of customer collaboration in top project management companies are user testing, customer advisory boards, agile workshops, and customer feedback sessions.

When collaboration with clients is involved in the Agile process in software engineering, you get to know the requirements of the market and where they are having problems after reviewing the first sprint. Involving clients/customers in feedback and working closely with them helps the teams develop software that can be used easily, meet their needs, and increase user experience.

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Teams Associated With Agile Application

As the development of new software takes place, there are a lot of people who work behind the scenes to execute the project. Without them in the scenario, the implementation of the Agile process in software engineering might be total chaos. So, here are the backbones who help carry out and complete a project.

1. Product Owner

A product owner is responsible for defining and prioritising the product backlogs. His role is to ensure that all the teams and members have a clear understanding of the product's requirements. He primarily focuses on business values, customer needs, and the technical feasibility of the product.

2. Scrum Master

The main role of a Scrum master is to train and guide the team through the agile process in software engineering and ensure that they follow it. He is an important part of the team because he is responsible for removing the impudents and facilitating scrum events like sprint planning,  daily scrum,  scrum review,  and scrum retrospective. To execute a project efficiently and effectively, expert coaching from a certified scrum master is a must. 

3. Development Team

The primary role of the development team is to develop software that meets user requirements and is of high quality. He/she is also responsible for testing the software before delivery to make sure that all its features are working smoothly. The team works with the aim of delivering working software at the end of each sprint.

Also Read: Scrum Master Learning Path

Phases Involved In The Software Development Agile Process

Software development is a lengthy process, and it takes quite a lot of time to fully plan and release software for use. However, with the help of Agile principles and methodologies, it has become easier to get the software projects delivered within deadlines. Let us look at the phases that are involved in the process of software development, which has made working fun and efficient. 

Phase 1: Pre-Project Phase

1. Visioning

Before the development of software even starts, the project owner, scrum master, and development team sit around the table along with the stakeholders to define the project’s vision and goals. This is a pre-project phase in which the personnel involved determine the upcoming software’s scope, usage, and need and forecast the estimated costs.

2. Planning

After creating a rough vision comes the planning part, where the product owner creates a backlog, which is basically a list of features and requirements of the software that is to be developed. He/she then discusses this with the Scrum master, and they plan the estimated release date, goals, and objectives that need to be derived from the project.

Phase 2: Iteration Phase

1. Sprint Planning

The Scrum master takes to the development team and divides the software development process into smaller chunks called sprints. He/she prioritises those tasks and allotted them to the teams so that they can be completed on time. The first sprint’s timeline is around 2 weeks, after which the team goes in for the review of the readied software.

2. Development

Once the daily sprints are scheduled for the development teams, they get into the making of working software and complete the daily assigned tasks. During the development phase, they conduct unit testing, integration testing, and refactoring code so that the software performs well and is aligned with the project’s vision. 

3. Testing and Quality Assurance

Once the first sprint of software development is completed, it is tested to make sure that it meets the requirements and to identify the defects and bugs. The product owner, Scrum master, development team, and stakeholders are part of this testing, and they also provide valuable feedback.

4. Review and Retrospective

The personnel involved in the testing provide their observations in the first sprint and suggest if there is any room for improvement or modification. If the software is not yet up to the mark, then it is handed to the development team for necessary changes. But if there are no flaws, then it is moved to the next phase, i.e., releasing it to the public.

Phase 3: Release Phase

1. Deployment

Smoke testing is conducted on the working software after planning and ensuring that it is well received by the netizens. Then, the team monitors the performance of the software and goes through the feedback of users. The Scrum master, product owner, and stakeholders ensure that the software functions well in all kinds of systems and is accepted by the users.

Phase 4: Post-Release

1. Maintenance and Support

Once the software is on the market, continuous support and maintenance are provided to make the product more efficient and productive. The design team monitors the usage and performance of the software and makes modifications in the needed areas to ensure a smooth transition.

Also Read: How to Make the Best of Your Daily Scrum Meeting?

Benefits Of Agile Process In Software Engineering

Agile software development is a popular method that is rapidly taking over various industries to complete projects. This is because it ensures productivity, is flexible, emphasises collaboration, and allows us to deliver the best results in short iterations. Businesses prefer Agile methodology over traditional because it has increased customer satisfaction and reduced risk factors. Apart from that, there are some benefits to implementing the Agile approach in software development.

• The agile process in software engineering ensures that the planning and execution of the project are carried out smoothly.

• High-quality working software is delivered at the end of each sprint, ensuring faster time-to-market.

• Implementation of the Agile process in software engineering encourages customer collaboration and feedback, which results in increased user experience.

• There might be a few changes required in the software after the sprint review; thus, the agile framework helps the teams adapt to it perfectly.

• With the help of agile principles and their application in software engineering, the risks and issues of the software can be found earlier and solved.

Common Challenges During Agile Implementation in Software Engineering

Although the implementation of an agile process in software engineering sounds like a breeze, it is a difficult task to carry out. There are certain challenges that you may face as a project manager or scrum master when handling the project according to the scrum framework and Agile principles.

Work cultural shifts, scalability, lack of training, and measuring progress are some common challenges that occur during the application of agile process in software engineering. Until now, the businesses and development teams have been following the traditional methodology to complete the projects, and the introduction of the scrum framework will completely change the dynamics of the culture.

Not only that, but it becomes challenging to scale a large and complex project to make it simpler and easier. The application of scrum requires special training, and guiding the lack in the area will affect the overall productivity of software development. Every member of the team must be well-versed in the nuances of Scrum so that the software can be delivered on time. 

Also Read: Importance of Certified Scrum Master

Application Of Agile In The Real-World Software Development Process

There are top software companies in the world that have set significant examples in the application of agile processes in software engineering. These companies are known to implement the scrum framework to carry out their software development and continue to improve it with every new version.

These companies are well known and have been used by global users for years without much complaint. This is because the software development and design team continues to make changes and improve the user experience through design thinking and customer-centric approaches.

Let us look at the top five companies in the world that have been in the industry for the longest period of time and have been implementing an agile process in software engineering to deliver satisfactory services to users.

• Meta: FacebookLite and Instagram

• Amazon: Amazon web services and Amazon Alexa

• IBM: IBM Watson and IBM Cloud

• Microsoft: Windows and Office

• Google: Google search and Google maps

Future Of Agile Application In Software Engineering

Agile principles and scrum frameworks continue to change the business dynamics as they affect the overall performance of the development team and provide opportunities for individuals to upscale their skills. Looking at the current scenario, in the future, there will be a huge demand for scrum masters in the IT industry for the smooth implementation of agile processes in software engineering.

You can also expect the collaboration between machine learning, artificial intelligence, and agile principles to make complex software development projects easier. 

Over to You: Learn More About The Application Of Agile Principles

This is a golden opportunity for MBA graduates, project managers, and other individuals who are looking for an exciting job position and salary to hone their skills and become a Scrum Master. With the 2-day CSM Certification course offered by the reputed institutes affiliated with Scrum Alliance, you can learn about Scrum, its values, events, and artefacts.

The certified scrum master certification provided is globally recognised; thus, you can apply for top job positions like agile coach, senior scrum master, chief information officer, mentor, and project manager in the giant companies of the world.