What is Agile Methodology

Table of Contents

• What is Agile Methodology?
• Agile methodology vs. Traditional methodology
• Frameworks of Agile Methodologies
• What is Scrum?
• Benefits of implementing Projects Using Agile
• Conclusion

What is Agile Methodology?

Agile methodology is a method that endorses endless repetition of development and testing during the software development lifespan of the project. It’s Capability to adjust quickly, effortlessly and reacting promptly to amendment is what ‘Agile’ means in normal English language .Agile method differs significantly from other methodologies. In Agile both development and testing undertakings are parallel unlike the traditional method of development.

Brief outline of Agile Methodology

• In old-fashioned software development method like Waterfall prototype, a development can take quite a amount of time to complete and the customer may perhaps get to see the end product at the completion of the project.
• Overall a traditional way of development may take extensive amount of time before finally developing a piece of working model in understanding the client Requirements, design, development, testing and doing User Acceptance Testing
• On the opposite, Agile have Sprints or iterations which are smaller in time (The iteration can differ from 2 weeks to 4 weeks) throughout which pre-determined functionality are presented to client as a workable model.
• Agile may consume one or more than one iterations to provide the complete workable software feature at the completion of the last iteration.

Agile methodology vs. Traditional methodology

Before getting into the details about the merits of agile development, it would be better to compare the traditional model with agile development. In traditional development, we often talk about the “traditional model” which talks about the Waterfall Model. It is exactly opposite to agile process particularly because it’s not iterative and non-incremental, Waterfall is all about a method where you can see the advancement “flowing” over different phases of waterfall. It is a sequential method frequently working from requirement analysis, design, implementation, testing and maintenance. The image below helps understanding the difference between both method and how agile development tends to provide visibility, flexibility and ROI after commencement of the implementation and decreases a lot of risks throughout the project.

Related Article:Waterfall vs Agile

How Projects are developed using Agile Methodology

The basic mechanism behind it is by splitting down the bigger chunks into minor parts and then endlessly providing them in two to four weeks cycles termed as iterations.

In an agile methodology, answers are achieved by self-organizing squads as they team up, discuss, and continuously make every effort to develop their functioning practice and grow into more effective teams to deliver the product.

Over the years Agile development process has developed 4 core values

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

Also Read: Types of Agile Methodology

Few Ideologies managing agile development

• Agile practices, modifications to the requirements for the clients competitive benefit which means it welcomes fluctuating wants, even late in the development.
• Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale.
• Clients/ Business people and developers need to collaborate together daily during the project development.
• The most effective and real mode of handing over data to and within the development squad is face-to-face discussion.
• Functioning software is the most important measure of growth.
• It also endorses justifiable development. The developers, and clients should be able to sustain a persistent speed indefinitely.
• The greatest designs and requirements surface from self-organizing squads.
• The squad looks for better options on how to become more effective, after every sprint, gets feedback then alters its actions consequently.
• Projects are developed by persons who are self-motivated, and who should be trustworthy.

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Frameworks of Agile Methodologies

Now as we are aware of what agile development is let us focus on the development methods used to implement/ adapt Agile. Agile is basically not one size that would fit all. So there are numerous agile methods, which share much of the identical values, as well as several of the matching features and process. Each organization is distinctive and faces dissimilar in-house aspects (i.e. size of the organization and promoters) and exterior aspects (i.e. clients and regulations). To meet the changing requirements of various organizations, there are many agile methods and quite a few different types of testing practiced which one can follow while working within one of those agile approaches. But from an implementation perspective, each one has its own technique of carry out, jargon, and strategies. Here is a brief of few of the major agile software development methodology contenders:

1. Scrum
2. Kanban
3. Lean
4. XP - Programming

However here in this article we will be discussing majorly on Scrum

What is Scrum?

Scrum Framework is one of the powerful and widespread software development methodologies. Scrum takes into consideration an iterative method that emphases on describing key requirements and intentions prior to every sprint. It is intended to diminish risk while providing results/output quickly.

Scrum begins with a user story that summaries how requirement should be executed and be verified. The squad then works through a series of sprints to provide small bursts of value quickly. To help the squad work in this elastic way and evade fluctuating priorities, Scrum requires problems to be responded right from start.

Scrum demands for regular teamwork among testers, developers, normally in the form of day-to-day standups and sprint retrospectives, to confirm correct announcement and alignment. Moreover, there is a Scrum Master who supports to maintain the project on track by eliminating deadlocks from the squad to ensure they can be most effective. The Scrum Master can be anyone on the team, such as a developer or a tester. 

Scrum works on fixed time-based with sprints, also releases can be scheduled out in advance. Hence it does call for quicker rehearsals and stronger teamwork. Since it follows fast iterations, Scrum is perfect for squads whose clients and stakeholders require to be aggressively involved by frequently sighting workable model at review meetings. This mechanism permits the squad to entertain fluctuations for future showcases.

Important squad participants who must be considered when taking a Scrum methodology include:

• Product Owner
• Scrum Master
• Developers
• Automation Engineers
• Testers
• Stakeholders

Benefits of implementing Projects Using Agile

High product quality

As mentioned earlier, testing is integral part of development cycle, which helps in constant validation to ensure that the piece of code is working throughout the development. This allows the client to make alterations if required and the squad is mindful if there are any issues.

• Describing and expanding user stories just in time so that the product features is significant as possible.
• Ensuring nonstop integration and everyday testing into the development method, sanctioning the development squad to notify issues while they’re still new.
• Making use of automated testing tools.
• Conducting sprint retrospectives, agreeing the scrum squad to uninterruptedly improve methods and work.
• Completing work using the definition of done: developed, tested, integrated, and documented.
• Software is developed in rapid cycles. Each cycle is exhaustively tested to confirm software quality is sustained.

Higher client contentment

The client is always involved, the growth of development has transparency and flexibility to modification. This indicates engagement and customer contentment.

• Representing working model to customers in every cycle.
• Delivering products to market much quicker. The customer gets primary right to use the product during the iteration.
• Keeping clients involved and tied up throughout development.

Reduced Risks

• Agile methods nearly eradicate the likelihoods of complete project failure.
• Gives a benefit of having a workable model, right from the beginning of the first sprint, so that the chances of failure is less.
• It provides liberty of when new modifications requires to be applied. That can be fulfilled at very low cost since the regularity of new increments that are produced.

Faster ROI

The fact that agile method is iterative means that the functionality are supplied incrementally, consequently profits are realized quickly while the product is still under development..

• Development begins early.
• A feature ‘ready to market’ artifact maybe after first iteration.
• Extended supply cycles are usually a tricky situation for client, predominantly those in fast-moving markets.
• Concentrating on Business worth. It allows the customer to decide the precedence of functionality, the squad realize what is most significant to the customers’ business, and can supply functionality in the most valuable order.

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Conclusion

Agile methodology is apt for simple projects, quicker delivery smaller teams and higher customer satisfaction unlike traditional waterfall model were everything is maintained as phase and customer may have to wait for the completion of the entire process to get the flavor of the product. And moreover if the customer has some changes or suggestions to the team and to get the output of those proposed changes, he has to wait until another cycle to implement those changes. So this will result in customer waiting for longer period and investing lot of money to just see a prototype. Hence as per me in today’s fast moving world Agile methodology works wonder for everyone.