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Agile

INTRODUCTION TO AGILE METHODS

Loïc

• 4 min read
INTRODUCTION TO AGILE METHODS

Agility has become an essential pillar in software development and beyond, thanks to its ability to meet the demands of a constantly evolving market. Agile methodologies are iterative and collaborative approaches that promote adaptability, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction.

Origins

Agile methodologies were born as a response to the limitations of traditional project management approaches, notably the Waterfall method. In 2001, a group of 17 software developers gathered in Utah, USA, to formalize the principles of this new approach. The result was the Agile Manifesto, based on four fundamental values that contrasted with the values of the time:

  • Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
  • Functional software over comprehensive documentation.
  • Collaboration with the customer over contract negotiation.
  • Responding to change over following a plan.

From these values, 12 principles were defined to guide software development, thus laying the foundation for what we now call Agility.

Agile Methods vs Waterfall Method

The Waterfall method is a sequential approach where each project phase must be completed before the next one begins. This method, which dominated software development for decades, is characterized by rigid planning, extensive documentation, and difficulty in incorporating changes during the project. In this approach, the process begins with analysis, followed by documentation, and then implementation… for the entire project, imposing a lengthy timeline to deliver a final product.

Problem: Sometimes, between the start of a project and its delivery, the market has evolved, user expectations have changed, and our vision has shifted, resulting in a product that incurred high costs without the possibility of making it profitable.

In contrast, Agile methods are iterative and incremental. Work is divided into small cycles called "sprints" or "iterations," where each cycle delivers an increment of the final product. This approach allows for great flexibility and continuous adaptation to changing needs or priorities. Close collaboration with the customer and the regular delivery of functional versions are at the core of Agile practices. In these approaches, each iteration is like a mini-project phase, involving analysis, specification, and implementation, which allows for gradual construction of a solution by integrating user feedback and continuously adapting to changes.

Main Differences:

  • Flexibility: Agility allows for changes to be integrated at any time, while Waterfall follows a rigid, predefined plan.
  • Customer Interaction: Agility promotes continuous collaboration with the customer, allowing for adjustments, while Waterfall typically involves the customer mainly at the beginning and end of the project.
  • Delivery: Agility produces functional deliverables at each iteration, while Waterfall focuses on delivering a final product only at the end of the project.

The Main Agile Methods

Agility is often mistakenly associated solely with the Scrum method, but in reality, Agility encompasses a range of methods, each with its own specifics, that share the same fundamental principles but differ in their practices and applications. Here’s an overview of the most well-known and commonly used Agile methods:

  1. Scrum Scrum is perhaps the most popular Agile method. It focuses on project management through Sprints, usually lasting two to four weeks. The Scrum team consists of three main roles: the Product Owner, who defines priorities and features to be developed; the Scrum Master, who facilitates the Scrum process and helps the team overcome obstacles; and the Development Team (also called the Dev Team), which performs the technical work.Application Areas: Scrum is widely used in software development but is also applicable in any complex project requiring frequent adjustments, such as marketing, research and development (R&D), or even innovation management.Advantages:Example: A software development company might use Scrum to manage the creation of a mobile app, with rapid iterations that allow for adjusting features based on user feedback.
    • High adaptability through short iterations.
    • Visibility of progress with frequent deliverables.
    • Continuous improvement through retrospectives at the end of each sprint.
  2. Kanban Kanban is a Japanese-origin method inspired by Toyota’s production system. Unlike Scrum, Kanban doesn’t prescribe sprints or specific roles. It relies on a Kanban board, where tasks are represented as cards and moved through various columns (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done), reflecting the different stages of the process.Application Areas: Kanban is often used in environments requiring continuous workflow management, such as technical support, software maintenance, or industrial production.Advantages:Example: A customer support team could use Kanban to manage and prioritize support tickets, moving each request through the Kanban board until it’s resolved.
    • Simplicity and flexibility, allowing adaptation to any type of project.
    • Clear visualization of progress and bottlenecks.
    • Reduced cycle time, which improves responsiveness.
  3. Lean Lean is a management approach focused on eliminating waste and maximizing value for the customer. It shares many principles with Agile development, such as continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. Lean is often associated with practices like Kaizen (continuous improvement) and Just-In-Time.Application Areas: Though it originated in the industrial sector, Lean is now widely used in software development, project management, and even administrative processes.Advantages:Example: A manufacturing company might apply Lean to optimize its production line by reducing wait times and improving the quality of finished products.
    • Cost reduction by eliminating waste.
    • Increased quality through continuous improvement.
    • Resource optimization by focusing on what truly adds value.
  4. Extreme Programming (XP) Extreme Programming (XP) is an Agile method focused on software development, emphasizing code quality and customer satisfaction. XP advocates practices such as pair programming, refactoring (rewriting code to improve it without changing its behavior), and automated testing.Application Areas: XP is particularly suited for software development projects where requirements frequently change and code quality is critical.Advantages:Example: A tech startup might use XP to develop a new SaaS platform, where flexibility and code quality are crucial for quickly meeting user needs.
    • Code quality through rigorous development practices.
    • Quick feedback with short development cycles and automated testing.
    • High customer engagement with close collaboration throughout the project.

Conclusion

Agility represents a revolution in how projects are managed, not only in software development but also in other fields requiring flexibility, innovation, and collaboration. Agile methods, whether Scrum, Kanban, Lean, or Extreme Programming, offer specific solutions to the challenges encountered in various types of projects. Their success depends on thoughtful adoption and adaptation to the specific context of each team or company. By mastering these methods, organizations can improve their responsiveness, efficiency, and ability to deliver high-quality products that meet the evolving needs of their customers.