What is Agile?

Agile is a modern approach to project management and software development that emphasises flexibility, collaboration, and customer feedback. It focuses on delivering value quickly and adapting to change throughout the process.

Where did Agile come from?

Agile methods emerged in response to the limitations of traditional waterfall approaches in the 1970s and 1980s. The Agile Manifesto, created in 2001, formalised Agile principles and marked a significant shift in how projects were managed.

Core Principles of Agile

• People over Processes: Agile values teamwork and communication more than following strict rules or relying solely on tools.
• Working Software over Documentation: Agile prioritises delivering usable software over extensive documentation. It’s about showing progress through functioning products.
• Customer Collaboration over Contracts: Agile encourages involving customers throughout the development process to ensure their needs are met and expectations are exceeded.
• Adapting to Change over Following a Plan: Agile embraces change as a natural part of development and adjusts plans accordingly, focusing on delivering value rather than sticking to a rigid plan.

Iterative Development

• Break projects into smaller parts called iterations or sprints.
• Each iteration delivers a usable piece of the product.
• Benefits: Less risk, faster value delivery, easier to adapt to changes.

Continuous Feedback

• Regularly gather input from stakeholders and team members.
• Helps catch problems early and improve collaboration.
• Feedback happens daily (stand-ups), at the end of each sprint (reviews), and after each sprint (retrospectives).

Adaptive Planning

• Agile plans are flexible and adjust to changes.
• Contrast with traditional waterfall planning, which follows a fixed sequence and is less adaptable.
• Agile embraces change and allows for adjustments throughout the project.

Scrum

Scrum is a way to manage projects where teams work in short cycles called Sprints, delivering small pieces of the project at a time.

Kanban

Kanban helps teams manage their work visually, with cards moving across a board that represents different stages of the project.

• Visualising workflow: Work items are represented by cards that move from “To Do” to “In Progress” to “Done” columns, showing progress and bottlenecks.
• Continuous delivery: Work is pulled into the workflow as capacity allows, enabling teams to deliver value continuously without fixed timeframes.

Extreme Programming (XP)

Core practices:

• Pair Programming: Two programmers work together, one writing code while the other reviews and suggests improvements.
• Test-Driven Development (TDD): Write tests before writing the code, ensuring the code meets requirements and can be easily changed.
• Continuous Integration: Developers integrate their code frequently to avoid conflicts and ensure the software works well together.
• Emphasis on technical excellence and customer involvement: Focuses on delivering high-quality software and involving customers throughout the development process.

Clearer project progress

Agile methods like Scrum and Kanban keep everyone in the loop with regular updates. This helps teams and stakeholders see how projects are advancing and identify any issues faster.

Quicker time to market

Agile’s short development cycles mean products get to customers faster. By focusing on what matters most first, teams can respond swiftly to market demands and stay ahead of the competition.

Better adaptability

Agile teams are built to embrace change. They can adjust their plans easily based on feedback, keeping products relevant and customers happy.

Happier customers

Agile involves customers throughout the process, ensuring their needs are met. This leads to products that customers love, boosting satisfaction and loyalty.

Stronger teamwork

Agile fosters collaboration and trust among team members. With regular check-ins and a focus on improvement, teams work better together and feel more motivated.

Resistance to Change

• People are used to old ways of working.
• Switching to Agile can be hard.
• Solution: Teach them why Agile is better, start small, and listen to their concerns.

Leadership and Culture

• Need leaders who support Agile.
• Culture should be open, trusting, and focused on getting better.
• Solution: Leaders should back Agile, encourage open talk, and be willing to change.

Flexibility vs. Limits

• Agile is flexible but projects still have limits.
• Too much flexibility leads to chaos; too many limits stifle progress.
• Solution: Focus on what’s most important, review and adjust plans often.

Scope Creep

• Adding too many features during a project can mess things up.
• Solution: Set clear goals, review plans regularly, and prioritise what’s really needed.

Remote Team Challenges

• Working with people in different places or time zones can be hard.
• Solution: Use good tools for talking and sharing, set clear rules, and build team spirit.

Team Diversity

• Build teams with different skills to cover all project needs.
• Encourage teamwork across departments for better understanding.
• Everyone in the team shares responsibility for the project.

Team Independence

• Let teams decide how to work best.
• Trust team members to manage their tasks without too much control.
• Make sure everyone feels free to share ideas and concerns.

Customer Focus

• Keep the customer’s needs in mind at all times.
• Regularly ask customers for feedback to improve the product.
• Prioritise tasks based on what’s most important to the customer.

Always Improve

• Keep learning and trying new things.
• Talk about what’s going well and what could be better.
• Learn from both successes and failures.

Support Learning

• Provide training and help for team members to learn Agile.
• Get help from experts if needed.
• Encourage everyone to keep learning and growing.