Development Methodology
What is Agile? Why is it special?
In today’s fast changing world of technology, solutions are complex and business environment is dynamic. This triggers constant change. Thus, companies try to provide the best-ever solutions to their clients. To achieve optimal results in the shortest amount of time, these companies are adopting Agile software development processes. As the name ‘Agile’ suggests the developer is ‘able to move quickly and easily’ satisfying customer requirements. Consequently, they are not only able to meet client demands but are also able to incorporate growing changes with time with a new product feature. This is the reason behind Agile’s popularity in the IT industry.
What is Agile? It’s a methodology not a framework. It is a method of developing software solutions, which includes websites, web applications, and mobile applications, that focuses on delivering high-quality working software frequently and consistently, while minimizing project overheads and increasing business value.
Agile software development is more than a mere practice. It is pair programming, test-driven development, daily stand-ups, planning sessions and sprints.
Technology is changing at a faster pace than ever with each passing day. This raises the demand for software companies to work in a continuously changing environment. It's not possible to gather all the information and requirements at the early stages of development. Thus, without the availability of complete specific requirements, the conventional software models cannot be implemented.
The basic principles of the Agile Methodology required to implement Agile in any company as a part of the Software Development Life Cycle are:
• Customer satisfaction by early and continuous product delivery
• Acceptance of changes in requirements at any stage, even at the end of the development.
• Frequent delivery of working product, with the duration of a couple of weeks to a couple of months.
• Efficient and effective method of transferring information within the development team along with a face-to-face conversation.
Here are some benefits of Agile development:
Better Quality: Because it is iterative, one big benefit of agile methodology is the ability to find problems and create solutions quickly and efficiently. The flexibility of the agile method allows project teams to respond to customer reaction and constantly improve the product.
Reduced risks: Agile methodologies virtually eliminate the chances of absolute project failure.
There is always a working product, starting with the very first sprint, so that no agile project fails completely. Developing in sprints, ensures a short time between initial project investment.
Generating revenue early with self-funding projects, allows organizations to pay for a project with little up-front expense. Agile gives freedom when new changes need to be implemented. They can be implemented at very little cost because of the frequency of new increments that are produced.
Higher Customer Satisfaction: Close collaboration between the project team and the customer provides immediate feedback. The customer is able to make tweaks to their expectations and desires throughout the process. The result: a more satisfied customer.
Predictable Costs and Schedule
: As each Sprint is a fixed duration, the cost is predictable and limited to the amount of work that can be performed by the team in the fixed-schedule time box. Combined with the estimates provided to the client prior to each Sprint, the client can more readily understand the approximate cost of each feature, which improves decision making about the priority of features and the need for additional iterations.
Increased project control: The many opportunities to inspect and adapt throughout agile projects allow all members of the project team — the development team, product owner, scrum master, and stakeholders — to exercise control and ultimately create better products.
