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Writer's pictureRichard Keenlyside

What is Agile

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In today's dynamic and fast-paced business environment, the agile methodology has emerged as a powerful tool for project management and software development. But what exactly is agile? In this article, we delve deep into the world of agile, exploring its principles, benefits, and how it's transforming how we work.


Unpacking the Agile Methodology

At its core, agile is a project management and product development approach that champions flexibility, collaboration, and customer satisfaction. It's a mindset that values individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, and responding to change over following a plan.


The Principles of Agile

The agile methodology is underpinned by 12 key principles drawn from the Agile Manifesto. These principles guide how teams work in an agile environment, fostering a culture of transparency, adaptability, and continuous improvement.


1. Customer satisfaction is paramount, achieved through the rapid and continuous delivery of valuable software.

2. Embrace change, even late in development, to provide the customer with a competitive advantage.

3. Deliver working software frequently, with a preference for a shorter timescale.

4. Business stakeholders and developers must work together daily throughout the project.

5. Build projects around motivated individuals, giving them the environment and support they need to get the job done.

6. The most effective method of conveying information is face-to-face conversation.

7. Working software is the primary measure of progress.

8. Agile processes promote sustainable development.

9. Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.

10. Simplicity—the art of maximising the work not done—is essential.

11. The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organising teams.

12. The team should reflect on how to become more effective at regular intervals, then tune and adjust its behaviour accordingly.


The Benefits of Agile

The adoption of agile offers numerous benefits. It facilitates faster delivery of high-quality products, enhances customer satisfaction, and fosters a collaborative work environment. It allows for better risk management and provides greater alignment between business and IT, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.


Agile in Action

To truly understand what agile is, it's helpful to see it in action. In an agile project, work is divided into small, manageable units known as 'sprints'. Each sprint has a specific duration (usually 2-4 weeks), and the goal is to deliver a potentially shippable product increment at the end of each sprint.


The team holds daily stand-up meetings, or 'scrums', to discuss their progress and any obstacles they're facing. At the end of each sprint, there's a sprint review and retrospective to inspect the product and identify areas for improvement in the next sprint.


Conclusion

In conclusion, agile is more than just a methodology; it's a mindset that embraces change and values collaboration, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. By understanding what agile is and how it works, organisations can harness its power to deliver high-quality products faster and more efficiently, driving innovation and business growth.


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