You must have heard about agile methods and how these approaches can generate advantages within the IT area. But, do you really know these methodologies?
With an increased demand for agility due to an increasingly digital world, traditional project management approaches are no longer as effective. As a result, it is necessary to seek alternatives that better adapt to this scenario.
In this context, agile methods emerged in software development as a viable option for project management and process improvement. Continue reading this post and learn more about it!
What are agile methods?
With the evolution of the market, new ways of managing software projects were necessary. Thus, making agile methods emerge as an alternative to the traditional model of software development.
Based on adaptability and flexibility, these approaches sought continuous and incremental delivery of software, with reduced development cycles.
Within this context, several agile methods emerged today. For Example, Scrum, XP, and Lean, among others. However, its application was not restricted to software development.
Today, the so-called agile methodologies can be used for managing IT projects and also in other areas of the company, with only minor adaptations.
One of the most famous approaches to breaking this paradigm is Scrum, which is successfully applied in many different ways within organizations and for the most diverse purposes.
How can the adoption of these methodologies help a company?
The success that agile methodologies have achieved can be attributed to the many benefits they can generate for those who apply them in the work environment. In this sense, far surpasses the results of traditional management approaches. Some of the advantages are:
- Performance gain;
- More customer satisfaction;
- Error reduction;
- continuous-integration;
- Better results.
What are the principles of agile methods?
We will list the agile principles, which are part of the document called the Agile Manifesto, created and signed by several experts in software development and the basis for all existing methodologies today.
1. Customer satisfaction
The first point addressed in the document mentions the importance of customer satisfaction for any project, being one of the main targets of agile methods.
Because of this, it is not enough just to deliver, but to create products that can really add value to the final customer and guarantee their satisfaction.
2. Constant changes
Unlike what happens with traditional methodologies, also called waterfall, changes are welcome within agile approaches, being accepted at any point in the project development.
According to the manifesto, any change in the original scope is seen as something natural, ensuring that the final product of the development cycle is in accordance with the context in which it will be released.
3. Continuous deliveries
Another point that makes agile methodologies a case apart and so interesting is continuous deliveries, which create an incremental product and guarantee an earlier arrival to the market.
The evolution of the final result of the project is natural and allows the company to enjoy the product even before it is fully finished — which also guarantees customer feedback.
4. Working together between developers and executives
Within agile methodologies, those responsible for the business and customers are always welcome to give their opinions about how the project is being developed. In this way, the final result can be as expected by all involved.
5. More motivation
Project teams that work with agile methods are self-managing, that is, they know their assignments and develop them without the need for constant supervision, creating a climate of trust and invaluable collaboration for the completion of the project.
6. Face-to-face interaction
The sixth item of the Agile Manifesto deals with communication between team members and others involved, seeking to regularly discuss project issues face to face so that there are no doubts and progress can be measured.
For this, most of the methodologies develop daily quick meetings in which any problem can be identified and solved in a simple way, in addition to planning the team’s next steps.
7. Deliverables that measure progress
The main focus of agile methodologies is delivery, and they are fundamental for measuring the progress of a given project. Other forms of goal control are secondary and, most of the time, expendable.
8. Constant and sustainable development
Certain projects may not have a defined end when they start, being developed according to customer feedback and new demands that arise. Therefore, the development effort is continuous and incremental, designing a sustainable final product.
9. Excellence above all
The basis of agile methodologies is to achieve customer satisfaction, and for that, it is necessary to build solutions that take into account customer feedback throughout the development of the project. Over time, it is possible to achieve excellence.
10. Simplicity
All decisions made during the course of the project must be based on simplicity with quality, avoiding creating complex processes that do not add value to the final solution. Unnecessary efforts only delay deliveries and cause the team to waste time.
11. Self-management
Within a team that uses agile methodologies, it is essential that all members are committed and know what their attributions are within the project.
Each member must work collaboratively and be aware of their responsibilities for the success of each delivery.
12. Effectiveness
By working in cycles, teams that use agile methodologies are always evolving with each delivery, improving their processes in search of more effectiveness.
With each new cycle, meetings are held to evaluate activities and to understand how to improve and become more effective.
For all its advantages, the use of agile methods is increasingly common, not only for software development but in many other projects — even outside of IT.
