Agile Methodology

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Sandeep Sangu

Introduction to Agile 🚀

Agile is an iterative and incremental approach to software development that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer satisfaction. It's a mindset shift from traditional methods, allowing for changes even late in the development process.

Agile Principles 🌟

The Agile methodology is based on 4 core values and 12 principles. The 4 core values are:

Individuals and Interactions 🤝 over processes and tools
Working Software 💻 over comprehensive documentation
Customer Collaboration 🗣️ over contract negotiation
Responding to Change 🔄 over following a plan

These values guide the 12 principles of Agile, which are:

Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer by delivering valuable software early and continuously. 👍
Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage. 🔄
Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference for the shorter timescale. 🗓️
Close, daily cooperation between business people and developers. 🤝
Projects are built around motivated individuals, who should be trusted to get the job done. 💪
Face-to-face conversation is the most efficient and effective method of conveying information within a development team. 💬
Working software is the primary measure of progress. 📈
Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely. 🌱
Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility. 🛠️
Simplicity—the art of maximizing the amount of work not done—is essential. 🎨
The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams. 🌟
At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly. 🔍

Agile Methodologies 🌐

Agile is not a single methodology, but rather a set of values and principles that can be applied in various ways. Some popular Agile methodologies include:

1. Scrum 🏉

Framework for managing and completing complex projects
Emphasizes teamwork, accountability, and iterative progress

2. Kanban 📊

Visual system for managing work, emphasizing continuous flow
Focuses on lead time, cycle time, and throughput

Scrum Framework 🏉

The Scrum framework consists of three roles, five ceremonies, and artifacts.

Roles 👥

1. Product Owner 📋

Responsible for defining and prioritizing the product backlog
Ensures the backlog is visible, transparent, and clear

2. Scrum Master 🧑‍🏫

Facilitates Scrum and removes impediments
Ensures the team follows Scrum principles and practices

3. Development Team 💻

Cross-functional team that develops the product increment
Self-organizing and responsible for meeting sprint goals

Ceremonies ⏰

1. Sprint Planning 🗓️

Time-boxed event to plan the upcoming sprint
Team commits to delivering a specific set of work

2. Daily Scrum 🕒

Time-boxed event for the team to synchronize and plan
Each team member shares progress, plans, and impediments

3. Sprint Review 📝

Time-boxed event to review the product increment
Stakeholders provide feedback, and the team adapts

4. Sprint Retrospective 🔄

Time-boxed event to reflect on the sprint and identify improvements
Team discusses what went well, what didn't, and how to improve

5. Backlog Refinement 📋

Ongoing process to keep the product backlog updated
Team reviews and revises items in the backlog to ensure they are ready for future sprints

Artifacts 📦

1. Product Backlog 📃

Prioritized list of features or user stories
Refined and updated regularly by the Product Owner

2. Sprint Backlog 🗂️

Set of tasks to be completed during the sprint
Created during Sprint Planning and updated daily

3. Increment 📈

Sum of all product backlog items completed during a sprint
Reviewed during the Sprint Review ceremony

FYI: There are additional extended artifacts in Scrum, such as the Definition of Done and Burn-Down Chart. For more information, check the further reading section.

Example 🏠

Imagine building a house using Scrum principles. You start by working with an architect (Product Owner) to create a blueprint of your dream home. The architect prioritizes the features, such as the foundation, walls, roof, and interior design.

The construction team (Development Team) takes on a set of tasks for the first phase (Sprint), such as building the foundation and framing the walls. They work together to complete the tasks, and at the end of the phase, they review their progress with you (Sprint Review). You provide feedback, and the team adjusts their plan for the next phase.

As the construction progresses, the team continues to work in phases, reviewing progress and making adjustments along the way. The architect ensures that the team is on track to meet the project timeline and budget. Finally, the team delivers a fully built and functional home (Product Increment).

This example illustrates how the Scrum framework can be applied to a complex project, with iterative progress, continuous feedback, and flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.

Advantages of Agile 🚀

Flexibility and Adaptability 🌟: Agile allows for changes at any stage of the project, making it ideal for projects with evolving requirements.
Customer Satisfaction 😊: Continuous customer involvement ensures the final product meets their needs and expectations, leading to higher customer satisfaction.
Faster Delivery 🚀: Frequent releases provide quick delivery of functional software, providing value to customers sooner.
Improved Quality 🔍: Continuous testing, feedback, and refinement improve the overall quality of the product, reducing defects and bugs.
Enhanced Collaboration 🤝: Agile promotes cross-functional teams and encourages collaboration among team members, stakeholders, and customers, fostering a sense of ownership and teamwork.
Increased Transparency 🔎: Agile's emphasis on regular progress updates and open communication ensures that stakeholders are informed and aligned throughout the project.
Risk Reduction ⚠️: Agile's iterative approach helps identify and mitigate risks earlier in the project, reducing the likelihood of project failures.
Improved Team Morale 💪: Agile's focus on teamwork, recognition, and continuous improvement boosts team morale and motivation, leading to a more productive and engaged team.

Popular Agile-Scrum Tools 🛠️

Jira by Atlassian - Agile project management tool
Confluence by Atlassian - Documentation
Trello - Visual collaboration tool for planning tasks and projects