Evolution of Agile Development
Agile practices are being used by various organizations today to fulfill marketing, sales, and product development functionalities.
In addition, different businesses employ agile methods to quickly finish projects or other tasks by employing certain factors taken from agile methodologies.
While the term ‘Agile Development ‘ has been around since 2001, it is now that the businesses are truly curious about its usefulness and possible changes that might occur in prospective techniques. This article wraps the evolution of agile development, practices, and more.
What is Agile development?
Also known as Agile software development or simply Agile is a process of developing a software product for a business project or user in a high-quality, rapid manner using a few principles.
These principles form certain frameworks, such as Scrum and Kanban, which are iterative, adaptive, and modular. Agile teams are formed within an organization by making tremendous changes in how the business operates.
In addition, agile methods ensure the employed teams are self-sufficient, cross-functional, and organized. To understand more about the accountability and scope of scrum masters, you can check out this must-read article.
How did it all begin?
With its roots stretching back to the 1980s software development methods, the Agile manifesto was coined in 2001 after 17 software developers felt the need to develop quality code for adaptive, feature-driven development of software.
Software developers including Jim Highsmith, Jeff Sutherland, Jon Kern, Martin Fowler, Ken Schwaber, and Bob Martin felt the need to develop a software development methodology that differs from the restrictive, rigid, and preplanned traditional development process.
Although a lot of ambiguity surrounds when it comes to adhering to the agile practices fundamentally, a lot of organizations have incorporated these techniques in the form of frameworks such as Scrum, DSDM, Extreme programming, Lean manufacturing, Kanban, and so on.
Standards shaping the Agile Manifesto
The following 12 principles are behind the defined Agile manifesto and four core values that focus on interactions and collaborations between people, working solutions, and responding to changes that occur during the development period.
- Priority to customer satisfaction
Giving a top priority to customer satisfaction using quick delivery of functional software is the first principle that emphasizes centralizing customer satisfaction through proper delivery of software products.
- Welcoming any changes
The second principle states that improving any modifications in all stages of development, including the late stages, should be openly welcomed to improve the competitive edge that benefits customers.
This principle outlines the adaptive nature of the project development methods by taking in any changes encountered.
- Steady Delivery
Delivering properly operating software within a shorter period frames the third principle. This emphasizes providing developed products in less time with involved quality than traditional development methods.
- High coordination between businesses and developers
The fourth agile principle states that businesses and developers must function jointly every day throughout the project’s tenure. This outlines that Coordination is a key factor influencing the Smooth development of software.
- Energized individuals
Carving the project basis on a supportive environment and having motivated individuals is the fifth principle. It frames the importance of having motivated and inspired individuals within the team who can do the tasks.
- Face-to-face communication
The sixth principle asserts that the most productive and practical communication method is having a one-to-one conversation within a team. It stresses the significance of proper communication among the team members, product owners, etc., that speeds up the development.
- Functioning software
The seventh principle in the agile manifesto claims that the project’s growth is determined by the output of a properly operating software product. This means that the development is measured in terms of the operation of software products.
- Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is the pivotal basis of the eighth agile principle. From developers to individuals, everyone in between needs to work continuously and promptly. The product needs to be developed in an effective, reliable, and stable environment.
- Technical excellence
The ninth principle asserts that technical knowledge of the software being developed is important. All the involved entities need to have an adequate understanding of the technical aspects of the product, such as design and quality, in addition to having time for marketing the product.
- Clarity and simplicity
Simplicity is a fundamental aspect of the tenth agile principle. This standard defines that the development procedure can be simplified by introducing automation, removing irrelevant tasks, and using existing tools for an efficient development process.
- Self-organizing teams
The development team needs to be self-organized and enhance knowledge through constant learning methods. As the eleventh principle, this statement emphasizes the self-reliance of a team in organizing and working on the project with the capability to solve any impediments that arise.
- Regular team reflection
The last one of the 12 principles defines the significance of reflecting and adapting to overcome gaps. It asserts that the development team needs to constantly review the goals accomplished and prospective tasks at regular intervals and take action to fulfill the voids.
Conclusion
Although Agile is being used widely by both technical and non-technical businesses in modern times, its implication is yet to be discovered for future reference.
