What is Agile Methodology? How it Works, Best Practices, Tools

Agile Methodology is a people-focused, results-oriented approach to software development that respects our rapidly changing world. It focuses on adaptive planning, self-organization, and short delivery times. It’s flexible, fast, and aims for continuous quality improvement, utilizing frameworks like Scrum and Extreme Programming (XP).

How Agile Works

Agile methodology works by recognizing that the old “waterfall” approach to software development leaves much to be desired. The process of “planning, designing, building, testing, delivering” works well for producing cars or buildings but fails for creating software systems. In a business environment where hardware, demand, and competition rapidly change, Agile balances between too many processes and none at all.

A Very Brief History of Agile

Before discussing how Agile works, its features, and various versions, let’s talk about its history to understand how Agile came about. As mentioned earlier, Agile emerged in response to the flaws of the waterfall model. In the 1990s, several different software development methodologies aimed to do things differently from the waterfall model and other heavy processes. While they varied in details, they all had many common characteristics:

• Preference for short iterations over long, fixed phases.
• The idea that close collaboration with the customer is key.
• A tendency for an adaptive design process instead of a large design phase at the beginning.

In 2001, 17 software development consultants who were experimenting and promoting their methodologies met to discuss their approaches. The result of this meeting was the creation of the Agile Manifesto, which outlined the values and principles of Agile.

It’s important to note that although we use the term “Agile methodology” in this article, Agile is not one thing. Instead of a single approach, think of Agile as an umbrella for several different methodologies, with the most well-known being Scrum and XP, which share common characteristics.

Overview of Agile Methodology

Agile avoids the risk of spending months or years on a process that ultimately fails due to a minor error early on. This methodology relies on trusting employees and teams working directly with customers to understand goals and deliver solutions quickly and incrementally.

• Faster, Smaller Batches: Traditional software development relied on phases like requirements definition, planning, design, build, testing, and delivery. In contrast, Agile aims to implement the first version within weeks and the entire software within months.
• Communication: Agile teams within a company collaborate daily at every stage of the project through face-to-face meetings. This collaboration and communication ensure that the process stays on track even when conditions change.
• Feedback: Instead of waiting until the delivery phase to assess success, Agile teams regularly track the success and speed of the development process. Velocity is measured after delivering each increment.
• Trust: Agile teams are self-organizing. Instead of following a set of rules imposed by management, they understand the goals and create their own path to achieving them.
• Adaptation: Participants adjust the process as they go, adhering to the principle of “Keep It Simple” (KIS).

Agile vs. Waterfall

The first and most obvious difference between the waterfall methodology and Agile is that the former has sequential, well-defined phases. Development proceeds from one phase to the next. In Agile, development occurs in a series of short, iterative cycles that continue indefinitely.

In the waterfall model, testing is a phase that occurs at the very end of the process. As a result, major issues are often discovered very late, making them harder and more expensive to fix. In Agile, testing is not a phase but an activity that occurs from the very beginning.

The 3C’s of Agile

Agile is an iterative software development methodology that helps developers create and deliver applications faster and more efficiently. It is based on principles of collaboration, customer feedback, and the three “C’s”: card, conversation, and confirmation.

• Card: The card in a user story in Agile is a way to break down the user story into smaller, more manageable tasks that can be easily tracked and identified.
• Conversation: The second “C” of Agile is conversation, which emphasizes frequent communication between team members.
• Confirmation: The third “C” of Agile is confirmation, which allows customers to review and test features before they are made available in production environments.

Examples of Agile Methodologies

The most popular examples of Agile are Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), Feature-Driven Development (FDD), Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), Adaptive Software Development (ASD), Crystal, and Lean Software Development (LSD). Teams usually choose one or two methods. The most commonly used methodologies are Scrum and XP, which complement each other well.

Scrum is a practical system consisting of simple, interdependent steps and elements:

1. The product owner creates a prioritized task list called a product backlog.
2. The Scrum team selects a small chunk from the top of the list, called a sprint backlog, and plans its implementation.
3. The team completes the task from the sprint backlog in sprints (2-4 week periods). Progress is evaluated at a meeting called a daily scrum.
4. The ScrumMaster keeps the team focused on the goal.
5. At the end of the sprint, the work is ready for deployment or demonstration. The team closes the sprint with a review, then starts a new sprint.

Extreme Programming (XP) is often used together with Scrum and is an example of how Agile can increase customer satisfaction. Instead of delivering everything the customer might ever want in the distant future, it delivers what the customer needs now, quickly. XP focuses on frequent releases and short development cycles.

Benefits of Agile Methodology

The benefits of Agile are directly related to its faster, lighter, and more engaged approach. The process, in a nutshell, delivers what the customer wants, when the customer wants it. There is much less wasted time developing in the wrong direction, and the whole system responds more quickly to changes.

• Faster: Speed is one of Agile’s biggest assets. A shorter software development lifecycle means less time between paying and earning. This, in turn, means a more profitable business.
• Increases Customer Satisfaction: With Agile, customers don’t have to wait months or years to get something they didn’t want. Instead, they get iterations of something very close to what they want very quickly.
• Values Employees: Employees working in companies using Agile often feel more valued because they have more freedom in their work. Instead of blindly following a process, they are trusted to know what to do.
• More Accountable: Agile means greater control over the project, leading to greater accountability.

Summary

Agile is a highly effective software development methodology that emphasizes rapid iteration, close collaboration with the customer, and an adaptive design process. Its popularity and success stem from its flexibility, speed, and increased satisfaction for both customers and employees. By implementing Agile, companies can increase their efficiency and better adapt to changing market conditions.