Agile development can be very effective to execute software-driven projects. However, even as companies use Agile methodologies in new areas, it is not uncommon to use Agile as an excuse for avoiding detailed planning and preparation.
What is Agile development?
Agile is an iterative, time-bound process for software development, which develops software in periodic installments from the beginning instead of sharing the fully developed software at the end of the development cycle. Instead of spending time planning requirements for the end product, teams often work in short duration sprints delivering smaller chunks based on available capabilities.
At the start, the project is divided into multiple phases and encourages constant improvements during the entire development cycle. The team members cycle through planning, evaluation, and execution phases intending to collaborate towards the project goals.
The four fundamental values of agile development include:
Department and project managers use different strategies to ensure the deadlines, objectives, and projects stay on schedule. Agile methodology manages the projects wherein every part of the project has equal planning and execution phases prior to the final product delivery.
The Agile development cycle
Concept: The project scope is determined after detailed discussions on key requirements. The estimated cost of the project and time taken are also outlined at this stage.
Inception: The development team is put into place based on the skills and availability of the people. All stakeholders provide additional inputs to create a diagrammatic representation of the requirements and product functionality.
Iteration: Also known as the construction phase, it is of the longest duration. The developers and UI teams work together to combine product requirements and client feedback before converting the design into code.
Release: Before release, the quality assurance team ensures complete functionality of the product. The team members test the system to detect any bugs or defects, which are addressed by the development team prior to releasing the final iteration.
Maintenance: The product is available to the end users and the team provides continued support to ensure its smooth functioning. Any new bugs that may be detected are also addressed.
Retirement: A product may be retired when being replaced or it becomes obsolete. The users are notified about the retirement. In case of replacement, the users are migrated to the new product before finally discontinuing support for the existing product.
Advantages of Agile development
On-time delivery: Since this methodology focuses on product placement, it enables timely delivery to the clients. Although not much time is spent on detailed planning, Agile methodology allows improvements based on the feedback received at the end of each sprint.
Transparency: Potential issues and improvements are evident at every stage of the project. This enables faster rectification of any errors while making quick improvements. Because agile methodology allows independence, the time between understanding the improvements and implementing the required changes may be shorter.
Versatility: As the incremental improvements between delivery dates are shorter, projects can easily adapt and change in an agile development cycle. As a result, the project is able to deliver continuous results while ensuring regular improvements to the processes as required. Agile development is capable of making quick adaptations to any modifications needed by the clients.
Enhanced performance: The developers test the product at regular intervals, which allows them to react to issues as and when they arise. The fragmented production and correction enable better and quicker understanding and modifications. Based on the feedback received at the end of each sprint, the development team can rectify any issues before the next sprint.
Higher profits: Agile projects focus on constant improvements rather than developing the perfect product. The development team delivers smaller parts of the overall project at regular intervals to the clients. This allows clients to regularly review and monitor the progress and provide feedback, which can be included in the next sprint. The improved collaboration and communication between the clients and the development teams enhance customer satisfaction, which also brings in repeat business.
Disadvantages of Agile methodology
Delays and confusion: While shifting from the traditional waterfall methodology to the agile development methodology, clients and the development team may need time to adapt to the new principles of the project development. Agile development is vastly different from waterfall development and teams who are not experienced in working in such environments may find it difficult to adapt. Moreover, if the clients are unwilling to work in an agile environment, there is a possibility of miscommunication between the development teams and clients leading to misunderstandings and frustration.
Lack of documentation: Agile development focuses on rectifying issues as they arise and the development team doesn’t spend much time on the initial planning stage. Additionally, activities like maintaining records, billing, and keeping to the plan during each sprint may be slower than other activities. Moreover, agile development is a reactionary improvement process rather than a documented improvement. Therefore, the development team may adopt a lack luster attitude to documenting the success and strategies during the entire cycle.
Goal shifting: Often, focus can shift among the various goals of the project at a particular stage in the development cycle, which may inhibit the entire team working towards a singular objective. This may also cause an overall delay in the project as the focus shifts from one goal to another at various phases.
Reasons why an Agile project may be delayed
A fundamental issue with agile development is that the fast-paced may bias the developers. Clients may need the minimum viable product in a short period and may skimp on providing a detailed scope of what the end product should deliver. There may also be two types of compromises. Firstly, the project progresses based on the existing capabilities as the time needed to develop a new project is uncertain thereby limiting the potential of the project. Secondly, the product may not be ambitious and instead of achieving a breakthrough, only incremental improvements are made.
If the project is complex, it requires a longer time and more issues may also arise. Agile development is suitable for projects that have well-defined and clear goals and objectives. If the team anticipates any potential impediments in the future resulting in a roadblock, these should be raised early on during the project planning stage and an action plan should be in place to avoid delays. Although accounting for every possible issue isn’t possible, knowing that every iteration has a cost is important. Sometimes major features may change at a late stage in the development cycle, clients may expect these to fix themselves in agile development. However, it may need additional iterations and extend the project deadline, which increases the total cost.
- Developers may have to wait for project approvals
- Delay by the clients to resolve requirement issues, offer feedback, and sign off on acceptance tests
- Awaiting the priority list of requirements before starting the project
- Frequent modifications to the approval process
As discussed above, there are certain disadvantages and reasons why Agile projects may get delayed. However, with an integrated platform like Whizible, such delays can be avoided. Our platform allows users to allocate the resources across different processes and stages in the development cycle. Additionally, the platform offers complete transparency and visibility on the resource allocation to ensure control and monitoring as needed.
