Top 5 Agile Methodologies to Boost your Business

The Harvard Business Review Analytic Services recently reported that proficiency in Agile software development is an advantage for the digital age. Indeed, Agile metrics have become a trusted method and software companies are all about Agile nowadays. Choosing the right Agile framework is key to the success of your organisation. To help you, we have a curated list of the top 5 Agile methodologies.

1. Scrum

This lightweight Agile framework manages all kinds of iterative and incremental projects. Teams with Agile and Scrum training have an edge over others in terms of speed and changing user requirements. This popular framework is simple, proven to be productive, and able to easily incorporate changes.

In Scrum, a Product Backlog is created by the Product Owner who works closely with teams. It consists of features, bug fixes, non-functional requirements, and all other requirements identified and prioritised by the product owner to successfully deliver a working software system.

Teams work in 'sprints' or successive phases to estimate and deliver potentially shippable increments of the software. The Product Backlog is analysed again and re-prioritised after each sprint and the next set is selected for the coming Sprint. An Agile and Scrum course will help you understand how to implement Scrum values and the responsibilities of a Scrum Master and Product Owner.

Here are a few important interview questions for scrum master professionals

2. Lean Software Development

This iterative Agile methodology gives prime importance to "value stream" or the value delivering mechanism. It is an evolving and highly flexible methodology without rigid guidelines or methods and makes the team focus on delivering value to the clients.

It makes users select only the truly valuable features and prioritise them so that teams can work to deliver these features in small batches and eliminate waste. The rapid and reliable feedback between users and programmers helps to increase the speed and efficiency of workflows.

Rather than the hierarchical flow of control, lean methodology gives the decision-making authority to small teams and individuals making it an efficient and faster method. Also, team resources are efficiently used and every team member is ensured to be as productive as possible for the maximum amount of time.

3. Kanban

83% of teams practising lean use kanban to ensure continual delivery without overburdening the software development teams. This highly visual workflow management method is based on three basic principles- visualising workflow, limiting work in progress (WIP) and enhancing flow.

Kanban ensures that the teams commit to realistic work schedules, which they can deliver in a day and WIP is visualised and reviewed each day. When a work is finished, the next highest priority item is selected from the backlog immediately. And thus teams can plan activities and deliver defined outcomes every day.

Through the defining of the best possible team workflow, Kanban aims to promote continuous collaboration, active and ongoing learning and daily improvement.

4. Extreme Programming (XP)

Originally described by Kent Beck, XP is a disciplined approach to delivering high-quality software continuously and quickly. Extreme Programming methodology aims to take the best practices of traditional software development to an extreme level so that high-quality products can be delivered. Instead of implementing complex functionalities, XP takes the most simple and straightforward approach.

In the face of changing customer requirements, XP improves software quality and responsiveness via continuous testing, continuous planning, high customer involvement, rapid feedback, and close teamwork to deliver working software at frequent intervals. Originally based on four simple values which are simplicity, communication, feedback, and courage, it has an additional twelve supporting practices.

Codes are reviewed constantly through pain programming and tested on an ongoing basis. Bugs and issues are fixed immediately and just like Scrum, customer suggestions are addressed for maximum customer satisfaction.

5. Crystal

Comprising of a family of Agile methodologies like Crystal Clear, Crystal Yellow, and Crystal Orange, this is one of the most lightweight and adaptable approaches to software development. Each product has unique characteristics driven by factors like team size, system clarity, and project priorities. This is the reason why the crystal family focuses on a tailored set of policies, processes and practices to meet those unique characteristics.

Crystal keeps people and processes at the core of software development, unlike traditional methods where tools and techniques are fixed. It focuses on people and their interaction along with business-criticality and business-priority of the system.

The key elements of crystal are communication, teamwork, simplicity and reflection to adjust and improve the process consistently. Early, frequent deliveries of working software are promoted along with high user involvement and adaptability.

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Agile is the Answer

With so much competition in the industry, there is a shift in software development trends to meet customer needs and improve quality. Agile serves just that, along with improved time to market and employee satisfaction in multiple industries.

We hope your business soars to greater heights by employing an Agile methodology.