Agile methodology in software development is a highly adaptable framework that is widely used for project implementation. This approach maximizes productivity by breaking the project into short, manageable iterations. Agile methodology is now one of the most preferred methods, especially in ERP system implementation, due to its strong emphasis on collaboration and adaptability within teams.
When developing an ERP solution, CRM tool, or any standalone software for your organization, Agile methodology ensures flexibility and continuous improvement throughout the process. By focusing on iterative development and frequent stakeholder feedback, Agile methodology allows teams to effectively respond to changing requirements. This makes it especially valuable in dynamic environments, ensuring that the delivered solution closely aligns with business needs and user expectations.
Five Characteristics of Agile Methodology:
1- Frequent Delivery
In Agile development methodology, projects are divided into small iterations, often referred to as phases or sprints. These short cycles allow for frequent deliveries, ensuring continuous progress and alignment between the client and vendor.
For instance, when implementing an ERP system, the business requirements might involve various modules and customizations. These modules are divided into phases based on the project timeline, such as:
- Sales Management Module: 3 weeks
- Warehouse Management Module: 6 weeks
By delivering each module within a set timeframe, such as monthly, both the client and vendor stay on the same page. This frequent delivery ensures that the client can review progress regularly, provide feedback, and make adjustments if necessary. It also helps the vendor stay on track and adapt to any evolving requirements, which is a key benefit of the Agile approach.
2 – Quick & Good Return on Investment
One of the key advantages of Agile development is the ability to achieve quick and significant returns on investment. Since the project is broken down into manageable iterations, businesses can start seeing results much earlier compared to traditional methodologies like Waterfall.
Example: Agile vs. Waterfall
Imagine Company A, which starts its ERP software implementation using the Waterfall development methodology. The project timeline is set for 12 months, and the company proceeds with its plan. However, 8 months into the project, Company A decides to change some of its internal business processes, requiring substantial rework in the ERP solution. This leads to delays, additional costs, and the need for further changes that could impact the project’s final delivery.
On the other hand, Company B chooses the Agile methodology for its ERP implementation, with the same 12-month timeline but divided into 6 phases of 2 months each. For example:
- Phase 1: Sales Management (2 months)
- Phase 2: Purchase Management (2 months)
- Phase 3: Testing (1 month)
- Phase 4: Customizations (3 months)
After completing the first two months, Company B realizes that the purchase management process needs to change. Since the project is broken into smaller, focused phases, it’s much easier to update the vendor with the new process. The vendor can quickly incorporate the change in the next phase without significant delays, avoiding rework or major adjustments. This flexibility allows Company B to benefit from faster implementation and a better return on investment, as they are able to make timely updates and adjustments based on business needs.
This approach ensures that businesses can adapt to change without incurring large costs or delays, making Agile an ideal choice for maximizing ROI in software projects.
Agile methodology doesn’t have distinct “phases” in traditional sense, as it’s more focused on iterative and incremental development. However, Projects typically follow a set of key activities and ceremonies throughout their lifecycle. These activities ensure that project stays on track and adapts to changing requirements. Here are five essential components or phases in Agile methodology:
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Project Initiation:
- Vision and Strategy: This phase begins with defining the project’s vision and strategy. It involves identifying the problem to be solved, understanding the target audience, and establishing high-level project goals.
- Product Backlog: The product backlog is a dynamic list of features and user stories that represent the work to be done. It serves as a prioritized queue of items that the team will address in subsequent iterations.
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Release Planning:
- Release Goals: In this phase, the team sets specific goals for the release, defining what they intend to achieve. It involves understanding the scope, timeline, and major features that will be delivered.
- Sprint Planning: Teams break down the work from the product backlog into smaller, manageable tasks. They choose a subset of backlog items to be addressed in the upcoming sprint and create a detailed plan for how to achieve them.
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Execution and Iteration:
- Sprints: This is the heart of Agile methodology. Sprints are time-boxed iterations (usually 2-4 weeks) where the team works on a set of user stories and features. Each sprint aims to deliver a potentially shippable product increment.
- Daily Standups: Daily standup meetings keep the team aligned, discussing progress, challenges, and plans for the day. They last 15 minutes or less and foster team collaboration.
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Review and Feedback:
- Sprint Review: At the end of each sprint, the team holds a review meeting to showcase work completed during the sprint. This involves demonstrating the new features to stakeholders, gathering feedback, and potentially adjusting the product backlog.
- Retrospective: The retrospective, also held at the end of each sprint, is a critical self-assessment. The team reflects on what went well, what could be improved, and actions for making the next sprint even better.
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Monitoring and Adaptation:
- Continuous Improvement: Agile teams consistently monitor their performance and look for ways to improve. This includes adjusting processes, addressing impediments, and incorporating lessons learned from retrospectives.
- Product Adaptation: Based on feedback and changing requirements, the product backlog evolves. New items are added, and existing ones may be reprioritized or refined. The goal is to deliver highest value features to customer.
These activities are not set in stone and can overlap or be conducted concurrently. The Agile approach allows teams to adapt and modify their processes as needed to meet the project’s goals and respond to changing circumstances. This flexibility and adaptability are at the core of Agile methodology.
Popular Agile methods
- 1- Scrum –
In Scrum Agile development client priorities the requirement as per the importance and each scrum needs to be delivered in a given timeline. If the requirements are not completed in one scrum then it moves to next scrum.
- 2- Extreme Programming (XP) –
In XP Agile development the iterations period is less than scrum around 1 to 3 weeks. The developer prioritise the requirements as per the importance to ensure smoothness, Iteration period is not fixed and can be increase if any new requirements come. More focus is given on the testing part
Some of the other flavors of Agile development:
1. Agile Manifesto
The Agile Manifesto emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and customer satisfaction. Its principles prioritize individuals and interactions over processes, working software over documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, and responding to change over following a strict plan, promoting adaptability in software development.
2. Crystal
Crystal is an Agile methodology focusing on team size, system criticality, and project priorities. It values communication, simplicity, and frequent deliveries. Different Crystal variants, like Clear or Red, adapt to team size and complexity, ensuring the process aligns with the project’s context and requirements.
3. Context-Driven Testing
Context-Driven Testing is a software testing approach that tailors strategies to the project’s unique context. It rejects one-size-fits-all testing processes, advocating flexibility, creativity, and adaptability in addressing testing challenges based on project needs, stakeholders, and team dynamics.
4. Lean Development
Lean Development, derived from Lean manufacturing, aims to eliminate waste, maximize value, and improve efficiency. It focuses on delivering software quickly by emphasizing streamlined processes, continuous learning, and fast feedback to ensure value-driven development with minimal resource usage.
5. (Rational) Unified Process
The Rational Unified Process (RUP) is a software development framework that uses iterative, incremental approaches. It divides development into phases: inception, elaboration, construction, and transition. RUP focuses on risk management, adaptability, and continuous feedback, providing structured yet flexible guidelines.
I feel being Agile in development provides many benefits as far as today’s technology is concern.
🙂