Agile Software Development

Agile software development has emerged over the past number of years to address the reality of poorly developed software not meeting business needs.

Agile has proven itself to deliver across industries and technologies.

Delivering Business Value
Agile methods such as Extreme Programming are focused on delivering business value early and often. Teams focus on delivering the highest business value functionality first, based on the 80/20 rule. Agile teams recognise that 20% of the functionality delivers 80% of the business value. Delivering high value business functionality first, cuts time to market and, delivers prioritised business value at every stage of development.

Quality.
Testing is at the heart of Agile methods. Like TQM or Lean in the manufacturing industry, testing is built in to the development cycle, rather than inspected for at the end when the cost of change is the highest. Testing in an Agile environment is also about improving design. And because delivery is early and often, this ensures adequate time for feedback, and to incorporate to changes.

Morale.
Agile teams are highly collaborative, and the practices enforce an increased level of communication and feedback. There is a strong element of shared responsibility, which gives the team a sense of ownership.

Collaboration.
Agile environments help forge a close working relationship between customers (business) and developers. Customers are responsible for steering projects and making business value decisions, whereas developers make technical decisions. The team is one team, with customers and developers often working side-by-side.

Harnessing Change
Delivering early and often, and a close collaboration between business and IT means that change can be captured as the market changes. Agile methods acknowledge change and use processes and practices to harness change to add business value and thereby – competitive advantage.