Traditional software organizations used the waterfall model to develop software. In the waterfall model, managers list down each requirement and every functionality is discussed. The whole workflow model is finalized before the development process starts. Once the development starts, the client only gets to see the final product. Little to no changes take place during the development cycle.
After receiving the final product, the client can make changes; however, these changes are costly and time-consuming. Agile software development, is very different on the other hand. With agile, the project is split into smaller – bite sized – chunks. Each of these smaller pieces has set delivery dates and times, with the client being able to provide feedback as the project progresses.
Companies around the globe are experiencing massive success in meeting the ever-changing customer needs by adopting Agile software development. Unlike waterfall models, agile methodologies offer an iterative approach to the design and development of software. The technique has the ability to embrace the constant change that is taking place in the development cycle. This allows the teams to deliver working software quickly and frequently by breaking down test phases, lengthy requirements and builds into smaller segments.
Implementing the Customer Oriented Development Model
Satisfied customers lay at the core of any successful business. Linking a productive agile development process to a rigorous customer development process is a key to success. Customer development is basically a framework of empirical and rigorous investigation of what a customer likes and dislikes in the upcoming products. It also contains information on how to deliver the products to the clients.
Agile development allows software companies to make changes to the software based on customer needs before actually releasing the final version. By working with the customers through the course of the development cycle, businesses are better able to meet customer needs and wants. In addition, while sometimes changes requested are small, in other instances, customers might need significant changes. In this case, waiting till the product is complete and delivered can be expensive option. This methodology is very effective for companies that are introducing new or changing products.
Adopting Flexible Resources Deployment
Agile software development offers numerous advantages over the traditional development process. It offers companies, team managers, project leaders, sponsors and customers numerous benefits including:
- Reducing waste by minimizing resources
- Faster deployment of solutions
- Increased adaptability and flexibility to change
- Faster turnaround times and identification of defects and problems
- Focused efforts result in increased success
- Enhanced frequency of feedback and collaboration
- Customer needs are met in a more effective manner
- Lightweight framework and optimized development processes
Removing Decision Paralysis and Minimize Complexity
The decision paralysis manifests itself through the waterfall model with long phases of data modeling, program designing, requirement gathering, and project planning. All these steps can risk several revisions and create no extra value. If the project is extended over a longer timeframe it starts to emphasize the organizational aspect of the software instead of the functional one. Decision paralysis results mainly due to lack of experience.
Agile software development explicitly prevents decision paralysis by encouraging iterative work cycles. These cycles emphasize the working of the software and its underlying results over software complexity.
Konverge for example focuses on a results driven methodology when it comes to software design. With results focused development, the goal is to understand the actual outcome that is desired. Once this is understood, software can be programmed to achieve this outcome.
Achieving Sprints Goals to Reach Successful Project Completion
The software development process is a complex task and it is not possible to completely plan for the unknown. However, sprint goals do provide focus on objectives that you want to achieve. As previously mentioned, with agile development, a specific project is broken down into smaller pieces. Each of these chunks of work are referred to as sprints.
Generally a sprint is two weeks in length but it can be shorter or longer. However whatever timeframe is chosen, it remains for the life of that project. During each sprint, developers determine which specific features can be produced. These are then coded, tested and deployed for the customer to review. Once the customer has signed off on the work in the sprint, the team continues working on the next deliverable.
Creating a sprint backlog means that there will be an expectation that work will be missed. It allows flexibility to negotiates and achieve new objectives. Having good sprint goals is important for their success. A good sprint goal is not too big, it is not too vague and it provides purpose.
Data Transparency and Shared Responsibilities
Transparency is among the key benefits of Agile development. It favors the interactions and individuals over tools and process. This includes customer collaboration over fixed negotiation, which allows for flexibility when it comes to making specific changes.
Transparency in the development cycles allows interested parties to make better and reliable decisions. One example of agile transparency is a scrum task-board.
Conclusion
While waterfall once held the development crown, Agile introduced only 20 or so years previously now dominates. In fact in a survey of over 600 software developers, more than half stated that they use agile or are leaning towards agile. For the remainder that still stick to waterfall, the majority still use some elements of agile leading to a hybrid approach.
Agile might still be young when it comes to custom software development. In fact while it was introduced a couple of decades ago, it’s really only over the past eight to ten years that it has really accelerated in popularity and growth. Partially this is due to an influx of younger developers, but it is also something that is appreciated more and more by customers.
Agile custom software development process has the ability to meet the ever-changing demands of their clients and the environment. It is reliable, cost-effective and offers more flexibility. Agile programming allows transparency and iterative development of the software. It implements customer feedback and reduces requirement errors.
Konverge Digital Solutions is Custom Software Development and business transformation solution provider. For the past 25 years, customers have been coming to Konverge for help with leveraging technology to meet their organizational objectives. Konverge’s consulting practice includes custom software solutions, Mobile app development, AI, IoT, and Connected Devices software solutions.
Konverge’s software development Toronto is 100% Canadian owned, we work closely with medium and large enterprises across industries and across Canada and internationally to deliver best in class enterprise digital transformation solution.
