How Agile was your last IT project?

July 6, 2011 posted by Bethany

Software development is undergoing an Agile transformation as Agile methods continue to result in products that exceed customer expectations and add business value.

With increased pressure for IT projects to be delivered on time and on budget while providing business value, use of the Waterfall method is being replaced and Agile methodologies are becoming the preferred approach towards project management, creating demand for project managers trained in Agile methodologies.

A brief overview
Agile software development can trace many of its roots back to lean development processes pioneered by Japanese auto makers in the 1990s. In 2001, the Agile Manifesto was created, giving the Agile movement a set of values and principles on which all Agile methods are based.  Since that time, Agile software development has been able to show tremendous increases in value delivery by removing a phased, sequential project management approach, known as waterfall, and implementing an iterative and incremental approach, where deployable increments of code are developed for short-term milestones.

In short, for an Agile project, the requirements, design, and implementation cycle for the project are revisited for each short-term milestone to create a layering effect that is continued throughout the entire development lifecycle. And the most important items are delivered first.

Agile increases the iterative nature of the software lifecycle, as this approach calls for revisiting phases of development incrementally. The development lifecycle is cut up into increments or “iterations.” This is referred to as “incremental and iterative development” (IID).  Each iteration touches on each of the traditional “phases” of software development. With IID requirements, there is an ongoing process that is periodically revisited. As new software requirements or changes are revealed during development, the IID process continually captures them with each iteration.

Ultimately, Agile project management embraces change, as Agile development can adapt to consumer demands and concentrates on delivering business value.  In software development, when objectives change rapidly and final outcomes are not always set in stone, Agile is the better fit. 

Key Agile Benefits
• Participants work as a self organizing team
• Increased flexibility
• Stresses value delivery
• Project efficiency for Software development is greatly increased
• Agile methods can be applied to reduce the cost of change throughout the software lifecycle
• Promotes a number of engineering practices, such as Test Driven Development (TDD), Refactoring, Pair Programming, and Continuous integration for better quality code Allows for mistakes to be easily corrected
• Increases likelihood that higher risk-projects can stay on schedule and on budget

Agile Certification
Cohesion is actively seeking Agile project managers as our clients have increasingly demanded it. There are several different methods under the Agile umbrella. Here are some popular methodologies and how to get certified.

Scrum- Scrum is an agile framework for completing complex projects. Scrum originally was formalized for software development projects, but works well for any complex, innovative scope of work. Visit Scrum Alliance for a brief overview of the methodology.
• There are several scrum certifications and courses
• Begin with a Certified Scrum Master Course (CSM). This is helpful for scrum masters as well as team members. Assumes no previous experience.
• Work your way up:
o Certified Scrum Professional
o Certified Scrum Coach
o Certified Scrum Trainer

Project Management Institute- offers globally recognized credentials that certify project management expertise.
• PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)- To become certified, you must take an exam that covers several Agile methods, including Scrum, XP or Extreme Programming, Kanban, Lean, etc.
• To take this exam, previous Agile experience is required. Visit the PMI website for a list of prerequisites.